Funding of up to £1,000 for grassroots organisations and networks which support and connect Froebelian educators working with babies and young children.
The Froebel Trust recognises the importance of educator-led networks. Each year we offer a small fund for established Froebelian networks.
The funding is intended to contribute towards the cost of networks' activities / projects that will advance and promote Froebelian education and learning.
To be eligible to apply for this fund, the aims and activity of an applicant’s network must be Froebelian – that is, inspired by the principles of Friedrich Froebel and / or Froebelian philosophy, history or practice.
Funding is limited each year and the Froebel Trust cannot guarantee to fund all applications received.
The maximum per network is £1,000 and not more than 20% of the total requested should be for resources or materials. Training costs are eligible but this fund does NOT support applicants for any of the Endorsed courses (Froebel Trust, University of Edinburgh or University of Roehampton courses), which the Froebel Trust subsidises separately.
Please note that the 2026/27 fund can only be used for activity starting (or entirely taking place) between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027. We cannot fund activity that has taken place before you apply or any costs associated with making an application to us.
The decision of the Froebel Trust will be final and non-negotiable.
Applications open on Tuesday 10 February 2026.
Step 1
ELIGIBILITY
1) Is your network already established? This can be a network in the early stages of formation but it must have a named lead, a host organisation that can receive the funds on the network's behalf, and a contact email address that can be shared on our website. The network does not need to be based in the UK.
- Yes (you can apply).
- No (you can't apply this year. Please come back in the future).
2) Did you receive funding for your network from the Froebel Trust in 2023/24, 2024/25 or 2025/26?
- Yes (you can apply if we have received your report on the activity we funded).
- No (you can apply if you answered yes to question 1).
3) Do you have a clear plan for what you want your network to do / achieve in the next 12 months, and how you will do this?
- Yes (you will be asked to give details in your application)
- No (if you think we can help you to plan, please email office@froebeltrust.org.uk. You cannot apply without a clear plan.)
4) Do you need the funds to pay for a Froebel Trust Endorsed Course?
- Yes (you can't apply to this fund to help pay for a Froebel Trust Endorsed Course because these courses are funded differently).
- No (the network fund can cover professional development, including training costs for your network providing it promotes and advances Froebelian education and learning).
Please note that this fund can pay for staff time to plan and lead network events but you must tell us in the application form if the funds would be paid into an account that is owned or managed by any person whose time is to be funded. For example, a setting or school whose manager / owner is the network leader and whose time is to be funded.
Step 2
ELIGIBLE AND READY TO APPLY?
A) Click the 'APPLY' button on this webpage to open the application form. Applications open on Tuesday February 2026.
B) The deadline for applications is 1pm UK time on Friday 13 March 2026. We regret that we can't consider late applications.
C) You will be asked to provide the details of the organisation that would receive the funds on behalf of your network and you must confirm that you have their permission. Please check before you submit your application.
D) When you submit your application, you will see an acknowledgement on screen. This tells you that your application has been received.
E) We will email you to tell you the outcome of your application by 1 April 2026.
F) The Froebel Trust reserves the right not to enter into negotiations about its funding decisions, which are final. Due to limited capacity, we can't provide detailed feedback to unsuccessful applicants. Generally, the number of applications for our funds exceeds the number of awards we can make.
Step 3
AWARDS
A) If you are successful, you will receive an award letter that explains how to claim your funding.
B) Before you can make a claim, we need to perform 'due diligence'. We will ask you to supply us with a number of documents that allow us to check the host organisation's registration status (e.g. registered as a school or a company) and financial viability (e.g. latest accounts). The funding is dependent on performance of satisfactory due diligence.
C) We will tell you when due diligence has been completed. At that time, you may send us an invoice to claim your funding, which will be paid into the account of the host organisation.
D) The funding must be ringfenced for your network and must only be used for the purposes stated in your application form.
E) The invoice to claim your funding must be sent to us before 31 March 2027.
F) If you do not spend all of the funds, the unspent portion must be returned to the Froebel Trust.
G) You will be required to report on your activity and how you spent the funding.
H) We are here to help so please email us if you have any questions: office@froebeltrust.org.uk
