Funding for Childcare Courses and Training
Funding for childcare courses and training is administered on our behalf by Strategy, Quality and Improvement. For further advice, you can contact us.
Accessing Funding: An Introduction
If you live and work in Poole or work in a Poole setting you may be entitled to help towards all or part of the costs of a qualification course. To access this funding you need to contact the Training college/provider of your chosen course and obtain the Training and Funding Information Pack. Alternatively, contact the Training and Recruitment Team for a copy.
The courses you may be eligible to apply for are:
- Early Years and Playwork, Level 3 training and qualifications.
- Childminding; Unit One of Diploma in Home-based Childcare.
- Foundation Degree.
- Full Degree
Policy for Funding
Our policy for funding gives clear details of all funding available for training.
Booking places
You can book places for many of our local authority courses via the Poole Workforce Development 
website.
If you wish to submit an application to cover any associated costs please note that:
- A completed application should be submitted before any expectation of funding is relied on to pay for the course.
- Funding is limited. Any person who attends a course without confirmation of funding may be subject to full payment of the course fee.
Childminder start-up grants
Start-up grants are available from the Borough up to a maximum of £300 to assist new childminders. Grants can be used for training and equipment.
External funding possibilities
The Local Network Fund (for children and young people) is part of the Community Foundation. It aims to support small voluntary and community groups working with disadvantaged children and young people. Grants are can be from £250 to £7,000 and are expected to be available until 2006. For further information and an application pack call 0845 113 0161 or contact the Community Foundation on 01202 720 347.
Awards for All : This is a programme to fund small groups who would like to apply for grants of between £500 and £5,000. It is thought that these figures will be wider spread with effect from March 2005 with a maximum of £10,000. The application process is straightforward. Awards are given to voluntary and community organisations for work that brings communities together and enables people to take part in local activities. For further information and an application form call 0845 600 2040.
Other national grant makers
Abbey National Charitable Trust: Poole is not listed as a focus area for assistance but the trust aims to help charities in the communities' local to their branches with priorities to: equality of opportunity, training and employment for disadvantaged groups. Contact your local branch for information.
Co-op Community Dividend scheme : the scheme is aimed at helping communities to help themselves by supporting local groups committed to enhancing community life with grants. Applicants must be a corporate body acting in line with the co-operative values. Awards range from £100 to £5,000 and can be used to support childcare providers. For more details log on to or talk to your local large Co-op store.
Lloyds Pharmacy Charitable Trust : This fund will consider requests from registered charities concerned with health, well-being, children and families and community projects. You can contact the Trust on 02476-432-400.
Lloyds TSB Foundation : Will support childcare providers with both capital and revenue funding which are registered charities, especially those which are working with children who are disadvantaged or disabled. For further information contact 020-7398-1705.
Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme:This scheme guarantees loans for amounts between £5,000 and £100,000 for new ventures or £250,000 for businesses established for more than 2 years. This money from banks is for small firms that have viable business plans but have failed to get a conventional loan because of a lack of security. Developing childcare provision is an eligible activity. Contact your local high street bank or SBS Loan Guarantee Unit on 0845-001-0032/3.
The Prince's Trust 
: Awards up to £15,000 are available to groups wanting to develop projects which benefit the local community or environment, guide others, use new technology to improve lives or to promote positive use of leisure time. Funding and support to help 18-30 year olds start their own business with grants up to £3,000, low interest loans up to £5,000 plus a volunteer Business Mentor.
The Southwest Foundation: The only grant applicable to the Borough of Poole is their "Solid Foundations Programme" that offers grants between £50 and £10,000 up to June 2005. A decision is usually made within 3 weeks of the application. This fund is to help those disadvantaged and working less than 16 hours per week to start their own business or return to full time employment. You can contact them on 0117-968-0111.
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