Open call research grants

Applications are welcome from any country. To be eligible to apply for a grant, applicants must be able to answer ‘yes’ to all of the following questions:

• Does the lead applicant work in an institution that will support the proposed research?
• Can the institution accept a grant from the Froebel Trust, which will be ring-fenced for the project?
• Does the applicant / team possess a proven track record of experience in the topic proposed?
• Are you affiliated with a research and/or educational institution which shares our goal of increasing and advancing knowledge and debate about Froebelian principles and their application in the teaching, learning and development of children from birth to 8 years?
• Can you demonstrate that advancing knowledge about Froebelian education and learning is central to your project aims?

In addition, we do not fund:

- Proposals by individuals who are not affiliated with a specific organisation.

- Projects that are not connected to a Froebelian ethos and philosophy.

- Requests for financial help for capital costs. The projects we fund are primarily for research activities and we would expect that most of the budget will be for staff time.

In 2024, we are offering:

• Seed Corn grants of up to £5,000 - to kickstart new research projects and fund smaller scale projects.
  
• Larger grants of up to £10,000 - to fund projects led by researchers with a more established research reputation and a track record of delivering high quality studies, research outputs and impact.

While it is unlikely that we will be able to make grant awards of more than the expected maximum detailed above, the Trustees will not exclude an outstanding application for a grant with a budget that exceeds the expected maximum. Budgets must demonstrate value for money.

Note: All budgets must be calculated in UK pounds sterling.

Applicants must be capable of undertaking the proposed project to a high standard, on time and within budget. Therefore, previous experience of successful completion of relevant scholarship and / or a research project (funded or unfunded) including endorsements, publications and presentations, can help to demonstrate a track record.

Where previous experience is closely related to the topic of the proposed project, the applicant(s) can also show a track record in relevant research and / or scholarship. Our funding also has the potential to enhance the knowledge and capabilities of the applicant(s), which you may wish to consider and mention in your application.

Lead applicants must be employed by a university or other institution where research can be supported. This organisation will receive the grant, if your application is successful.

Applications can include (as members of the research team) colleagues who do not necessarily work for an institution that supports research or who are self-employed.

Applicants whose institutions do not have a research ethics committee / panel can still apply but applicants should read the Froebel Trust’s Expectations for Ethical Research. This includes the requirement for all research to be approved by an ethics committee. Where no such committee exists formally within the applicant’s institution, the Froebel Trust will carry out an ethics review of the project, if the applicant is successful and is awarded a grant.

You can also watch Good Practice in Ethics & Research - a Froebel Trust presentation by Dr Kate Hoskins and Dr Nikki Fairchild.

The guidance outlines costs that can and cannot be included in a project’s budget.

We expect most of the budget to cover staff costs but up to 20% of the total may be allocated for other, non-pay costs.

Please give consideration to your institution’s sustainability policy and the environmental impact of your proposed study when preparing the budget for the project.

The Froebel Trust cannot cover full economic costs. In general, our funding covers or contributes towards daily rates in the range of £350-£375 per day (or around £50 per hour) but you can still submit an application with higher daily rates. Value for money is a key consideration.

Note: All budgets must be calculated in UK pounds sterling.

We expect projects to take up to two years and we hope that projects will have lasting, positive effects. Projects must start before 31 March 2025.

Partnering with others is permitted and encouraged where this will enhance the project, however a lead applicant must be identified. They will act as the primary contact for correspondence with the Froebel Trust. The eligibility criteria only apply to the lead applicant but everyone should understand what is involved in the project and have the capacity to play their part.

Your application will be considered and reviewed by experts with relevant knowledge and expertise. The reviewers score applications and provide comments.

These scores and comments enable our grants panel to shortlist and make grant award decisions. We will notify successful applicants by email.

You can also find out more about what happens next in our Information for Froebel Trust Grant Holders.

We are always happy to help potential applicants and we offer ten minute advisory (online) meeting slots. You can book a meeting to discuss your application on the following dates:

• 20 March 2024 8.30am-11.30am (UK time)
• 17 April 2024 between 8.30am-11.30am (UK time)

Please book a meeting (giving at least two weeks notice) by emailing Victoria Arneil, Programme Manager e: office@froebeltrust.org.uk and let us know your preferred date and meeting time.

Alternatively, you can contact Victoria Arneil, Programme Manager or Oksana Lissovets, Finance Manager with your grant application query. e: office@froebeltrust.org.uk

Take a look at our research and project library to see all the research projects we have funded in the past and those which are in progress. Including:

• Slow knowledge and the unhurried child - Prof. Alison Clark, University of South-Eastern Norway
• Exploring Froebelian principles as a vehicle for curriculum reform - Jennifer Clement, Cardiff Metropolitan University
• Understanding practitioners' curriculum decision-making to support complexity in children's play in a multi-diverse pre-school setting - Liz Chesworth, University of Sheffield
• Valuing young children's signs of learning - Rosie Flewitt and Kate Cowan, UCL Institute of Education

You can also explore our interactive case study map and watch short films about previous and ongoing Froebel Trust funded projects.