You Can Learning Innovation Fund

Help us to shape the future of learning in Doncaster with the You Can Learning Innovation Fund!

Applications are now open for our first You Can Learning Innovation Fund - with up to £20,000 available for bold and innovative ideas for learning!

We are looking to award funding to two ambitious projects that will help to shape an innovative future of learning in our city, that will challenge the status quo and inspire new ways to learn.

Whether you're a school, college, business, charity, or community group — this is your chance to:

Test bold, creative ideas
Address local skills gaps
Promote lifelong learning

Only two projects will be selected as part of this fund, so we’re encouraging bold, inclusive, and visionary proposals that align with the spirit of initiatives like our Remake Learning Days Festivals, Moonshot Food for thought programme and Reimagining learning spaces projects.

Apply now!
- Submit your application here -

Further guidance can be found in the You Can Learning Innovation Fund Guidance Document on the link below before submitting your application:

YOU CAN Learning Innovation Fund - Grant Guidance Document: Download (173KB - DOCX)

Important dates:

Application Deadline: November 17th 2025
Project Delivery Window: January-December 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for the You Can Learning Innovation Fund?

Applications are welcomed from education providers, voluntary and community sector groups, businesses, and organisations that hold a business or organisational bank account. Applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong track record in delivering learning programmes and have the necessary policies and procedures in place, including safeguarding, health and safety, and public liability insurance.

What are we looking for?

The fund is designed to support projects that spark curiosity through hands-on, cutting-edge learning experiences. Proposals could aim to address local skills gaps in priority sectors such as green technology, digital, health and care, and advanced manufacturing. We are particularly interested in new models of learning that promote lifelong learning and strengthen Doncaster’s learning ecosystem through collaboration and innovation. Also ways that your project will align with the Shared Principles set out in the Doncaster Education and Skills 2030 Strategy. These are (see pages 38-39 here: https://tinyurl.com/EandS2030)

Do you have any inspiration for the types of ideas you'd like to see?

We're excited to see the bold and innovative ideas our applicants come up with! We've seen some great work over recent years in Doncaster, including launch and running of our annual Remake Learning Days Festival, our Food for Thought programme and the Reimagining Spaces projects.

Some previous examples of innovative learning from our Remake Learning partners can be seen here:https://remakelearning.org/our-network/special-projects/

What outcomes do we hope to achieve with these projects?

Short Term Outcomes

Spark curiosity, confidence and self-esteem through hands-on, cutting-edge learning
Developing skills relevant to local employment
Introduce new models of learning
Promote lifelong learning or intergenerational learning

Long term Outcomes

Establishing new models of teaching, learning, or assessment
Increasing participation in education, skills and employment
Creating or enhancing local partnerships/developing the local learning ecosystem
Addressing local skills gaps
Creating pathways to local sectors (e.g. green tech, digital, health and care, advanced manufacturing)

Support and Contact

If you need help planning your programme or completing the application, support is available from the Remake Learning team at Remake.learning@doncaster.gov.uk. For Further ideas of projects, please see some Special projects that have been happening over in Pittsburgh, USA Special Projects – Remake Learning.

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