Charity No 1139668
The Diamond Education Grant was set up as a charity by SIGBI in 1972. It contributes to the public benefit through its activity of making grants to women who are in need of financial assistance for educational purposes. The grants enable the women to enter or return to employment, or move to a growing industry, by acquiring new skills. The educational grants contribute to raising the standard of education among women, who may not otherwise be able to improve their circumstances, those of their family, or the community in which they live.
The benefits of educating women and girls, in time, have become recognised as the most effective way of raising nations out of poverty, and reducing international conflicts. Remember the often quoted, African proverb? ‘If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a family (nation)’. The United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative states that, ‘When girls get the education they need, there is a ripple effect that benefits everyone.’
The Diamond Education Board allocate grants to women who reside in the countries of the Federation. During the year to 31 March 2024, we made grants totalling £38,642 to 37 women. The average grant for the year was £1,044. We aimed to find the right women; those that faced the greatest barriers or to whom the grant would have the biggest impact.
Awards are made to help towards the cost of course fees or books/equipment, not for living or travel expenses.
How to apply
Applications for 2025 are now closed.
Our timescales are as follows:
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- End November: Online application form available for grants towards courses in the following academic year, September to July. Short courses are considered but must start within the academic year –i.e. must not start in the preceding August or earlier). Note that if your application does not meet our criteria, listed below, it will be rejected and you will be emailed to explain why.
- 15 April: Closing date for applications and online form removed from website
- June: Applicants whose applications were accepted, are notified of the Trustees’ decision, whether or not they have received a grant.
- July-October: successful applicants need to return references and proof of enrolment in order to receive the grant. Grants are made on receipt of these documents.
- Following June: Successful applicants are asked to return a report on how the grant has benefitted them and receipts if equipment has been purchased with grant funding.
Course must not start before the September in the year of the closing date (i.e. only first year of a multiple-year course will be funded, and short courses must start within the academic year.)
Course must not be a 2nd degree, Masters, PHD or Postgraduate qualification (i.e., a course that requires a degree to have been achieved in order to undertake it).
Must be willing to submit a progress report and receipts at the end of the academic year.
Eligibility Criteria
| Essential | We favour women who are… |
| Must be female. | 30 or over within the relevant academic year (no upper age limit) |
| Must be resident within the SIGBI territory (see list of countries below) | Updating or acquiring skills after a career/ learning break to improve employment opportunities. |
| Course must not start before the September in the year of the closing date (ie only first year of a multiple-year course will be funded, and short courses must fall wholly within the academic year.) | Taking a vocational course/training, or wishing to progress in a STEM career or male orientated field. |
| Must not previously have received a Diamond Education Grant. | Have no financial support from their immediate families |
| Course must not be a 2nd degree, Masters, PHD or Postgraduate qualification (ie a course that requires a degree to have been achieved in order to undertake it). | Disadvantaged in some way e.g. physical / medical needs, Special Educational Needs, Disability, Trauma, Financial challenges |
| Must only be applying for a grant towards course fees or equipment, not living, travel or childcare expenses. | |
| Must be willing to submit a progress report at the end of the academic year. |
Eligible Countries:
To be eligible you must be permanently resident in one of the countries of our Federation, which are:
Asia
Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
Europe
Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Malta Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom
Caribbean
Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos
How to donate
Nearly forty awards were given out last year. With increased funding, many more women could be helped to make that vital career step up, or back into the workplace. To make a donation, complete the donation form and return it to joanne@sigbi.org: SIGBI Donation Form. The form includes details of how to make payment by cheque or by BACS.
Soroptimists Supporting the Diamond Education Grant
In an effort to raise the profile of this grant and our designated day (8th September), with all members, the DEG Trustees have prepared some resources which we would like all clubs to share with their members. We have prepared a presentation with an accompanying script that could be shown at club or regional level this Autumn. We have also prepared a ‘diamond’ themed quiz which we thought that you might like to use at club level to raise awareness in a more light-hearted way.
All of these resources can be found in the SIGBI Hub Library.
And don’t stop there! Next time you review your Will, please consider including a legacy for the Fund, enabling your work as a Soroptimist to live on after you. The wording should be as follows: “I GIVE the sum of £……….to SIGBI Ltd (address as above) for the benefit of the Diamond Education Grant Registered charity No 1139668.”
Recycling in aid of the Diamond Education Grant
Many clubs have successfully used the jewellery recycling service to fund raise for past SIGBI projects and their own projects, and we now ask you to consider continuing this great method of raising funds in aid of the Diamond Education Grant. SI Milford Haven is currently doing this in conjunction with “Recycling for Good Causes”.
Please encourage your members to support this project so that we can continue to transform the lives of women and meet our goal to educate, empower and enable. Clubs can raise funds by simply collecting recyclable items such as jewellery (made of any material), watches, rings, old bank notes and coins or gadgets such as Sat Navs, Games Consoles and Games, Tablets, Video Cameras, Mobile Phones, iPods and Laptops of any age.
The smaller items can be posted in a padded envelope to FREEPOST Licence RSXA-GJBY-ARRZ, Soroptimist International DEG, Unit 14 Amber Business Village, Tamworth, B77 4RP. For gadgets please request a sack by contacting Erene Grieve via hq@sigbi.org or 0161 480 7686 (option 2), fill it and then request collection from customerservices@recyclingforgoodcauses.org.
Don’t Delay Start Recycling Today
We are proud to say that when a women, who has received a grant, succeeds in her career path it is down to the collaborative efforts of all SIGBI members!
Come to our Diamond Education Facebook page to hear about some of our success stories. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555480438447