No pupil should miss out because of cost
Budget pressure is one of the biggest barriers to enrichment in state schools. We help schools identify and explore external funding opportunities so that more young people, regardless of background, can access the experiences that develop their character and raise their aspirations.
Talk to us about fundingWe help you find and explore the funding options available to your school
We combine below-market procurement with active funding guidance to help stretch your enrichment budget as far as possible. Before we even look at external funding, our supplier negotiation typically delivers a 34% saving versus market rate. From there, we help you identify the most relevant funding streams for your school and support you through the process of exploring them.
Pupil Premium funding
Pupil premium can be used to fund enrichment activities that support the personal development and attainment of disadvantaged pupils. We help schools build a clear evidence base that demonstrates how enrichment activities meet pupil premium objectives, making the spend defensible to governors and Ofsted.
Applicable to: trips, residentials, workshops, speakers and any activity with a clear pupil premium rationale.
Grants and charitable trusts
There are hundreds of grant-making trusts and charitable foundations that fund enrichment, character development and outdoor education for young people. We identify the most relevant opportunities for your school and support the application process, from initial research through to submission.
Examples include: Arts Council England, The Outward Bound Trust, Ernest Cook Trust, local community foundations.
National Lottery funding
The National Lottery Community Fund and Sport England distribute significant funding each year to projects that support young people. We help schools identify relevant lottery funding streams and build applications that demonstrate impact, community benefit and alignment with programme priorities.
Relevant funds include: The National Lottery Community Fund, Sport England Together Fund.
Local authority funding
Many local authorities hold budgets specifically earmarked for educational enrichment, community projects and pupil wellbeing. We work with schools to identify what is available in their area and make the case for accessing it, particularly where a programme aligns with wider local priorities around social mobility and community cohesion.
Varies by local authority. We advise based on your specific geography and context.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Many large employers in your local area will have CSR budgets dedicated to supporting schools, young people and community projects. We help schools identify relevant local businesses, make the initial approach and structure partnerships that deliver genuine value for both the school and the corporate partner.
Works particularly well for careers-linked enrichment, STEM programmes and employer engagement activities.
Philanthropic donations
Individual philanthropists and family foundations often fund education and enrichment projects, particularly where there is a strong character development or social mobility angle. We help schools identify and approach relevant donors, and we have existing relationships with philanthropic funders who support our work across the Liverpool City Region and beyond.
Particularly relevant for trust-wide programmes and large-scale enrichment initiatives.
Government funding initiatives
Government schemes and ringfenced budgets for enrichment, outdoor education and character development are available through various national programmes. We monitor these closely and alert schools to relevant opportunities, supporting applications where funding is competitive or requires specific evidence of need and impact.
Includes: School Games funding, Mental Health Support Teams, National Citizen Service and other DfE enrichment initiatives.
Saving reallocation
Sometimes the most effective funding is already within your budget. Our 34% average cost saving versus market rate means many schools can fund significantly more enrichment from their existing budget simply by working with us. We help school business managers identify where existing spend can be repurposed and maximised across a broader enrichment programme.
Particularly effective for schools reviewing their trips and residentials spend.
How we support your funding journey
We do not just point you at a list of funders. We work alongside you through the whole process.
Funding landscape review
We review your school's context, location, cohort and existing budget to identify the most relevant funding streams available to you.
Opportunity mapping
We map identified funding opportunities against your planned enrichment programme, prioritising those most likely to be successful and most valuable to your school.
Application support
We support the application and bid writing process, helping you articulate the impact of your programme in the language that funders respond to.
Impact evidence
Our impact measurement framework provides the evidence you need to report back to funders and make the case for continued or increased support in future years.
What funding support has made possible
These are real outcomes achieved by schools working with ESL and our funding support model.
Since September 2024, ESL has deployed over £50,000 in philanthropic and charitable funding across seven schools in the Liverpool City Region. This investment has enabled 9,313 young people to access enrichment opportunities, including 255 students who travelled overseas for the very first time. For many, these were experiences beyond their immediate community that would not have been possible without targeted funding support.
Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust
Funded a 10-activity sports and culture programme over 8 months for 393 students, focusing on cultural awareness and social skills development.
Everton Free School, Barcelona
A fully funded trip to Barcelona secured through external funding support. An opportunity students would not otherwise have had access to.
Chiltern Learning Trust, Luton
A 2-day bushcraft programme for 950 students. Collective volume negotiation delivered an £18,000 saving versus standard market rates.
The funding support made a huge difference for our pupils. Through Enrich Schools, we were able to secure a fully paid trip to Barcelona, creating an opportunity that many of our students simply would not otherwise have had.
Everton Free School
Liverpool City Region
Find out what funding options your school could explore
Book a call with our team. We will review your school's context, talk through the most relevant funding routes and discuss how we can support you in exploring them.
- Free initial funding landscape conversation
- No obligation, no commitment
- Works for both full service and trips-only schools
- We can help you identify and explore up to nine different funding routes