National Assistance Fund

The National Assistance Fund is a registered charity in England and Wales, established in June 2017 as a company limited by guarantee and listed on the Charity Commission register in December 2018. Its core mission is to advance education by providing grants to qualifying educational charitable bodies, schools, colleges, and occasionally individuals, with a focus on fostering opportunities for children and young people. Rooted in values of equity, access, and public benefit, the Fund addresses educational disadvantage through targeted interventions that enhance learning, training, and attainment, guided by voluntary trustees with relevant expertise for mission-led governance.

It prioritizes education and training initiatives, funding projects that remove barriers to learning, such as targeted programmes for disadvantaged youth, direct educational aid to individuals, and support for organisations delivering impactful learning outcomes. Beneficiaries are primarily children and young people across England, Wales, and Scotland, with grants strictly aligned to educational advancement and charitable purposes.

Eligible applicants are limited to UK-registered charities and academic institutions; individuals may qualify for specific educational needs but only if approached. There are no income thresholds, size restrictions, or geographic exclusions within the UK, though the Fund operates on an invite-only basis with no public application process, forms, deadlines, or open rounds—decisions are made ad hoc by trustees at their discretion. Grant amounts and types (project-based or direct aid) are unspecified publicly.

Distinctively, it stands out for its narrow focus on transformational educational impact, willingness to fund both organisations and individuals, and reactive grant-making model without unrestricted or non-educational support, ensuring all aid maximises public benefit in education.