London Diocesan Board for Schools
At a glance
Key takeaways
- This suits work that supports Church of England schools in the London Diocese, or pupils who attend or have attended one for at least two years.
- The City & Diocese of London Voluntary School Fund helps pupils in financial need under 25 with activities beyond the statutory curriculum, such as residential trips and music or arts, with a maximum of £150 per pupil in an academic year and no more than £1,500 for pupils at the same school.
- Schools and parents apply on a pupil's behalf, so a charity outside that circle should not apply itself and could instead tell eligible families or school staff about the fund.
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, retrospective claims are not considered, and where a criterion is oversubscribed the trustees use proximity and school attendance as tie-breakers, so apply before the activity and show how it meets the criteria.
Overview
London Diocesan Board for Schools is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 313000).
The London Diocesan Board for Schools is a charity that promotes education in the London Diocese consistent with the faith and practice of the Church of England, and promotes religious education, worship and church schools there. Its City & Diocese of London Voluntary School Fund supports pupils in financial need with activities beyond the statutory curriculum. Around £15,000–£20,000 is usually available per financial year, and its annual giving is £66,000.
What they fund
Priority Areas
The LDBS supports Church of England schools in London, promoting education consistent with the Church of England and religious education and worship in schools. It provides a core service to Church schools, alongside additional support in school improvement, governance, operations and Christian distinctiveness. Its City & Diocese fund supports pupils in financial need who are under 25 and have attended or attend a Church of England VA or VC school in the London Diocese for at least two years; it helps them access activities beyond the statutory curriculum, including residential trips and music or arts. Schools and parents may apply on a pupil's behalf. LDBS also provides some funding for buildings of voluntary aided schools and its funds may support school premises maintenance.
Themes
- Church school education
- Religious education
- Disadvantaged pupils
- Curriculum enrichment
- School buildings
Geographic Focus
London Diocese.
What they don't fund
- City & Diocese of London voluntary school fund only:
- Applicants must be under 25 years of age
- Applicants must attend or have attended a C of E VA or VC school in the London Diocese for at least two years
- Applicants must be in financial need
- Retrospective claims are not considered
- The maximum grant available to any child or young person in an academic year is £150
- Grants totalling more than £1,500 will not be awarded to pupils attending the same school in an academic year
How to apply
For the City & Diocese of London Voluntary School Fund, schools and parents may apply on behalf of children and young people. Use the application form available on the LDBS website and explain how the activity meets the criteria.
Who can apply:
- City & Diocese of London Voluntary School Fund: Applicants must be under 25 years of age, attend or have attended a C of E VA or VC school in the London Diocese for at least two years, and be in financial need.
What to send:
- City & Diocese of London Voluntary School Fund
- Applicants need to show how the activity meets the criteria.
- Factual information about the pupil and their particular circumstances, with evidence of need where appropriate.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- The trustees prioritise activities not ordinarily met from statutory funding.
- It prioritises applications promoting education in the principles of the Church of England.
- It prioritises recreation, social and physical training beyond the statutory curriculum.
- It prioritises study of music or the arts beyond the statutory curriculum.
- When a criterion is oversubscribed, proximity and school attendance are used as tie-breakers.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to London Diocesan Board for Schools.
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in this funder’s latest annual report:
- Holy Trinity School, Dalston£61,000year to 31 March 2025
- St George the Martyr School, Holborn£5,000year to 31 March 2025
Grant examples taken from the funder’s filed accounts.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 March 2021 | £21,009,000 | £21,378,000 | £230,000 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2021 |
| year to 31 March 2022 | £13,165,000 | £13,261,000 | £211,000 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2022 |
| year to 31 March 2023 | £19,560,000 | £14,951,000 | £235,000 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2023 |
| year to 31 March 2024 | £6,436,000 | £6,627,000 | £234,000 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2024 |
| year to 31 March 2025 | £7,359,000 | £6,419,000 | £66,000 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 March 2021; year to 31 March 2022; year to 31 March 2023; year to 31 March 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 March 2025: the accounts do not say whether this is grants awarded or paid.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- ldbs.co.uk
- ldbs.co.uk · read on 30 October 2026
- ldbs.co.uk/how-ldbs-helps · read on 30 October 2026
- ldbs.co.uk/s/Grant-Making-Policy.pdf · read on 30 October 2026
- ldbs.co.uk/more-about-ldbs · read on 30 October 2026
- ldbs.co.uk/s/MODEL-APPLICATION-SEPT-2022.pdf · read on 30 October 2026
- ldbs.co.uk/search · read on 30 October 2026
- ldbs.co.uk/contact · read on 30 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 March 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to London Diocesan Board for Schools?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 020 3837 5158source
- London Diocesan House 36 Causton Street London SW1P 4AUsource
- ldbs.co.uk
- Contact form
- Apply online
Applying to London Diocesan Board for Schools?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 020 3837 5158source
- London Diocesan House 36 Causton Street London SW1P 4AUsource
- ldbs.co.uk
- Contact form
- Apply online