RISE Universal Grant

The Universal RISE grant funds evidence-informed projects that improve outcomes for pupils by supporting schools at scale. It is available to Multi Academy Trusts, Research Schools and Local Authorities delivering activity aligned with national and regional priorities.

- Funding organisation: The Department for Education - Location: England, North East England, North West England, South East England, South West England, Midlands - Award: £8,000 to £100,000 per award; total scheme size £1.4 million - Opening date: 2026-05-21 - Closing date: 2026-06-27

Summary

The Universal RISE grant aims to fund high-quality, evidence-informed projects that improve outcomes for pupils by strengthening practice across the school system. The grant supports activity aligned with the national priorities of attendance, attainment (particularly in English and maths), reception year quality, and mainstream inclusion, while also addressing identified regional needs and challenges. It is intended to enable eligible organisations, including Multi Academy Trusts, Research Schools and Local Authorities, to deliver scalable and impactful support for schools, particularly through professional development, resource development and sector-wide collaboration. Projects must demonstrate a clear theory of change, be deliverable within the financial year, provide value for money, and show how they will directly benefit frontline practice. All applications are developed in partnership with RISE regional teams to ensure strong alignment with local priorities and maximise impact across the region.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants for the Universal RISE grant are Multi Academy Trusts, Research Schools and Local Authorities. Applications must be submitted by the organisation proposing to deliver the project and should demonstrate that the proposal meets all core criteria. This includes being evidence-informed with a clear theory of change, deliverable within the financial year, aligned to RISE national priorities, and focused on benefiting frontline practice. Projects must also demonstrate value for money and should not duplicate or replace existing funded activity.

Objectives

The objective of the Universal RISE grant is to fund high-quality, evidence-informed projects that improve pupil outcomes by strengthening practice across the school system. It supports activity aligned to the Departments national priorities of attendance, attainment, reception year quality and mainstream inclusion, while also responding to regional needs. The grant aims to build sector capacity through collaboration and professional development, delivering measurable impact and strong value for money.

Dates

w/c 18 May 2026

Applications open.

26 June 2026

Find a Grant application deadline

w/c 29 June 2026

Assessment of applications

w/c 6 July 2026

Moderation of applications.

w/c 6 July 2026 onwards

Decisions communicated to applicants

December 2026

Project mid-point reviews.

31 March 2027

Delivery window ends

April 2027

Project end-point project reviews and payments evidence required.

How to apply

Please use the online application on this site. Application guidance can be requested through RISE regional teams.

Regional email addresses:

· NorthEast.RISEREGIONALMAILBOX@EDUCATION.GOV.UK

· EastofEngland.RISERegionalMailbox@EDUCATION.GOV.UK

· EastMidlands.RISEREGIONALMAILBOX@education.gov.uk

· London.RISERegionalMailbox@EDUCATION.GOV.UK

· NorthWest.RISEREGIONALMAILBOX@EDUCATION.GOV.UK

· SouthWest.RISEREGIONALMAILBOX@EDUCATION.GOV.UK

· Southeast.RISEREGIONALMAILBOX@EDUCATION.GOV.UK

· WestMidlands.RISEREGIONALMAILBOX@EDUCATION.GOV.UK

· YorkshireandHumber.RISEREGIONALMAILBOX@EDUCATION.GOV.UK

Supporting information

Application guidance can be requested from regional RISE teams.

Regional email addresses:

· NorthEast.RISEREGIONALMAILBOX@EDUCATION.GOV.UK

· EastofEngland.RISERegionalMailbox@EDUCATION.GOV.UK

· EastMidlands.RISEREGIONALMAILBOX@education.gov.uk

· London.RISERegionalMailbox@EDUCATION.GOV.UK

· NorthWest.RISEREGIONALMAILBOX@EDUCATION.GOV.UK

· SouthWest.RISEREGIONALMAILBOX@EDUCATION.GOV.UK

· Southeast.RISEREGIONALMAILBOX@EDUCATION.GOV.UK

· WestMidlands.RISEREGIONALMAILBOX@EDUCATION.GOV.UK

· YorkshireandHumber.RISEREGIONALMAILBOX@EDUCATION.GOV.UK

Apply / more information: https://find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/apply/applicant/mandatory-questions/start?schemeId=1502