Freelance Grant Writer
Blackpool Skills Academy seeks an independent freelance contractor to research funding opportunities and prepare accurate, persuasive grant applications for agreed projects.
Engagement and scope
The contractor provides services under a written contract for services, with an authorised BSA contact approving briefs and submissions. Each assignment identifies the funder, project, application and deliverables before work starts.
The contractor controls how the services are delivered, subject to agreed deadlines, security requirements and lawful funder conditions, and may serve other clients subject to confidentiality and conflicts of interest.
The parties must assess the actual working relationship and applicable tax obligations before engagement and review them if arrangements change. Calling the role freelance does not remove statutory rights where worker or employee status applies.
Any use of another person must be covered by the service agreement and appropriate competence, confidentiality and safeguarding arrangements.
Fee and payment trigger
An award letter or funding promise alone does not trigger a fee. If a grant is paid in instalments, the fee accrues proportionately only as each instalment is received. No success fee accrues on an unsuccessful application or an amount not received.
A £50,000 award paid as £20,000 followed by £30,000 gives rise to fees of £2,000 and £3,000 respectively, after the corresponding receipts.
There is no £5,000 fee payable solely because the award is announced.
The written agreement must settle invoicing and payment deadlines, VAT treatment, expenses, any grant repayment or clawback, termination and later receipts. Renewals, extensions, unrelated awards and pre-existing applications are included only where expressly agreed.
No fee may be charged twice on the same receipt.
Funder conditions and authority
- Check eligibility, conditions and any restrictions on commissions or bid-writing fees before accepting an assignment.
- Do not proceed under this fee arrangement where it is prohibited. Agree a compliant alternative in writing before work begins.
- Do not deduct the fee from restricted grant funds unless the funder expressly permits that use. BSA must identify a lawful funding source for the fee.
Service responsibilities
- Research suitable opportunities and maintain a pipeline of eligibility, deadlines, likely fit, conditions and recommended next steps. Do not assume BSA has charitable status or is eligible for a fund.
- Develop applications from verified BSA information: evidence of need, intended beneficiaries, activities, delivery capacity, realistic budgets, measurable outcomes and evaluation plans.
- Coordinate requests for information with the authorised BSA contact. Identify gaps, unsupported claims, match-funding obligations and delivery risks early.
- Write and revise applications to the funder’s requirements. Obtain BSA approval of the final version, supporting documents and financial commitments before submission.
- Maintain an accessible record of drafts, approvals, submissions, funder correspondence, decisions and reporting deadlines. Hand over award conditions promptly; post-award reporting is included only where agreed.
- Disclose conflicts of interest and any other commission or benefit connected with an application. Make no guarantee of success and do not misrepresent qualifications, results, need or school provision.
Information security and safeguarding
Use approved systems and only the information necessary for the assignment. Prefer anonymised or aggregated pupil information.
Report any data loss or safeguarding concern promptly through BSA’s designated routes. Agree data protection roles, any required processing terms, retention and return or deletion of information before access is granted.
Contact with pupils
This role does not include teaching, pupil supervision or unsupervised pupil contact. BSA must assess the actual duties and site access to determine lawful and proportionate recruitment checks, induction and supervision.
Enhanced DBS or barred-list checks must not be requested without the relevant eligibility. Any change in access or duties requires reassessment before it starts.
Person specification
Essential criteria
Candidates should provide relevant work examples with confidential information removed and suitable client references.
- Evidence of clear and persuasive grant writing.
- Accurate research and interpretation of funder requirements.
- Budget literacy.
- Reliable delivery to deadlines.
- Strong editing and record keeping.
- Confidentiality, integrity and sound professional judgement.
Desirable criteria
- Successful applications for education, skills, inclusion or community projects.
- Knowledge of independent schools and SEND provision.
- Experience of funding for community interest companies or similar organisations, where relevant to BSA’s legal status.
Selection and service review
Selection will assess relevant experience, work quality and suitability fairly, with reasonable adjustments where appropriate.
Service reviews will focus on agreed deliverables, accuracy, timeliness and funder feedback. Funding decisions remain with funders.
This role description is not a complete service agreement. The signed agreement and individual assignment brief must be in place before work begins.