Blaker Education Fund: Guidance and Procedures

Overview

The Blaker Education Fund was established in 2006 to support small-scale projects in the field of education, particularly for young people aged approximately 15-30, such projects to be determined and funded by the Scientific and Medical Network.

The Network is grateful to the Estate of the late George Blaker, founder of the SMN, and especially to the inspiration of his daughter Jenny Blaker, for their generous endowment of funds for this purpose. It is hoped that this fund will be further enhanced in time from other sources.

Projects considered for funding must be designed to conform to the overall mission and charitable objects of the SMN (for more details see the SMN website, www.scimednet.org).

Money allocated will normally be ‘seed money’, designed to establish a new project which would be self-funding thereafter, though further applications may be made for the purpose of enhancement. In general, though, the SMN would not wish to commit funds from this source for the long-term

Eligibility to apply for such funds is open to all SMN members. Note that non-SMN members are not entitled to apply on behalf of an SMN member.

The amount of money available annually, which will be in the range of £3,000 – £5.000 per year in total, will be determined by the SMN Board of Directors in consultation with the Trustees. Amounts in excess of this range may be awarded at the discretion of the Trustees of the Scientific and Medical Network Charitable Trust.

Distribution of money for projects will be made annually by the Education Committee, a sub-committee of the Board of Directors, who will also carefully monitor the progress of projects.

Detailed Protocols 

Available Funds: The SMN Board of Directors will annually decide on the amount available for educational projects in the coming round, balancing the need to initiate good new projects against the preference not to eat into capital.

Invitation to Bid: The Board will annually notify the membership through the Network Review and by email, of the invitation to bid to the educational fund for that year. A deadline will be set for submissions. The information will also be placed in the Member’s area of the website.

Criteria for Projects: educational projects must be consistent with the SMN guidelines (as stated on the Web and in the publicity leaflet), and also with the SMN charitable objects (which are “for the benefit of the public, to advance education inthe study and application of science and medicine, in particular but not exclusively, by adopting an interdisciplinary approach”). Projects must also promote the SMN name and brand, and encourage participants to join the SMN if appropriate. Proposals should be costed in detail, and timescales given for start, completion, and any other milestones. They should be written in English, and include references.

Evaluation of Proposals: this will be done in the first instance by the Education Committee, a standing sub-committee of the Board of Directors, and then ratified by the Board. Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified individually; successful projects will be listed in the next Review.

Drawing on Funds: Once allocated applicants may draw on the funds in only two ways: project costs, and personal costs. Project costs include all materials (e.g. brochures, course handouts, consumables), rental (of venue, equipment), salaries (other than to the applicant) etc. These will be paid directly by the SMN office, by request from the applicant. Personal costs include a salary or fee to the applicant for time spent on the project (including teaching), if any, and for personal expenditure such as fax, telephone, travel and other expenses.

Bookings, and Income to project: Bookings are normally via the SMN office. All course fees, or other income to the project, are to be paid directly to the SMN.

Board Members: If the project’s applicant is a member of the Board of Directors, or of the education subcommittees, such a person should absent themselves from any discussion and voting on the project at relevant meetings.

Report: funding is allocated subject to the receipt of a final report on the project. If the report is not clear or detailed enough the Board of Directors may request further details. The report should include copies of all promotional material used in the project.

Copyright: any course materials or other documentation developed through a funded project will be copyright to both parties: the applicant and the SMN. (A copy of the course materials must be deposited with the SMN.) This joint copyright should be understood as enabling both parties to use the material for future separate projects on the condition that such use is not detrimental to the other party, e.g. does not prevent either party from running the course independently of each other, and does not reduce the income to either party from the use of that material. Authorship must always be acknowledged.

Annual Cycle

 

The annual cycle for the distribution of funds will be as follows:

1.Decision by the Education Committee, in consultation with the Board of Directors, concerning funds available for the forthcoming year

2.Notification to the SMN membership of funds available, and dates set for submission of proposal

3.Evaluation of proposals by the Education Committee

4.Notifications of successful and non-successful applications

5.Implementation of projects

6.Annual reports submitted by project directors, and evaluated by Education Committee

7.Summary of reports submitted to the Board of Director

Applications

Any applicant must be a member of the SMN.

Applications for grants should be made to the SMN Office, addressed to:

Education Domain Holder, Edi Bilimoria, email: [email protected]  

An electronic copy should also be sent to:

Office and Membership Manager Manager, email:  [email protected]

The deadline for applications is 4th July 2018.

Decisions on grants will be made and communicated to applicants by mid-August 2018.

Applicants are reminded that the grants will normally be made for seed-money for one year only, though further applications can be made in subsequent years, and that the total amount of money available in the coming year will be in the region of £5,000.

Successful applicants will receive their grants awards by cheque only. It will not be possible to pay directly online into an applicant’s bank  account.

Applications of around 1000 words, plus supporting attachments, if relevant, stating aims, processes, expected outcomes, and relevance to the overall mission and philosophy of the SMN should be made:

  • in accordance with the above protocols; and
  • according to the suggested format below.

SUGGESTED FORMAT FOR APPLICATION FOR BLAKER FUNDS

Principal Requirements

Please state how the intended funds will be used for:

  1. Educational programmes aimed specifically for the benefit of –
  2. Young people in the age group 15 to 30 years; and
  3. In line with the SMN mission and charitable objects.

Supporting Material

Please provide the following additional information in support of your application.

  1. Personal qualifications for the project.
  2. Organizational/management structure (if a team effort is envisaged).
  3. Key milestones shown in the form of a listing of principal tasks with dates, or a simple bar chart.