Funding
Funding for a school link is particularly an issue for those planning exchange visits, but any exchange will incur some kind of cost, for which you may need to seek funding.
funding organisations
It is easier to get funding to support a specific collaboration or joint project with your partner school than purely social and sightseeing visits.
Several organisations offer specific funding for projects between the UK and Japan. Every exchange is different, so you should check with the relevant organisation whether your project meets their funding criteria. All have websites with detailed information and are also always willing to answer enquiries.
- The British Council
Funding for school links and partnerships with Japan is mainly available for schools in England. (Please contact offices in other countries in the UK to discuss other funding possibilities.)
Visit the British Council website or email the World Links team for more information.
- The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation
As well as funding for school projects, the Great Britain Sasakawa Japan Experience gives young people from inner city environments in the UK unique insights into aspects of contemporary Japanese society.
The Foundation supports organisations in both the UK and Japan. Visit the website or email the UK office or Japanese office for more information.
- The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation
Individuals and organisations in the UK and Japan may apply for grants for education exchanges.
Visit the website for full details of all grant programmes or email the London or Tokyo offices.
- Japan 21 Awards
Visit the Awards section of this website for details of funding available from Japan 21.
local companies
Approach companies in your area with links with Japan or the UK. Nationwide, they may not have much funding for charitable giving, but this can work to your advantage because companies are now most likely to support projects in their local area. Once you have made contact with a company locally, work hard to maintain that link: send regular copies of your school newsletter, invite representatives to school events and so on.
Local companies and organisations unable to provide cash support may be persuaded to provide samples to take as gifts to your partner school, t-shirts for uniforms etc.
international associations
Find out if there are any local civic links with Japan/UK. These may be sister city type links, but are occasionally broader region-wide relationships. Local international associations sometimes have funding earmarked for youth exchange.
other fund-raising activities
Small scale fund-raising activities are also invaluable. Although the amounts raised may be less than those which may be received through a grant, these activities serve to give pupils a bigger stake in the exchange and help build strong relationships between members of the exchange group.
Discos, karaoke evenings, cake sales, car boot sales, dog shows, raffles etc all have their part to play.
If you have questions about setting up a school link, please contact Katherine Donaghy. We also welcome your comments or suggestions concerning these guidelines,
so please email us with them.
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