About the Programme
Through English language and related life skills development, our Empowerment global programme builds resilience, broadens horizons and provides agency and voice for young people who may have been displaced, affected by conflict, crisis or misunderstanding, or are from disadvantaged backgrounds or isolated communities. Empowerment is seen as a spectrum, and while language skills alone can’t overcome structural obstacles, they are vital for advocating for rights and change by marginalised communities.
SARD is a programme designed specifically to encourage Palestinians to share their story and the stories of their culture and heritage with each other and with the world. It was inspired by the stories that came out of projects delivered by partners in our 2024-2025 Language for Resilience programme. More information about those projects, can be found here.
For 2025-2026, the British Council is seeking to partner with individuals or organisations to deliver creative projects that use English as a skill and tool for developing and telling stories about the Palestinian experience. These projects should aim to empower the most disadvantaged groups and communities in Palestine.
Up to 5 grants will be awarded with values between £10,000 and £15,000
Who can apply?
The grant scheme is open to individuals, groups or organisations based in Palestine or in the UK with the ability to conduct work in Palestine. Joint proposals are welcomed.
Applicants must have experience working with Palestinian communities on English or education projects and be able to demonstrate this. Organisations or individuals with experience providing psychosocial support are also strongly encouraged to apply.
We are looking to award grants to a diverse group of applicants, and this will be considered in the selection process. Overall diversity of projects and target audiences will also inform the final selection.
Essential Criteria
- The applicant must have experience working with Palestinian communities on English or education projects.
- The proposal must target a vulnerable community in Palestine that the applicant is familiar with and able to work with.
- The proposal must focus on empowerment through English language and stories and/or personal narratives.
- The proposal should include some type of final creative output that can be shared publicly. This can be in the form of a publication, recording, event etc.
- Equality, diversity and inclusion principles should be mainstreamed in the proposal.
How to apply
To apply, please send the items listed below in an email to raghad.zughayer@britishcouncil.org no later than 27 February 2025.
- Proposal covering the following:
- A general narrative of the project explaining how it responds to the needs of Palestinians, how it will be delivered and its expected impact
- Project outputs and outcomes
- Target audience (number of beneficiaries, age group, location etc.)
- Timeline with key milestones
- Risk management plan – this should include identification of risks and mitigations
- Budget – this should include enough detail to demonstrate feasibility and value for money; a more detailed itemised budget will be requested at a later stage if successful
- Project team – a list of roles and people who will work on the project; the project lead must be stated clearly
- Evidence of relevant knowledge, skills and experience: This should include an organisational profile (where applicable) and CVs of the project team. Other evidence could include case studies or past project reports.
- Child protection policy if planning to work with individuals under the age of 18.
Important notes
- The British Council may request minor changes to the proposal before proceeding with the final agreement or may request that the scope be modified to fit a lower budget.
- The grant may be used to contribute to a larger project/initiative that has other funding sources. In this case, details of that project must also be included with clarification on what this grant would be used for and how it would add to the impact of the project as a whole.
- Successful applicants will be required to engage with the British Council in different meetings and trainings. This will include an orientation session which may be face-to-face or online. It may include training of trainer sessions depending on needs to support successful delivery of projects. Grantees will also be required to join a closing event for SARD. Details about these will be provided at a later date.
- All successful applicants will be asked to complete documents to aid in the monitoring and evaluation of the programme and its visibility. This will include a monthly progress form, high-quality photographs, participant testimonials, a final impact report and a financial report in English. Further guidance will be provided to successful applicants.
- Equality, diversity and inclusion support the British Council's work across the world. We aim to develop inclusive programmes and projects that bring together people with different experiences and backgrounds. For more information about our EDI policy and strategy
- The British Council is committed to upholding the rights of children and adults at risk and to promoting their wellbeing, in accordance with all applicable legislation and statutory guidance relevant to the safeguarding and protection of children and adults at risk. We have a comprehensive Safeguarding Policy (and Procedures) which identify our approach to safeguarding and the actions we take to protect children and adults at risk.
- If the proposal involves children (anybody under the age of 18), the applicant must be an organisation with a child protection policy in place and a copy of this policy must be included with the application.
- All successful applicants will need to take mandatory safeguarding training, abide by the British Council Safeguarding policy and Code of Conduct, and risk assessments will have to be conducted prior to every activity/event.