Funding
Munday + Cramer are long-standing experts in supporting clients in securing funding to aid works of all types. We have extensive experience within education funding, have a proven track record of helping schools, academies and nurseries prepare their applications for funding. There are many ways in which schools can fund projects. They can, of course, self-fund from their annual budget allocation, or can alternatively apply for grants. Munday + Cramer can assist clients with securing funds via a number of different schemes. This is dependent on your organisation type, as well as the type of project. These include:
Condition Improvement Fund (CIF)
The Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) is an annual fund made available by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for eligible academies and sixth-form colleges. CIF is predominantly for schools to address significant condition-based property issues; keeping them safe, secure and in good working order.
£456 million was allocated by the ESFA to 1,033 projects at 859 schools and colleges in the 2023/4 round alone. With an increasing number of schools converting to academy status, competition is continuing to increase. In the most recent funding round, less than 40% of all bid submissions were successful; can your academy afford to miss out? Munday + Cramer have extensive experience in securing works through CIF, having earned academies over £145 Million in recent years, with a consistent success rate more than double the national average.
At Munday + Cramer we have a proven track record when it comes to putting together successful applications. We work closely with our clients and their estates to identify the highest priority works. Providing guidance and advice to our clients from the first initial consultation to the final completion of the project, ensuring the process is stress free.
Projects previously funded include:
- Safeguarding Improvements (Site security, gate automation, school entrance improvements)
- Asbestos Removal / Reinstatement
- Fire Safety (Fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire doors, compartmentation improvements)
- Electrical Upgrades (Electrical re-wire, mains electrical improvements)
- Roof Refurbishments
- Window / Door Replacements
- Heating Systems (Boilers, Controls, Distribution)
- Water Distribution Replacement (hot / cold water pipework and plant replacement)
- Block replacement
- Kitchen/Dining facilities
The Condition Improvement Fund also makes provision for further bidding opportunities with regards to expansion projects. Open to Ofsted-rated good/outstanding academies and sixth-form colleges that require expansion to meet demand or to address overcrowding.
Munday + Cramer will help the academies prioritise and forecast bid opportunities. We continue to assist our academy clients secure CIF funding year on year.
MAT School Condition Allowance (SCA)
Multi-academy trusts (MATs) with at least 5 academies and more than 3,000 pupils receive a School Condition Allocation to deploy strategically across their estate to address their priority maintenance and expansion needs.
The ESFA provides funding to keep school buildings in good condition so pupils can learn in a safe and effective environment. SCA should be used to keep buildings safe and in good working order by tackling poor building condition, building compliance, energy efficiency and health and safety issues.
Munday + Cramer can help advise and prioritise your school condition allocation by examining your current and future requirements for the academy. We can provide:
- An assessment of the current condition of your academy buildings.
- A maintenance and development strategy
- A list of priority projects and the expected timeline (short, medium and long -term) for the works
- Manage the various projects that have been identified.
Though a full understanding of your premises condition we will work with you to identify your short, medium and long-term defect priorities against your new building ambitions. as well as managing the projects that these improvements will require.
Urgent Capital Support (UCS)
Academies, VA Schools and Sixth-Form colleges that are eligible for the main round of CIF funding can also apply for Urgent Capital Funding (UCS).Applications by eligible institutions can be made outside the main Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) where there is genuine need for urgent support that cannot wait for the next CIF round. Thus, this means that support can be requested as soon as the urgent condition appears.
A UCS application will need to provide evidence of:
- Significant health and safety risk in relation to the building condition
- A condition issue that has already resulted in or represents an imminent threat of school closure
- Condition issue has resulted in or risks imminent closure of a significant part of the school building which would prevent the curriculum from being delivered
The urgent works cannot be funded by the trust independently or through a CIF loan.
Condition Issues that may be in the scope for UCS funding include:
- Structural issues
- Urgent health and safety (H&S) or insurance compliance issues
- Urgent asbestos issue
- Fire protection
- Leaking roofs
- Boiler and pipework failure
- Electrical issues
T-Levels
T-Levels are a relatively new qualification in the UK, designed to provide students aged 16-18 with a high-quality technical education equivalent to three A-levels. They combine classroom learning with an industry placement, offering young people the skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience needed to excel in specific sectors such as construction, engineering, healthcare and digital. With the government’s focus on making T-Levels a key pathway to employment and higher education, many schools are now looking to adapt their facilities to meet the requirements for effective delivery of these qualifications.
At Munday + Cramer, we understand the challenges and opportunities schools face in preparing for T-Levels. Our surveying, architectural and funding expertise ensures that we can guide schools through the entire process of accessing funding for building improvements/alterations, including T-Level-specific grants.
Whether it’s designing state-of-the-art classrooms, upgrading workshops, or creating flexible learning spaces, we work closely with educational institutions to develop cost-effective, future-proof solutions. By partnering with us, schools can ensure they meet government standards while providing students with the environment they need to thrive in their technical education.
Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme
As part of the Government’s plans to reduce the carbon emissions from public sector buildings by 75% by 2037, and Net Zero by 2050, a number of funding schemes have been introduced to support this. To date, over £2.5bn has been provided to public sector organisations to undertake works across property estates to support this reduction in emissions. The phase 5 of the Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF) and phase 4 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) are now available to support public sector bodies achieve their net zero ambitions.
Depending on your current building infrastructure, you may be eligible for grants or subsidised loans to implement changes to reduce your carbon footprint under Decarbonisation. This could include improving energy efficiency of your buildings or upgrading to renewable energy sources, installing heat pumps, solar PV, solar thermal or any another form of naturally replenished resources.
School Nurseries Capital Grant (SNCG)
The DFE announced that £15.0M will be made available to create up to 300 new nurseries or expanded nurseries across the UK by converting surplus school space into nursery space. This scheme is to support the 2025 scheme to provide 30 hours/week of government funded hours for childcare and early education to working parents.
This funding is only available to schools who already offer some early year provision such as reception. The first round offers up to 300 allocations with £150,000 being granted per school, Schools can register interest for future rounds if they are not ready yet.
The DFE stated that in order to support the 2025 expansion of government-funded hours of childcare and early education for working parents to 30 hours a week, schools “will need to demonstrate how their proposals will respond to need in their local area.” Schools can choose to run the nursery internally or contract them out to private or voluntary sector providers.
Schools are invited to bid for the grant. Successful schools will be allocated funding in Spring 2025 as part of the wider investment to create up to 3,000 new nurseries as part of the first phase. The department plans to use the first phase to gather learnings for future years and gain a better understanding of how we can support underserved and impoverished communities in order to guarantee that the program is delivered in a way that will benefit all parents and children.
Sports Funding
Investing in high-quality sports facilities is essential for promoting physical activity and well-being in schools and the community, and there are various funding opportunities available across the UK to support such projects. These include grants from Sport England, National Lottery funding, and local authority initiatives aimed at improving community and educational sports infrastructure. Organisations can access these funds to develop or refurbish sports halls, pitches, and multi-use games areas, ensuring they provide students with modern, inclusive spaces that encourage participation in physical activity.
At Munday + Cramer, we specialise in guiding organisations through the process of accessing and maximising funding for sports facility development. From initial feasibility studies and grant application support to detailed design and project management, our team ensures that your vision is aligned with funding requirements and delivers long-term value. Whether it’s creating state-of-the-art indoor facilities or enhancing outdoor sports areas, we work collaboratively to design environments that inspire activity and meet the needs of participants and the wider community. Let us help you unlock potential and achieve excellence in sports provision.