Lifelines International Fund for Education

The fund prioritises primary and secondary education for children living in poverty, including school development such as libraries, laboratories, and vocational training. It supports interventions for those facing disadvantage or disability, as well as associated mental health services. Funded activities include capacity-building for schools, teaching and volunteering initiatives, and grants to local charities. Geographically, the fund has a particular focus on India, alongside UK and international projects, with an emphasis on rural or marginalised areas. The fund is responsive to urgent needs and favours community-rooted programmes with measurable, scalable outcomes.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and community groups that demonstrate local credibility and mission alignment. The fund prioritises at-risk children, young people with disabilities, and communities in rural or marginalised areas. There are no geographic restrictions, though a strong focus lies on disadvantaged regions such as rural India. Organisations should be of small to medium size and rooted in the communities they serve. The fund welcomes applications from groups working with vulnerable populations, including those addressing educational deprivation and disability. Unsolicited applications are not accepted; the fund works by invitation only, through networks or referrals.

The fund does not support activities that fall outside its mission of educational deprivation and social change. It also does not fund partners that have not been vetted or that lack alignment with its values. Activities that are not community-led or that focus on short-term outputs without sustainable impact are unlikely to be considered. The fund avoids transactional grant-making and instead seeks active partnerships.

The fund operates through a partnership-driven model, offering financial support alongside strategic guidance and access to a learning network. It forms active alliances with trusted charities rather than providing transactional grants. The fund is flexible and responsive to urgent needs, emphasising enduring, community-led transformation. It works by invitation only, through networks or referrals, and does not accept unsolicited applications. Multi-year partnerships may be considered for strategic alignment.