The British Council has grant management programmes across its work in arts, education and English, requiring flexibility and a proportionality in its approach, adapting its processes to various contexts, local conditions, client/funder requirements and different programme types, scales and specialisms.
Across all programmes the British Council sets a broad policy framework covering all grants issued globally by the British Council directly or as part of a client-funded project (where the client doesn’t require us to follow their/a specific set of rules and requirements in this area). This policy does not cover the management of grants received by the British Council but refers to grants issued by the British Council. The British Council principally issues two types of contractual grants: Project Grants and Core Grants.
Policy Statement and Principles
The British Council is committed to ensuring:
1. Programme Implementation
Clear and transparent processes, where participants are treated fairly and in a non-discriminatory way.
Our guidance and supporting documents are clearly published to aid participants and ensuring documents meet our accessibility standards.
Application and assessment processes designed to ensure the accuracy and honesty of information received from applicants and preventing unfair competitive advantages.
Providing opportunities which promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
2. Best Practice
Awarding funding transparently, fairly, and providing value for money throughout the organisation.
Grant programmes are designed in alignment with UK legislation, internal standards and guidance.
Informing and aligning programmes with the Cabinet Office’s functional standards within the context of reasonable differences in our own operations and the priorities of our programmes and, where applicable, clients/funders.
Due diligence checks are carried out to verify the abilities of the recipient to fulfil the conditions and requirements of the grant agreement.
3. Auditing
As a registered charity in the UK regulated by the Charity Commission and audited by the National Audit Office, the British Council must ensure our grants are fully auditable.
4. Transparency
Publishing criteria against which applications will be assessed and possible appeals process.
Managing potential conflicts of interest to ensure we are operating in a fair and transparent way, and providing an evidence trail for audit.
Publishing annual details of grant awards with a value in excess of £100k to organisations. We do not publish details of grants to individuals or any personal data. This grant management policy is also made publicly available in the granting section of the British Council website.
5. Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity
Removing barriers to granting and redress any identified imbalances caused by inequality.
Providing a fair and accessible application process, supporting inclusion and diversity, and funding reasonable adjustments to facilitate participation where possible.
Ensuring that all grant-in-aid funded programmes make a significant contribution to gender equality. Any grants awarded with our own funds must consider how the grants can contribute to reducing gender inequalities, and any funds managed on behalf of the UK government to ensure compliance with the International Development Act (2014).
The British Council reserves the right to reject a proposal where gender equality has not been sufficiently considered, as long as this is detailed within the documentation and guidance issued with a grant call.