Are you under 25 and live in Clifford?

You can claim up to £250 today!

DID YOU KNOW?

The Clifford Opportunities Grant (COG) is a local fund designed to support young people with the costs of broadening their education.

All Clifford residents under the age of 25 are eligible and individuals, parents/carers and organisations are encouraged to apply for a grant of up to £250 to support their involvement in education, learning or sports activities.

Within a month or so notification will be sent to you by email advising you of the amount of the grant awarded and a request for your bank details, which allows us to transfer the money direct to you.

Typical examples of what we might support are listed below (NB this is not exhaustive), if your expenditure is not listed but supports education then please complete the application form.


School courses
Residentials
Educational excursions
Books / IT devices

University courses
College courses
Apprenticeships courses
Training courses

Music lessons (annual cost)
Swimming lessons (annual cost)
Sports activities (annual cost)
Specialist clothing or footwear

Travel or transport
Membership of orchestra
Joining high level sports teams
Skilled group activity

Frequently asked questions

Why was my application rejected?

Possible reasons for rejection.

> The applicant is not under 25 years of age or does not live in Clifford.

> There is insufficient supporting information about the purchase.

> There is insufficient evidence of the purchase.

> The proof of purchase was not dated

> The proof of purchase was not legible or was uploaded at a poor resolution

> The application is more than 2 months after the purchase.

> The application is for a non-educational purchase.

> The application is not within the remit of COG.

Can I apply for someone else?

Yes, as long as that person lives in Clifford and is under 25 years old. The application must be for educational purposes and be posted within two months of the related purchase(s).

Where does the grant fund come from?

This is an historic fund set up by Joseph Diggle in 1851 to support the young of Clifford and their educational pursuits.

What counts as evidence of expenditure?

Photos, screen shots, Word Docs, Pdfs, jpegs of receipts, paid invoices, correspondence, course acceptance. All of the above have to be clearly dated and within two months of application.

Do you accept screenshots as evidence of expenditure?

Yes – Screenshots of bank statements and receipts must show to whom the payment was paid, be ‘clearly dated’ and within two months of application.

How will I be notified if my application is successful?

We will acknowledge receipt of your application by email. Successful applicants will have their grant paid directly into the bank account shown on the application form

How would successful applicants receive the money?

We will pay direct by bank transfer to the bank account detailed in the application.

I have applied before. Can I apply again?

Yes. You can make more than one claim (each claim must be for separate items). The deadline for each claim is no more than 2 months after the date of expenditure.

Is there a maximum amount I can apply for?

Yes. You can apply for up to £250 per claim in total to support involvement in education, learning or sports activities. You can make more than one application at the same time for separate items. Grants are awarded subject to meeting the Trust’s policy criteria.

Does the fund include school uniform?

No. The basis of the fund is to support broadening education and learning. The basic school uniform does not qualify.

Why have I received less than I asked for?

We contribute to qualifying purchases up to the value of £250 per application.

If you have received an award, at least part of the application was successful.

If the award is lower than expected (particularly where there are multiple items) one or more items in the application may have been rejected for the following reasons:

> There is insufficient supporting information about the purchase.

> There is insufficient evidence of the purchase.

> The application is more than 2 months after the purchase.

> The application is for a non-educational purchase.

How is my application assessed?

Each application is judged on its own merits. Awards are made at the discretion of the COG committee. We meet on a monthly basis.

Does the fund support the cost of school uniform

No.  Purchasing school uniform is not within the remit of COG

Does the fund cover computers and IT equipment

The fund will contribute towards the cost of a computer or laptop subject to payment confirmation dated within two months of application. The fund will not cover computer peripheries such as cables, mouse mats, stands etc. The fund does not contribute towards mobile phones . The fund will cover specific equipment and software necessary for a particular course subject to written confirmation or proof of requirement.

Does the fund contribute to University attendance

Whilst the fund will not contribute directly towards ‘Fees’ eligible applicants will receive a Higher Education Grant or Further Education Grant subject to confirmation that they have accepted a place at the relevant institute or on a relevant educational course.

Clifford Opportunities Grant
CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW

Charity number: 1183035

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