Hockerill Educational Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £382,325 (2023-24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 2-4 months depending on application deadline
• Grant Range (Individual): £500 - £1,250
• Grant Range (Corporate): £500 - £10,000
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (with diocesan focus on Chelmsford and St Albans)

Contact Details

Website: www.hockerillfoundation.org.uk

Email: info@hockerillfoundation.org.uk

Phone: 01279 420855

Secretary: Foundation managed by The Hockerill Educational Company

For application forms and enquiries, contact the Secretary at the above email address.

Overview

The Hockerill Educational Foundation was established as a charity in 1977 following the closure of Hockerill College, a Church of England and Non-conformist teacher training college, in 1978. The Foundation was primarily endowed from the sale of Hockerill College of Education and currently holds an endowment valued at £6-7 million. Registered as charity number 311018, the Foundation promotes education and training by making grants to defined categories of individuals in higher and further education, with a priority given to teacher training and Religious Education.

The Foundation operates through The Hockerill Educational Company, a company limited by guarantee, and is governed by 13 trustees who receive no remuneration. In 2023-24, the Foundation had an income of £365,000 and made grants totaling £382,325. Two-thirds of annual grant funding supports the church's educational work in the Dioceses of Chelmsford and St Albans, while the remaining one-third is allocated to corporate grants and individual student grants. The Foundation has expanded its reach internationally, supporting teacher training projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 2021-22.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Individual Grants (approximately £70,000 annually)

• £500 - £1,250 per grant
• Supports 70-80 students per year, mainly those training to be primary or secondary teachers
• Annual awards requiring reapplication each year
• Applications accepted from December; first deadline 31st March (decisions in May-June)
• Late applications possible through June-July but with limited funding available

Corporate/Organizational Grants (approximately £30,000 annually)

• £500 - £10,000 per grant
• For education-related organizations
• Renewable for 3-5 years with annual progress reporting
• First deadline: 31st March (decisions announced mid-May)

Diocesan Grants (approximately £250,000+ annually)

• Two-thirds of total annual funding
• Exclusively for Chelmsford and St Albans Dioceses
• Requires diocesan bishop's signature
• Deadline: 31st March

Priority Areas

Individual Grants Priority:

• Students and teaching assistants taking teaching qualifications, or first degrees leading to teaching
• Teachers, teaching assistants and others in an educational capacity seeking professional development through full-time or part-time courses
• Those undertaking research related to the practice of Religious Education in schools or further education
• Students facing financial difficulties
• Voluntary/non-statutory education professionals
• Strong priority for Religious Education courses and teacher training

Corporate Grants Priority:

• Innovative projects benefiting Religious Education
• Organizations supporting teacher education and development
• Research and development in Religious Education
• Projects aligned with education on Christian principles
• Activities likely to benefit Religious Education and/or the Church's educational work

Diocesan Grants Support:

• Teacher advisers
• Training courses for headteachers and clergy working with schools
• Links with schools overseas
• Resources for teachers
• Development of RE syllabuses
• Events for schools
• Youth projects
• Specific projects with parishes

What They Don't Fund

• First year of three/four-year courses (priority given to subsequent years)
• School children or those under 16
• Ordination training
• Counseling or therapy courses
• Professional training outside education (law, medicine, etc.)
• Courses or visits abroad
• Emergency mid-year grants (all grants allocated before academic year starts)
• Second or follow-up degrees (except specific teaching-related courses)
• Non-teaching career training

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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by 13 trustees, none of whom receive remuneration. The board includes:

• Rt Rev Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford
• Rt Rev Dr Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans
• Mr Colin Bird
• Ven Jonathan Croucher, Archdeacon of Chelmsford
• Mrs Ruth Everett
• Mrs Anthea Kenna
• Mrs Judy King
• Mr David Lodge
• Ven Janet Mackenzie

The trustees meet twice yearly to determine policy and strategy, with operational management delegated to the Foundation Secretary. An Education Grants Committee meets twice annually to consider and approve applications. The Foundation has no employees with benefits over £60,000 and operates without trading subsidiaries.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Individual Grants:

1. Contact the Secretary at info@hockerillfoundation.org.uk to request an application form
2. Application forms also available on the Foundation's website (links and documents page)
3. Applications accepted from December for the following academic year
4. Submit by 31st March for best chance of success (reviewed in May-June)
5. Late applications accepted through June-July, but most funds will be allocated by then

Corporate/Organizational Grants:

1. Contact the Secretary for application details
2. Trustees expect any activity, project or research to be likely to be of real benefit to Religious Education and/or the Church's educational work
3. Applications require demonstration of alignment with education on Christian principles
4. Annual progress reports required for multi-year grants

Diocesan Grants:

1. Must be submitted by 31st March
2. Requires diocesan bishop's signature
3. Limited to projects within Chelmsford and St Albans Dioceses

Decision Timeline

• Corporate/Diocesan awards: Announced mid-May
• Most individual awards: Announced mid-July
• Payment: Typically late September
• Larger grants: May be paid in two installments (second in January)
• Overall timeline: 2-4 months from application to decision, depending on submission date

Success Rates

The Foundation does not publish specific success rate data. However, guidance notes indicate:

• Applications submitted by the 31st March deadline “may stand a better chance of success”
• By June-July “most of our funds will have been allocated” so “only a few priority applications can be approved”
• In a typical year, 70-80 individual grants are awarded from available funds of approximately £70,000
• The competitive nature suggests applying as early as possible increases chances

Reapplication Policy

• All grants to individuals are made on an annual basis
• Recipients must reapply each year if seeking continued support
• The Foundation does not provide explicit guidance on reapplication for unsuccessful applicants
• Prospective applicants should contact the Secretary for clarification on reapplication policies

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's guidance and priorities, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Strong alignment with Religious Education

• The Foundation gives explicit priority to Religious Education teaching, research, and development
• Applications related to RE teaching or RE-focused degrees are favored
• The Foundation states trustees expect supported activities to "be of real benefit to Religious Education and/or the Church's educational work"

2. Teacher training focus

• Primary emphasis on those training to be teachers
• Strong preference for PGCE students and those taking teaching qualifications
• Support extends throughout the “teacher journey through training, qualification, probation and professional development”

3. Financial need

• The Foundation considers applications from students with financial difficulties
• Grants are designed to help the “maximum numbers of students” suggesting focus on need rather than large individual awards

4. Early application timing

• Applications received by 31st March have significantly better chances
• Foundation explicitly states early applications “may stand a better chance of success”
• Late applications face limited remaining funds

5. Education on Christian principles

• Corporate grants favor organizations associated with education on Christian principles
• Diocesan focus on Church of England educational work in Chelmsford and St Albans

6. Innovation in Religious Education (for corporate applicants)

• The Foundation has partnered with NATRE on the National Prize for Innovation in RE Teaching
• Recent winner Gill Tewkesbury recognized for “creative, innovative way of opening up and applying Christian belief and teaching”
• Transferability of successful teaching methods valued

7. Realistic funding requests

• Individual grants typically range £500-£1,250 (not large awards)
• Corporate grants up to £10,000
• Applications should request amounts within these typical ranges

8. Subsequent year applications (for continuing students)

• While first-year applications for multi-year courses are not prioritized, the Foundation states “if you are already on a course” it's important to apply early for funding in future years
• Demonstrates preference for supporting students through completion of their studies

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Apply by 31st March: This deadline is critical for maximizing success chances; late applications face severely limited funds
• Religious Education is king: If your project relates to RE teaching, research, or development, emphasize this prominently throughout your application
• Teacher training is the core mission: The Foundation exists primarily to support teacher education; frame your application around teaching career development
• Think small but sustainable: Individual grants are modest (£500-£1,250) but can be renewed annually through reapplication
• Corporate applicants should emphasize innovation: The Foundation values creative approaches to RE teaching and projects with transferable benefits
• Diocesan connection helps: If your organization operates in Chelmsford or St Albans Dioceses, highlight this connection
• Demonstrate financial need: With limited funds supporting maximum numbers of students, showing genuine financial need is important
• Plan for annual reapplication: All individual grants require reapplication each year, so factor this into long-term funding strategies

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Sarum St Michael Educational Charity
• ST LUKES COLLEGE FOUNDATION
• Gilchrist Educational Trust
• Educational Opportunity Foundation
• The All Saints Educational Trust
• Keswick Hall Charity
• The Farmington Trust Limited
• Armed Forces Education Trust
• Milton Mount Foundation
• ST Hild and St Bede Trust

References

• Hockerill Educational Foundation official website: www.hockerillfoundation.org.uk
• Hockerill Educational Foundation Grants page: https://www.hockerillfoundation.org.uk/Grants.aspx
• Hockerill Educational Foundation Funding page: https://www.hockerillfoundation.org.uk/Funding.aspx
• Hockerill Educational Foundation FAQ page: https://www.hockerillfoundation.org.uk/FAQ.aspx
• Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 311018: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=311018&subid=0
• Religious Education Council member profile: https://religiouseducationcouncil.org.uk/member/hockerill-educational-foundation/
• The Hockerill/NATRE Prize for Innovation in RE Teaching: https://www.hockerillfoundation.org.uk/natre-prize-2014.aspx
• Turn2us Grants Search: https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/grant/the-hockerill-educational-foundation-14631