Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund

Overview

Purpose

The purpose of this competition is to provide funding opportunities to a range of potential outreach partners to support projects that will contribute to the Generation Aviation programme. As with last year, the funding competition will continue to operate as a challenge fund, jointly administered by the Department for Transport and the CAA. The Cabinet Office gives the following definition for a challenge fund:

“A challenge fund is a competitive process under a grant scheme, used to disburse funding to a range of projects, based on a set of pre-published criteria – challenge funds include an assessment of quality, in relation to delivery proposals.”

Projects must be focused mainly on England, with the possibility of delivering across the UK. 

Funding

1. Applicants for this year’s fund will be able to apply for a share of £750,000. Projects can last between 3 and 12 months (not exceeding 1 year). Applications to deliver one-off events will also be considered, provided they meet the evidence requirements and criteria set out in the application form.
2. Total project costs should remain lower than the total amount of funding available. Projects are requested to submit ‘gold, silver and bronze’ funding ambitions within their application. Successful applicants will be awarded funding for either their gold, silver or bronze requests, depending on the strength of their application, the strength of other applications and the demand on the overall fund
   • Gold. The maximum amount you would like to request, allowing applicant organisations to meet your most ambitious objectives and KPIs set out for the project.
   • Silver. A reduction in ambition and therefore funding for the project. This should represent a midway point between the objectives and KPIs of gold and the minimum product represented by bronze.
   • Bronze. The minimum funding request, representing a minimum viable output of the project.

Objectives and criteria

1. The 2025/26 RFTS Challenge Fund is aimed at supporting outreach projects. Applicants for the fund will be required to demonstrate their ability to meet the following three objectives:

• Inspire the next generation of aviation and aerospace professionals, championing the opportunities available in the sector. Applicants' activities should focus on developing interest and engagement with the opportunities available in aviation, showing clear links to career pathways. This might also involve supporting someone in developing skills or gaining experience that could be useful for a career in aviation or aerospace, but should not replace formal education, i.e., delivery of statutory licences or educational qualifications.
• Reach individuals who would not otherwise be aware of the vast career opportunities available to them within the aviation sector.  Applicants should consider how their project might benefit under-represented groups (i.e. women and girls, people from minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities or those from lower socio-economic backgrounds).
• Have a broad impact by reaching and engaging multiple people. This might be achieved through some form of mass participation event, delivery through an education setting or youth group, or via virtual methods that can reach a mass audience. Applicants who can demonstrate a high or long-term impact on their target audience through monitoring or data will score highly. 

Applicants will also be required to demonstrate they can meet the following criteria:

• Projects must be delivered on a not-for-profit basis.
• Projects must be focused mainly on England, with the possibility of delivering across the UK.
• Applicants must demonstrate the ability to deliver their project; this might include evidence of a previous track record of delivery, or evidence of sufficient skills, resource, or experience within an organisation to deliver a new project.

See Guidance for further information.