BDA General and Education Trust
Introduction
The British Dietetic Association General and Education Trust exists “to advance education and other purposes related to the science of dietetics”. The Trust has an annual grant giving budget of around £50,000 a year and can make grants to individuals and to recognised associations or groups of people engaged in dietetic research and associated activities.
The Trust is separate to the BDA and is managed by six Trustees, three of whom are members of the profession and three who are independent. The Trustees allocate funding to applicants in accordance with the objectives for which the General and Education Trust was set up, grants can be made for running costs, project costs and (exceptionally) for help with salaries. The loan of essential equipment will be considered.
The Trust does not make grants for buying buildings; support fees and expenses for post-graduate qualifications; or support dietetic students in training.
The Trust cannot give grants for every project put forward, even though the projects may meet its criteria. In some cases, only partial support may be offered, or grants may be made subject to conditions which must be met. Funding is made available to projects which will have a benefit to the science and practice of dietetics in the
- funding for a study trip to the
- a research project to evaluate the impact of clinical placements on professional training
- ‘start up’ funding for a post to monitor developments in clinical effectiveness for dietitians
When applications are rejected it is often for a variety of reasons. It is sometimes because:
- An application for research does not have a sufficiently rigorous methodology
- An application is not clearly going to benefit dietetic practice or increase the knowledge base in the profession, or
- A project is too local and funding is sought to fund activities which should be supported by another organization (e.g. the NHS)
Reviewers
The Trustees will seek the views of two professional reviewers on grant applications, to get a view from the professional body about the suitability and relevance of the proposal. In addition the Trustees may refer project applications to independent experts for an opinion. The decision on whether to support or not will be a decision for the Trustees alone.