DFID, the Department for International Development offers 'equitable' funding to schools, that means equal grants go to the school in the UK and the partner school in the South.

School-to-school grants usually involve 1 UK school and 1 Southern school. Up to £1,650 per partnership is available for the Reciprocal Visit. This grant allows at least one teacher from each school to visit their partner institutions. The purpose of these visits is to enable the discussion and planning of joint curricular work with a global dimension theme. Costs such as flights, accommodation and subsistence are eligible.

Schools that have more established partnerships (around a minimum of 2 years), can apply for a Global Curriculum Project Grant. Up to £4,800 (£6,450 for secondary schools) is available to fund reciprocal visits and to embed a global dimension within their respective curricula through joint activities and projects.

Cluster-to-cluster grants usually involve an equal number of UK schools and Southern schools where groups of school partnerships are working together with similar aims and aspirations.
www.britishcouncil.org/globalschools

DGSP promotes partnerships between schools in the UK and schools in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. The programme provides advice and guidance, professional development opportunities and equal grants to both (or all) schools that are using school partnerships as a means for developing a global dimension within their curriculum.

One stated aim of the programme is to emphasise equality and reciprocity through the active participation of both (or all) school partners, each contributing and benefiting equally from the negotiation and agreement of joint aims and the realisation of shared outcomes.

In the first three years 370 schools in the UK benefited from grants. New funding announced in 2006 will bring a further 1500 schools into the scheme in the next three years.

Ultimately, the programme aims to raise young people's awareness of global development issues and equip them with the skills and knowledge to become active global citizens. The term 'global dimension' refers to the extent to which global development issues are integrated within the formal curriculum. A 'global dimension' is seen as a way of extending students' views of the world by exploring their perceptions and connections, and helping them recognise and think critically about different cultural, economic and political perspectives. There is information about this on the website along with details about how to apply.

The programme is a consortium initiative of the British Council, Cambridge Education Foundation, UK One World Linking Association (UKOWLA) and Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), funded by the Department for International Development (DFID).

DGSP Reciprocal Visit grant deadlines 1 May 2007
Southern partner schools in the following countries are encouraged to make contact with their local British Council office for support:
· Ghana
· India
· Jamaica
· Kenya
· Malawi
· Nigeria
· Pakistan · South Africa
· Sri Lanka
· Tanzania
· Trinidad and Tobago
· Uganda
· Zambia
· Zimbabwe


Note that the GSP team can advise on North-South linking issues. email globalschools@britishcouncil.org