Sheila Coates Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £635,611 (year ending Feb 2025)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (oversubscribed)
• Decision Time: 6 weeks from application deadline
• Grant Range: £5,000 (fixed amount)
• Geographic Focus: England (mainstream secondary schools and colleges)

Contact Details

Website: www.sheilacoates.foundation

Email: enquire@sheilacoates.foundation

Phone: 0300 302 0000

Address: The Courtyard, Shoreham Road, Upper Beeding, Steyning, BN44 3TN

Overview

The Sheila Coates Foundation was registered as a charity in 2020 (charity number 1188092) to advance the education and mental health of children and young people in England who have autism. Founded by a successful fintech entrepreneur who benefitted from the late Sheila Coates' autism support service in Oxfordshire, the foundation honors her legacy of “respect and caring for each child and each family, combined with realism about their difficulties.” With an annual expenditure of £635,611 (year ending February 2025) and a team of 3 staff supported by 7 trustees, the foundation has distributed £1.8 million through rapid funding rounds, helping over 18,500 autistic students across 455 schools and colleges. The foundation emphasizes outcome-focused grantmaking with 98% of schools reporting positive impact within 5 months.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Rapid Impact Fund: £5,000 (fixed award)

• Rolling basis with periodic funding rounds announced on website
• Approximately 100 grants available per round
• Fixed amounts with no flexibility to request more or less
• Full £5,000 released upfront after signed Terms and Conditions
• Previous recipients welcome to reapply
• Multiple applications permitted per school/college

Priority Areas

The foundation funds activities that are:

1. Places and Spaces - Sensory gardens, vegetable plots, roof gardens, yurts, and safe indoor/outdoor spaces developed or refurbished to help autistic students during structured or unstructured time

1. Resources - Hardware such as laptops, iPads, tablets, video cameras and other purchasable items that can be implemented quickly

1. Implementation Support - Additional staff time for well-being or engagement support, staff development activities including mentoring and action learning

1. Co-production Activities - School-wide consultations, planning groups led by autistic young people, awareness-raising initiatives about sensory strategies

Key Requirements:

• Activities must be implementable within 6 months with demonstrated impact
• Must go “over and above” statutory provision by schools or Local Authorities
• Cannot duplicate services identified in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
• Must demonstrate creative and innovative approaches
• Must actively involve autistic young people in planning and delivery

What They Don't Fund

• Primary schools
• Special schools or colleges
• Alternative Provision/Pupil Referral Units
• Direct applications from young people, parents, or support organizations (only schools/colleges can apply)
• Academy Trusts (though they can support member schools to apply)
• Activities that replicate existing statutory services
• Activities that duplicate EHCP provisions

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Governance and Leadership

Structure: 7 trustees, 3 staff members, no trustees receive remuneration

Founding Vision: The founder, a beneficiary of Sheila Coates' services, articulated the guiding philosophy: "I never saw my diagnosis as a 'label' in any negative sense...I want as many children as possible to have these resources." The foundation's vision centers on ensuring young people with autism receive necessary resources for understanding and success within mainstream society, enabling them to achieve their potential.

Decision-Making: The SCF Board of Trustees makes final decisions about funding allocation. Decisions are final with no possibility to appeal.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

• Online application form accessed when funding rounds are open
• Applications require: contact details, school/college URN, job title
• Foundation announces funding round dates on their website
• Subscribe to their mailing list for notifications of upcoming rounds
• Joint applications from collaborating schools/colleges permitted (with designated lead institution)

Current Status: Planning grant-making activity for 2026 (as of late 2025)

Decision Timeline

• Application to decision: 6 weeks from application deadline
• Overall process: Approximately 2 months from starting application to notification
• Notification method: Email
• Post-award reporting: Short online form with impact statement at end of funding period
• Possible follow-up engagement with SCF trustees or research partners

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The foundation anticipates being oversubscribed and acknowledges that limited funds mean some applications will be unsuccessful. Between 2021-2024, eight rapid impact rounds supported 455 schools/colleges (approximately 50-60 per round).

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants: Can reapply when the next funding round opens. No waiting period or restrictions on reapplication.

Previous recipients: Actively welcomed to reapply for new projects.

Application Success Factors

Direct Guidance from the Foundation

The foundation emphasizes: "If you don't write it, we won't know it!" Use character counts strategically to clearly explain planned activities.

Key Scoring Criteria

1. Alignment with funding round's specific focus
2. Quick implementation - demonstrable impact within 6-month timeline
3. Creative and innovative approach - not simply expanding existing services
4. Active involvement of autistic young people in planning and delivery

What They Seek

• Co-production or collaboration involving autistic young people actively planning/delivering initiatives
• School-wide or whole-college approaches (not isolated specialist team projects)
• Evidence of impact from previous funded work
• Genuine innovation rather than expanded existing services
• Consultation with autistic students as subject matter experts

Application Tips

• Review scoring criteria before writing
• Consult colleagues and involve autistic students in application development
• Examine evidence base for proposed activities
• Read provided examples of funded activities for inspiration
• Clearly articulate how the activity goes “over and above” statutory requirements
• Demonstrate how autistic young people will be involved in design and delivery

Evidence of Impact

The foundation has documented:

• 98% of schools reported positive impact within 5 months
• 57% increase in student engagement (sample data)
• 59% of measured instances showed reduced anxiety in lessons (sample data)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Fixed funding only: No flexibility on the £5,000 amount - tailor proposals to this exact budget
• Speed matters: Demonstrate how activities can be implemented within 6 months with measurable impact
• Co-production is critical: Actively involve autistic students in planning and delivery - this is a key scoring criterion
• Think whole-school: School-wide approaches score higher than isolated specialist interventions
• Innovation over expansion: Propose creative new approaches rather than simply expanding existing services
• Be specific: Use all available character counts to clearly articulate your plans - vague applications won't succeed
• Reapply freely: Previous applicants (successful or unsuccessful) are welcome to apply again with new projects

References

1. Sheila Coates Foundation official website - About Us: https://www.sheilacoates.foundation/about-us (Accessed: November 2025)
2. Sheila Coates Foundation - How to Apply: https://www.sheilacoates.foundation/how-to-apply (Accessed: November 2025)
3. Sheila Coates Foundation - Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.sheilacoates.foundation/how-to-apply/frequently-asked-questions (Accessed: November 2025)
4. Sheila Coates Foundation - Impact: https://www.sheilacoates.foundation/what-we-do/impact (Accessed: November 2025)
5. UK Charity Commission Register - Charity Number 1188092: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1188092 (Accessed: November 2025)
6. Sheila Coates Foundation - Rapid Impact Fund: https://www.sheilacoates.foundation/what-we-do/rapid-impact-fund (Accessed: November 2025)
7. Direct quote from founder: "I never saw my diagnosis as a 'label' in any negative sense...I want as many children as possible to have these resources" - Foundation About Us page
8. Direct quote from application guidance: "If you don't write it, we won't know it!" - Foundation FAQ page
9. Sheila Coates tribute: “respect and caring for each child and each family, combined with realism about their difficulties” - Foundation About Us page