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>

Latest funding and grants news

Here's the latest news of money floating around, one or more of which may be worth applying for. Beware of some rather tight application deadlines in some cases!

Research and Knowledge Exchange (RAKE) Fund UG3180

The 2012 Call for Applications for the Research and Knowledge Exchange (RAKE) Fund is now open.

The RAKE Fund is provided by a partnership involving Barclays Bank and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and is delivered on their behalf by the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE).

The fund aims to encourage new research activities from within the academic community, third sector groups and research consultants or practitioners. At present, the scheme aims to engage with exploring processes and possibilities of SME internationalisation.

Academic researchers, third sector research organisations, research consultants and practitioners are eligible to apply.

ISBE expects to fund number of projects, which will each receive grants ranging between £10,000 and £12,000.

The closing date for applications is Friday 15 June 2012 (5pm).
Successful applicants will be notified by mid-September.

Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (UK) UE7330

The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) was established in 1990 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Royal Warrant Holders Association and the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

The objective of the Trust is to support excellence in British crafts.

Each scholarship is worth between £1,000 and £15,000, depending on how much funding is required for a project. Scholarship winners also receive an emblazoned certificate.

Eligible applicants are craftsmen and women of all ages who live and work permanently in the UK. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they already have a high level of skill and are firmly committed to their craft or trade.

The deadline for the summer 2012 Scholarships has been confirmed as 24 May 2012.

LSIS Organisational Effectiveness Fund 2012-2013

LSIS is pleased to invite bids from learning and skills provider organisations to join the LSIS Organisational Effectiveness Fund 2012-2013 (formerly known as the Resource Utilisation Network Fund).The fund is designed to support projects which deliver significant improvements in efficiency, effectiveness or the generation of financial surplus, in sector practice.

Bids, up to a maximum of £20,000, may be submitted by provider organisations working individually or in collaboration with others but must be for activities that will have transferable learning and benefits for the wider sector rather than just an individual organisation.

Projects should demonstrate cost savings or increases in surplus due to changes in organisational practice, new products or processes and transformation of service delivery either front line or back office.

We will also welcome applications for expanding current successful programmes to improve their effectiveness. These changes and benefits should demonstrate that they can deliver outcomes which are sustainable year on year. The projects and programmes must be capable of delivering clearly replicable learning that is transferable across the sector or parts of it.

Applications can be made by completing the application form below and returning toresource.utilisation@lsis.org.uk<mailto:resource.utilisation@lsis.org.uk> by 12pm midday on Monday 21 May 2012. Applications must be submitted using Microsoft Word. PDF documents will not be accepted. Late applications cannot be considered.

Supporting documents:

* Application Form - Organisational Effectiveness Fund
* Terms and Conditions - Organisational Effectiveness Fund
* Top ten characteristics of winning bids

Previous successful case studies can be found on the Excellence Gateway

Regional Sustainability Advisers - promoting sustainable development in your region

LSIS wishes to build on the excellent progress that has been made in embedding sustainability into the business of the learning and skills sector, by continuing to offer support to providers through Regional Sustainability Advisers (RSAs) who can help lead change in their region.

A number of RSAs appointed in 2011-12 have chosen to continue in the role. We are therefore currently seeking three Regional Sustainability Advisers, one for each of the following regions:

* London
* the South East
* Yorkshire and the Humber

The RSAs will be ambassadors for embedding sustainability into organisational strategy, practice and performance, and for developing the capacity and capability of sustainability leaders to drive change.

The closing date for applications is 12:00 midday on Monday 28th May 2012.

For more information and to apply, please see the information below.

Supporting documents:

* Regional Sustainability Advisers - Invitation
* Regional Sustainability Advisers - FAQs
* Regional Sustainability Advisers - Application form

LSIS STEM Fund: Raising awareness of STEM opportunities with learners through 'Big Bang Near Me' fairs

The aim of The Big Bang programme of events is to engage, inspire and motivate learners to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

LSIS is now offering funding to enable FE and skills providers to plan, deliver and evaluate their own Big Bang fair during 2012-13. The events should offer a valuable CPD opportunity for staff, and inspiration for current and future learners, all centred on STEM subjects. This will involve working in partnership with employers in local STEM-related industries and other organisations.

There is a maximum grant available for Raising awareness of STEM opportunities with learners through 'Big Bang Near Me' fairs of up to £10,000 per project. The Big Bang team will provide an online toolkit and telephone support.

Applications can be made by completing the attached form and sending by email to tlpfundingportal@lsis.org.uk by MIDNIGHT on Monday 11th June 2012.

Supporting documents:

* Guidance and application form

Bedfordshire Small Business Awards – UG1220

The Bedfordshire Small Business Awards are intended to showcase the very best of the small businesses in Bedfordshire.
There is a first prize of £5,000 in advertising provided by Premier Newspapers.
Award Categories are as follows:

* Best New Business Award
* Employee of the Year
* Enterprising Business
* Business Person of the Year
* Young Business Person of the Year
* Real Life Entrepreneur
* Training and Development Award
* Franchisee of the Year
* Networking Group of the Year
* Business Innovation Award
* Green Business Award
* Service Excellence Award
* Best E-Business Award
* Business Woman of the Year
* Retailer of the Year Award

The competition is open to all businesses based in Bedfordshire or companies that can prove the majority of their business is conducted in Bedfordshire.

Entrants must be sole traders or have less than 200 employees at the time of entering.

The 2012 deadline has been extended to 4 May 2012.

The Awards Ceremony will be held at the Mansion House, Shuttleworth Park, Old Warden on 13 June 2012.

More education and project funding for those who know how to get it

Quite a mixed bag this month! There are grants from £1000 to £10000 for local heritage, music and the young with creative ideas. £18 million for fostering co-operation with African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States.

Heritage Lottery Fund Launches All Our Stories Grants Scheme

The Heritage Lottery Fund has launched a new £1 million grants programme called "All Our Stories" to support local projects across the UK that want to explore their local heritage.

A wide range of voluntary and community sector organisations (including charities, community groups, and heritage organisations) throughout the UK can apply for grants of between £3,000 and £10,000.

Funding will support activities which encourage exploring and learning about local heritage. Groups should be willing to share what they have learned with their community by doing things like holding a community event, performance, exhibition or producing a leaflet or designing a smart phone app or website, etc.

Activities that will be supported are:

• Visits to places like historic buildings, landscapes, parks, burial grounds, museums, archaeological sites or industrial heritage sites like railways.
• Using collections like archives, libraries and museums, including collections held by people in the community.
• Talking to people who know about heritage or holding workshops, talks and sessions exploring people's memories.
• Recording things like people's memories or local wildlife; scanning old photographs and documents; archaeological digs or surveying historic buildings.

Groups will be able to work with researchers from 21 universities and other educational organisations across the UK who will be available to support projects from the beginning of the application process as well as the research itself.

All Our Stories has been developed in support of the BBC's The Great British Story - A People's History, which is a new series to be broadcast on BBC Two. All Our Stories will also feature in five BBC Learning events at flagship heritage locations, which will be run in tandem with the TV series, to get people involved with their local heritage.

The deadline for applications is 31 July 2012 with a notification of decisions in October 2012.

European Museum of the Year Award and Council of Europe Museum Prize Now Open to Entries for 2013

The European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) and Council of Europe Museum Prize Scheme are now open to entries for the 2013 Awards.

The Awards aim to recognise excellence in European museums and to encourage innovation and enterprise.
#EMYA is the longest running museum award in Europe. It is presented to a museum which contributes to attracting and satisfying visitors with a 'unique atmosphere, imaginative interpretation and presentation, a creative approach to education and social responsibility'.

The Council of Europe Museum Prize also recognises excellence and aims to highlight the need to promote and preserve European cultural heritage as a link uniting the Council of Europe's 47 member states. The criteria of the award have been revised to emphasise the Council's priorities which include human rights, social inclusion, responsible citizenship, cultural democracy and European identity.

Museums of any size can enter the awards, but they must be based in a Council of Europe member country and have either opened to the public in the past two years, or have completed a substantial programme of modernisation, extension, reorganisation or re-interpretation in the past two years.

The deadline for entries is 31 May 2012.

Community Learning Trust Pilots Launched

The Skills Funding Agency has launched the opportunity for community learning providers to become part of the Community Learning Trust Pilots.

The Pilots aim to put local communities in charge of their own community learning development and to test a variety of models and implementation options.

Proposals are welcomed from community learning providers who are directly funded through the Skills Funding Agency's Community Learning (previously Adult Safeguarded Learning) £210 million budget.

Applicants are not bidding for extra financial resources and will receive the same funding allocation in 2012/13 as in 2011/12. Providers should assume that there is no additional funding for pilot areas.

It is expected that between 10 and 15 pilots will be selected. The final selection will reflect the need to pilot different delivery models to test the community learning trust vision and implementation options.

The deadline for full applications is 25 May 2012.

NIACE will be holding two roadshows for prospective trusts that have started to develop their proposals, ie forming partnerships and engaging at a local level to develop their model. The roadshows will take place in Birmingham (8 May) and London (9 May). Further details are available on the NIACE website<http://www.niace.org.uk/cltroadshows>.

Preparatory Actions in the Field of Sport - 2012 Open Call Launched (EU)

The 2012 open Call for Proposals for the Preparatory Action European Partnership on Sports has now been launched.

The main objective of the Call is to prepare future EU actions in the field of sport, on the basis of the Sport Chapter of the proposed Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport - Erasmus for All (2014-2020).

Support is available for transnational projects put forward by public bodies and not-for-profit organisations which will identify and test suitable networks and good practices in the field of sport in the following areas:

* The fight against match-fixing.
* The promotion of physical activity supporting active ageing.
* Awareness-raising about effective ways of promoting sport at municipal level.
* Trans-frontier joint grassroots sport competitions in neighbouring regions and Member States.

A total of €3.5 million is available. Proposals must include a transnational network with partners from a minimum of five EU Member States. Projects must start between 1 January 2013 and 31 March 2013 and end no later than 30 June 2014.

The deadline for submission of proposals is 31 July 2012.

Ideas Fund Innovators - New Round Open to Applications

A new deadline has been announced for the Ideas Fund Innovators scheme, sponsored by IdeasTap.

Each application round (there are four per year) offers ten awards of £1,000 to young people within the UK between the ages of 16 and 25, who have a creative project in any artistic discipline that they want to get off the ground. In the past, dance and film projects, music videos and photography collectives have been supported.

The Fund will consider applications from groups or individuals within the UK for inspiring, original, realistic and innovative arts and creative projects, providing one person takes the lead and has the main responsibility for managing the application and any money awarded.

Applications must demonstrate that the Fund will enhance the quality and ambition of their ideas and projects in ways that would not be possible without the support of the Fund. Applicants must also be able to show that the project has not been done before. Applicants must be aged between 16 and 25 on 22 June 2012 and be resident in the UK.

The next deadline for applications is 22 June 2012.

EMI - INSTRUMENT AND EQUIPMENT AWARDS (UK) 

The EMI Music Sound Foundation provides grants to help towards the purchase of musical instruments and/or equipment for individuals who are in full time education and Schools who require the equipment to fund music education. The Foundation also funds courses and training opportunities for music teachers who work within schools.

Eligible applicants include:

Schools to fund music education (with the exception of statutory national curriculum music teaching).

Individuals in full time education to fund musical instrument/equipment purchase (preference is given to under 25s).

Music teachers working within schools to fund courses and training.

Grants of no more than £2,000 are available.
The closing day for applications is Wednesday 12 September 2012.

Any applications received after this date will be passed onto the next Trustees' meeting.

ACP-EU COOPERATION PROGRAMME IN HIGHER EDUCATION

The Call for Proposals for EDULINK II, ACP-EU Co-operation Programme in Higher Education has now been launched.

A total of €23.3 million is available for this Call which is open to public or private Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), networks of HEIs and Regional Institutions of Higher Education. The aim of the Call is to continue fostering co-operation in the field of Higher Education between the countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP States) and the European Union.

Proposals will have to address one of the following two priority areas:

• Energy access and efficiency
• Agriculture and food security

The specific objectives are to increase the capacity of ACP HEIs at two levels:

• Management /Administration
• Academic

Proposals will aim at supporting HEIs in ACP States to create new and upgrade existing curricula and teaching methods, reinforce links between teaching, modern technologies, lifelong learning and research, as well as strengthening their management and administration capacity.
The deadline for applications is 30 July 2012.

Money, money everywhere (if you can cope with the paperwork!)

New Energy Efficiency Funding
The Department of Energy and Climate ChangeUp to £50,000 is available for each successful community to be used to help assess the potential for energy efficiency and local renewable energy generation in their locality. Organisations including parish councils, voluntary associations, development trusts and faith groups are all eligible to apply.

Fundamental Rights and Citizenship
EU Charter of Fundamental RightsThe available funding consists of an indicative amount of €20.97 million. Grant applications must be for a minimum of €75,000, for up to 80% of overall eligible project costs for one or more of these topics:

• Informing on where the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights applies and where to turn to if fundamental rights are violated (CFR).
• Promoting the Rights of the Child (RoC).
• Combating racism, xenophobia and antisemitism (RXAS).
• Fighting Homophobia: Enhanced/improved understanding and tolerance (HMPB).
• Training and networking between legal professions and legal practitioners (TRAI)
• Citizenship
• Participation in the democratic life of the Union (DEMO).
• Raise awareness about Union citizenship and the rights attached to it and identify obstacles to their effective exercise (CITI).
• Raise awareness and improve knowledge about the EU rules on free movement, in particular Directive 2004/38/EC (FREE).
• Facilitate sharing of knowledge and exchange of best practices on acquisition and loss of Union citizenship (BPoC).
• Address the gender imbalance in participation in the European Parliament elections (GEND).
• Data protection and privacy rights
• Training and awareness raising on data protection including general information on the fundamental right to the protection of personal data and awareness-raising campaigns.
• Improving practical cooperation between Data Protection Authorities.
• Reinforcing children's privacy in the online environment.
• Identifying and tackling the challenges posed by new technologies for the fundamental right to data protection.
• Technological and organisational means to improve data protection compliance.

and, for supporting the functioning of non-profit organisations in this field, €1.6 million is available and grants can for up to 80% of the total eligible cost of the Forecast Operating Budget, up to a maximum of €250,000.

Community Buying ChallengeDepartment for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) A £60,000 initiative has been launched by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and Co-operatives UK to promote community buying models. The competition is open to groups and organisations within the public, voluntary or business sectors. Awards will be made to support training, mentoring and seed funding for stand out projects, with a £15,000 prize available for an overall winner.

Daphne Programme (2007-2013)The European CommissionThe available funding consists of an indicative amount of €25.83 million. Applications for a minimum grant of €75,000, for up to 80% of overall eligible project costs, are invited.Projects under this Call should focus on the following priorities:

• Rights of victims of violence.
• Violence linked to harmful practices.
• Children as victims and perpetrators of violence.
• Perpetrator programmes and interventions.
• Training programmes for professionals in contact with victims.
• Empowerment work at grass-roots level.
• Media violence, particularly violence linked to new technology and social networking tools.

Projects require a partnership of two organisations from two different Member States. Public or private organisations and institutions, such as NGOs, local authorities and university departments are eligible to apply.

Clore Award for Museum LearningThe Art Fund Prize & Clore Award for Museum LearningThe single award of £10,000 will be presented in June 2012. Entries are accepted from across the whole range of museum and gallery learning activities, including but not restricted to schools, colleges, or community settings. Projects and initiatives which were launched or mainly took place during the calendar years 2010 or 2011 are eligible

Europe for Citizens 2007-2013

The European Commission

• Town twinning citizens' meetings, indicative budget of €6.1 million.
• Networks of twinned towns; indicative budget of €4.5 million
• Citizens' projects; indicative budget of €1.3 million
• Support measures; indicative budget of €805,000.
• Support for projects initiated by civil society organisations; indicative budget of €2.8 million.
• Active European Remembrance; indicative budget of €2.4 million.

Film Networks Fund

Creative England Funding is available towards a range of activities including:

• provision of editorial and technical support for emerging talent looking to produce work;
• delivery of networking;
• screening and industry speaker events and master classes; and
• provision of peer-to-peer support, mentoring, training and advice.

The Film Networks Fund is a fixed call with £150,000 to award in the current round. Awards will range from £2,500 to £25,000. Applications can be made by legally constituted organisations operating in the English regions (outside Greater London); and legally constituted organisations operating outside the English regions that wish to develop and deliver activity in the English regions (outside Greater London).

Daphne Programme

The European Commission

supporting the functioning (operating costs) of non-profit organisations - such as voluntary associations, foundations and NGO's - pursuing activities which contribute to the objectives of the specific programme DAPHNE III.

A total budget of €3 million is available and grants can be for up to 80% of the total eligible cost of the Forecast Operating Budget, up to a maximum of €250,000 for the financial year 2012.