Funding success


‘We raised £80,000 through a grant and match funding to transform our science labs’


‘Our science labs were built in 1994 and over the years we have suffered from gas and water leaks. Klick Technology, which has previously refurbished other departments, pointed us in the direction of The Wolfson Foundation. The foundation accepts applications twice a year in June and December, and we submitted a lengthy application in February 2016. The application process is both thorough and rigorous and does require a lot of information gathering, but that didn’t put us off! As part of the application process a full outline of work was needed, for which we used a set of drawings and specification supplied by Klick Technology. We applied for the maximum funding of £100,000, and while we didn’t receive the full amount, we did receive £40,000 as one sum in June 2016. For the rest of the money, negotiations took place


with the LA regarding match funding shortly after we found out we’d won the grant. The funding was agreed fairly soon afterwards, giving us a total of £80,000 to develop our labs. Two laboratories were completely refurbished with


new flooring, full redecoration, new water and gas piping, CO₂ monitors, a gas safety system, furniture


FOR MORE


INFORMATION ABOUT GRANT FUNDRAISING, TURN TO P31


and IT. Since the project I have produced a report for The Wolfson Foundation detailing all the work that has been completed together with invoices. The furniture can be moved to facilitate a


different desk configuration to aid learning, and teachers have the latest technology with which to deliver engaging lessons.’ Andy Heron, Business Manager, The Maelor School, Penley, Wrexham (784 pupils)


AFTER


BEFORE


‘We crowdfunded £1,254 for a fun Makey Makey computing kit’


‘Our technology was outdated, so we were excited when a parent mentioned Rocket Fund (rocket.fund) – a website where schools can crowdfund for new technology. Our ICT Manager, Mr Hammond, considered what item would have a positive impact on learning while being achievable for our first crowdfunding experience. We chose a class set of 30 Makey Makeys, with a cost of £1,224 as our target. These pieces of design kit would enable the children to control computers and computer programs with everyday objects – meaning they could turn bananas into keyboards or pencil drawings and Play Doh into controllers! Mr Hammond wrote a pitch and submitted this


for approval. Just before the project launched, Rocket Fund contacted us with tips and advice. Rocket Fund operates in “waves”, where all projects are launched at once and run for four weeks. We teased the idea on Facebook and Twitter


for about a week before launch, which meant that when the project went live, the support was amazing! We used our PTA Facebook and Twitter accounts, the school’s Twitter account and ParentMail to get the word out. We took advantage of captive audiences at our events to remind people and keep the excitement flowing.


FOR MORE ON


CROWDFUNDING TURN TO P23


We sent out letters to local businesses asking


for support. Magic Scissors, a barber’s, wanted to help, so we found a teacher who agreed to have his beard shaved off if we reached £750 – we live-streamed it via Facebook and Twitter! A parent who runs a catering business donated cakes for us to sell, which helped boost our profits. As we neared our target the local radio station


came and did an interview, which was the final push we needed to get us over the finish line. We raised £1,254, and at the end of the campaign, Rocket Fund purchased the equipment and had it delivered to our school!’ Suzanne Armer, PTA Chair, Oakham CofE Primary School, Oakham, Rutland (263 pupils)


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