Northern Consortium

Charity Number: 1018979

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Income: £7,575,806
  • Charitable Expenditure: £7,682,234
  • Success Rate: Not published
  • Decision Time: Reviewed 3 times annually (January, July, October)
  • Grant Range: Up to £25,000 annually
  • Geographic Focus: Northern England (national reach for some programs)

Contact Details

Website: www.nccharity.org.uk

Email: info@nccharity.org.uk (general enquiries and informal discussions)

Email: Grants@nccharity.org.uk (application submissions)

Phone: 07309 926751

Address: 667-669 Stockport Road, Manchester, M12 4QE

Pre-Application Support: Strongly encouraged - contact for informal discussions before applying

Overview

Northern Consortium was established as a charity on 23 March 1993, celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023. Founded by an alliance of UK universities from across Northern England, the charity is dedicated to advancing education through promoting the benefits of international education and supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The charity is funded by annual income from NCUK (its wholly-owned trading subsidiary established in 2003), which generates approximately £7.5 million annually. In 2022, Trustees developed a new grants strategy that expanded funding criteria to support a wider pool of educational charities, committing £150,000 in grants to educational organisations across Northern England. The charity operates with 13 trustees representing nine founding member universities plus external trustees, and is led by Executive Director Diane Leicester.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Programme: Up to £25,000 annually

  • Application method: Rolling applications accepted year-round
  • Committee reviews three times annually (January, July, October)
  • Multi-year funding considered
  • Applications can be submitted via downloaded form to Grants@nccharity.org.uk

Research Funding: Under development

  • Research funding priorities to be published October 2025
  • Detailed written proposals (max 6 A4 pages) required
  • Submit to Grants@nccharity.org.uk

Funding Preference: Co-funding applications preferred (working collaboratively with other funders), but sole funding applications always considered

Priority Areas

The charity's three strategic aims guide all funding decisions:

  1. Facilitating access to international education - Supporting programs that help students access international educational opportunities
  1. Promoting benefits of international education - Activities that demonstrate and advocate for international education experiences
  1. Enabling educational engagement for students from disadvantaged groups - Programs specifically targeting students from under-represented backgrounds

Geographic Priority: Organizations providing services in Northern England communities (though some programs have national reach)

Target Beneficiaries: UK students from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not explicitly stated, applications must align with at least one of the three strategic aims focused on education and disadvantaged students.

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Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Diane Leicester

Board Chair: Dr Malcolm Butler (University of Sheffield)

Deputy Chair: Professor Claire Hamshire (University of Salford)

Treasurer: Stuart McKinnon-Evans (University of Bradford)

Total Trustees: 13 (representatives from member universities plus external trustees)

Founding Member Universities:

  • University of Bradford
  • University of Salford
  • Sheffield Hallam University
  • University of Leeds
  • University of Sheffield
  • Leeds Beckett University
  • Liverpool John Moores University
  • University of Manchester
  • University of Huddersfield

The governance structure maintains strong connections to Northern England's university sector while including external perspectives. The charity describes itself as “an open and trusting funder” that values relationship-building with potential grantees.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Grant Funding:

  1. Strongly recommended first step: Contact info@nccharity.org.uk for an informal discussion before applying
  2. Download application form from nccharity.org.uk/how-to-apply/
  3. Complete and submit to Grants@nccharity.org.uk
  4. Applications accepted throughout the year

For Research Funding:

  1. Submit to Grants@nccharity.org.uk

Decision Timeline

  • Applications undergo initial assessment upon receipt
  • Committee reviews applications at meetings held three times annually: January, July, and October
  • Financial year runs September 1st to August 31st
  • Note: Meeting schedule may be subject to change in 2025

Notification: Specific timeframes not published, but decision timeline depends on proximity to next committee meeting

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available. However, the charity notes that applicants who engage in pre-application discussions are more likely to be successful.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is not explicitly stated on public-facing materials. Applicants should contact the charity directly for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

Pre-Application Contact: The charity “strongly encourages new applicants to contact us for an informal discussion prior to submitting an application” and states that applicants who have these discussions “are more likely to be successful.”

Co-Funding Preference: “Applications for co-funding are preferred as we aim to work collaboratively with other like-minded funders to help organisations achieve more. However, sole funding applications will always be considered.”

Alignment: Applications must align with at least one of the three strategic aims - successful applicants demonstrate clear connection to facilitating international education access, promoting its benefits, or enabling disadvantaged students' educational engagement.

Recently Funded Projects (Examples)

  • Prisoners' Education Trust: Funded 30 additional learners in Northern England prison education courses
  • Foundation Years Trust: Co-designing schools programme manual and testing in 10 schools
  • Debate Mate: Core programme delivery to 4 schools in North of England, targeting 80 students
  • Greater Manchester Law Centre & University of Manchester: Legal advocacy and research support pilot project
  • Linacre Institute: Extension of “Reach Higher” programme
  • University of Bradford: Expanding short-term overseas placements for widening participation students
  • Wellspring: Developing accredited training course for counseling children and young people
  • CARA: £60,000 pledge to fund academics from at-risk countries to complete studies in the UK

Key Language and Terminology

  • “Widening participation” and “under-represented backgrounds”
  • “Access to international education”
  • “Educational engagement”
  • “Disadvantaged groups”
  • “Collaborative funding”

Standing Out

  1. Have the conversation first: Pre-application discussion significantly improves success likelihood
  2. Show collaboration: Demonstrate partnership with other funders or stakeholders
  3. Northern England focus: Emphasize how the project serves communities in Northern England
  4. Evidence of impact on disadvantaged students: Clear outcomes for under-represented groups
  5. Alignment with university sector: Projects that complement or partner with higher education institutions
  6. International education dimension: Programs with cross-border educational elements are particularly valued

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application discussion is critical - The charity explicitly states this increases success rates; don't skip this step
  • Maximum grant of £25,000 annually - Plan your budget accordingly, though multi-year funding is possible
  • Three review cycles yearly - Time your application to align with January, July, or October committee meetings
  • Co-funding is preferred but not required - Demonstrate you've sought other funders, but don't let this deter sole applications
  • Clear alignment with at least one strategic aim is essential - Generic education projects won't succeed; be specific about international education or disadvantaged student focus
  • Northern England geographic focus matters - Projects should demonstrate clear benefit to Northern England communities
  • University connections are valued - The charity's roots in the university sector mean partnerships with HE institutions may strengthen applications
  • They describe themselves as “open and trusting” - Relationship-based funding approach suggests authenticity and transparency in applications will be rewarded

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