First offers of educational project funds for July

Youth In Action - Innovation and Quality (EU Member State) ZE1450

The European Commission has published a new Call for Proposals for projects encouraging innovation and quality under the Youth in Action Programme. The purpose of the Call is to support projects which target the introduction, implementation and promotion of innovative and qualitative elements in non-formal education and youth work. Preference will be given to projects which reflect the permanent and annual priorities of the Youth in Action programme, namely:

• Participation of young people 
• Cultural diversity 
• European citizenship 
• Inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities 
• Youth unemployment, poverty and marginalisation 
• Spirit of initiative, creativity and entrepreneurship, employability 
• Grassroots sport and outdoor activities 
• Global environmental challenges and climate change

The innovative aspects of a project may relate to:

1. The content and objectives, in line with the development of the European cooperation framework in the youth field and the priorities of the ‘Youth in Action’ programme.
2. The methodology applied, bringing new ideas and approaches to the field of non-formal education and youth.

Non-profit organisations or networks active in the field of youth are eligible to apply, including non-governmental youth organisations and public bodies at regional or local level. Projects must be based on a transnational partnership between at least four organisations from different programme countries, at least one of which must be a Member State.

The total budget available for this Call is €1.5 million. The total maximum grant available is €100,000 for up to 70% of the project's total eligible costs.

The deadline for applications is 3 September 2012 (noon, Brussels time).

Youth In Action - Partnerships (EU Member State) ZE1540

The European Commission has issued a new Call for Proposals under the Youth in Action programme. The aim of the Call is to support partnerships with regional or local public bodies or other stakeholders active in the youth sector at European level in order to develop long-term projects which combine various measures of the programme. The specific objectives of such partnerships are to:

• Encourage the involvement of public bodies at regional or local level or other stakeholders active in the youth sector in European youth and non-formal education activities.
• Support their capacity building as bodies active in the youth field providing non-formal education opportunities to young people and youth workers.
• Promote the development of sustainable networks, the exchange of best practices as well as the recognition of non-formal education.

Preference is given to projects which reflect the permanent and annual priorities of the Youth in Action programme, namely:

• Participation of young people
• Cultural diversity
• European citizenship
• Inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities
• Youth unemployment, poverty and marginalisation
• Spirit of initiative, creativity and entrepreneurship, employability
• Grassroots sport and outdoor activities
• Global environmental challenges and climate change

Public bodies, non-profit bodies and companies active in corporate social responsibility in favour of youth are eligible to apply. The project must include activities of a non-profit-making nature that are related to the field of youth and non-formal education.

The following activities are eligible:

• Trans-national youth exchanges
• National or trans-national youth initiatives
• European voluntary service
• Training and networking

The total budget available is €2.5 million. Grants of up to €100,000 per project are available for up to 50% of total eligible costs.

The deadline for applications is 17 September 2012 by noon, Brussels time.

RUSHLIGHT Awards (UK) UG7755

The Rushlight Awards recognise and reward leading public, private and voluntary sector organisations that have produced environmentally beneficial innovative and technological developments. The scheme is open to organisations throughout the UK and Ireland that have developed a specific technology, process or initiative that has, or will have, a significant beneficial impact on the environment. Organisations of all types and sizes are eligible to enter the awards, including public sector organisations, voluntary and community sector organisations, research institutions and private companies. Innovations or technologies entered into the awards must have taken place between 1 January 2009 and 31 July 2012.

There are 23 categories for application, which are spread over five groups:

• Natural Energy.
• Clean Energy.
• Energy Environmental.
• Resources Innovation.
• Environmental Management.

The 2012 Rushlight Awards have a prize fund worth £500,000 consisting of services donated by the programme's sponsors. Prizes are given for each category winner and for the overall winner for each category group. Each overall category group winner will also be forwarded for the main Rushlight Award.

The deadline for entries to the 2012 Rushlight Awards is 31 October.

Engineering Enterprise Fellowships (UK) UG3335

The Royal Academy of Engineering is offering funding and support through this fellowship scheme to outstanding entrepreneurial engineering researchers, working at a UK University, to enable them to develop a spin-out business around their technological idea. Funding will be provided to help researchers to develop a commercial enterprise in the UK. In addition to the financial support, training from 'business mentors' (drawn mainly from The Royal Academy of Engineering Fellows) will also be provided to give each Enterprise Fellow the tools, contacts and confidence to transform their idea into a successful business project or venture.

Up to £85,000 seed funding and salary support for 12 months will be provided through the scheme.

Eligible applicants must be working at a UK Higher Education Institute (HEI), at post-doctoral level or above, in an engineering department (or engineering focussed research area). Eligible costs directly related to the Fellowship may include:

• Travel.
• Equipment.
• Business consultancy.
• Project specific consumables.
• Legal costs.
• Specific business courses.
• Attending conferences and seminars directly related to the Enterprise Fellowship.

The deadline for applications is Friday 31 August 2012 (5pm).

LSIS Leadership with Technology: Regional Collaboration Fund

LSIS is inviting bids for project grants of up to £30,000 per consortium from groups of providers working collaboratively together to achieve a common goal through the use of technology. The focus may be on improving teaching and learning, management or governance across the group of providers.

Bids should demonstrate how the consortium will:

• work together/have worked together to identify the common goal;
• drive towards a step change in performance through the use of technology;
• pool existing expertise and effective practice to the benefit of all; and
• measure success.

Applications for the LSIS Leadership with Technology: Regional Collaboration Fund should be made by completing all of the boxes on the accompanying form, including a breakdown of the total cost of the project and an indicative estimate of the distribution of monies between members of the consortium. No additional documentation should be submitted with this bid unless specifically requested.

Bids must be submitted by email to eleadership@lsis.org.uk<mailto:eleadership@lsis.org.uk> by 5 pm on Monday 9 July 2012 and titled LSIS Leadership with Technology: Regional Collaboration Fund.

Supporting documents:

* Guidance document - LSIS Leadership with Technology: Regional Collaboration Fund<http://www.lsis.org.uk/WorkingWithLSIS/Opportunities/funding-Opportunities/Documents/Leadership-with-Technology-Regional-Collaboration-Grant-Guidance-document-2012.pdf>
* Application form - LSIS Leadership with Technology: Regional Collaboration Fund<http://www.lsis.org.uk/WorkingWithLSIS/Opportunities/funding-Opportunities/Documents/Leadership-with-Technology-Regional-Collaboration-Grant-Application-form-May-2012.doc>

LSIS Teaching and Learning funding

Effective practice transfer within and between organisations

LSIS is issuing an exclusive invitation to providers represented at this year’s National Teaching and Learning Fair to apply for an LSIS funded project which will promote innovative continuing professional development (CPD) in teaching and learning. The overall aim of these funds is to support projects which will help overcome barriers and provide additional opportunities for CPD in circumstances where otherwise it would not take place. We are therefore inviting providers to bid for funds which would allow them to explore innovations and try out interventions which promote high quality learning. We are particularly keen to see proposals which promote the effective use of LSIS’s new online Teaching and Learning Coach offer which will be announced at the National Teaching and Learning Fair on the 29th June.

• Up to a maximum of £3,000 for single organisation applications
• Up to a maximum of £5,000 for collaborative projects between two or more organisations.

Projects will run from 31st July 2012 and must complete by no later than 31st March 2013.

Applications can be made by completing the attached form and sending by email to tlpfundingportal@lsis.org.uk<mailto:tlpfundingportal@lsis.org.uk> by midnight on Wednesday 18 July 2012. Late applications cannot be considered.

Supporting documents:

* Effective practice transfer within and between organisations - Guidance and application form<http://www.lsis.org.uk/WorkingWithLSIS/Opportunities/funding-Opportunities/Documents/TandL-Fund-June-2012-guidance-and-application-form.doc>