1. THE FUND'S POLICY

1.1 The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund is a registered charity which was established primarily to aid the research into learning disability and to aid the care and relief of those affected by learning disability by making grants to voluntary organisations working in this field.

1.2 Our funding priorities are projects involving individuals with learning disabilities (intellectual disabilities), with or without autism.  We consider applications for both children and adults.  We do not give grants for research into or care of people with mental illness, dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism, nor ADHD, if they do not also have learning disabilities (intellectual disabilities).

1.3 We generally direct our limited funds towards the initiation of research so that it can progress to the point at which there is sufficient data to support an application to one of the major funding bodies. 

1.4 We only fund the directly incurred costs of research. This can include the salary costs of researchers to be employed full or part time directly on the project, but not a percentage salary recoup of academics employed on permanent University contracts. We do not cover University Full Economic Costs, nor open access publishing costs, nor costs for conference attendance. 

2. HOW TO APPLY

2.1 Applications are only accepted from established research workers and will undergo normal professional peer review. 

2.2 Complete and submit applications online, answering questions in the form of a scientific case for support.

2.3 You can save your progress in the application form and return later to complete if required. 

2.4 Details on the full application process can be found HERE. 

3. DEADLINES

3.1 Before submitting a full application, researchers may submit a one-page summary of the proposed study so that the Trustees may indicate whether they are prepared to consider a full application.  If you are wishing to submit an initial one-page summary, the deadline for online submission is 1 December or 1 May. 

3.2 Meetings of the Trustees are usually held in June and November each year and all full applications should therefore be submitted online no later than 1 February or 1 July for consideration at the next relevant meeting.  Late applications will be deferred to the next meeting round.