JOINT SCHOOLS PROJECT FUND
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the SOA Joint Schools Project Fund is to encourage and promote the courses or activities for The Hong Kong Award for Young People, organized on a joint schools basis, to be carried out both locally and elsewhere.
ELIGIBILITY
Recognized User Units under the Schools Operating Authority (SOA) planning to organize courses or activities individually or in a joint effort.
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SELECTION PROCEDURES
(1) Applications will be considered by the Schools Operating Authority Committee (SOA Committee).。
SELECTION CRITERIA
(1) User Unit's background and financial need.
(2) Nature of the activity
- whether there is a sound planning behind the activity;
- necessity for financial assistance;
- possibility of obtaining financial assistance from other sources.
(3) Ability to contribute to the Scheme upon completion of the activity.
(4) Due consideration will be given to activities which help to promote the Scheme's image both locally and elsewhere.
(5) Preference will be given to pioneering activities with innovative ideas.
(6) Due consideration will be given to applications which will benefit the most number of applicants at the least cost, or to activities benefiting the AYP programme/ the SOA as a whole.
(7) Under normal circumstances, purchase of equipment will not be supported.
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FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
(1) The grant may not cover the full expenses of the activity. Unless otherwise advised by the SOA Committee, the maximum grant is $30,000.
(2) A detailed budget including a statement of estimated income from all sources and expenses to be incurred for the proposed activity should be given in the application form.
(3) If the number of participants recruited is fewer than originally stated in the application, the subsidy will be reduced accordingly.
(4) Payment will normally be made in the form of reimbursement. An evaluation report, together with a statement of Income & Expenditure, certified vouchers and copies of candidates’ Record Book (the first page of Record Book and the completed page of the respective Section) should be submitted to the SOA within 3 months upon completion of the project. The SOA Committee will keep track of the record for those applicants who failed to provide Record Book copies of candidates. The record will be taken into consideration for future applications.
(5) After approval has been granted from the SOA Committee, payment in advance of not more than 70% of the approved amount, may be entertained under special circumstances and upon special request unless otherwise advised by the SOA Committee. Such request will be referred to the Chairman of the SOA Committee for final decision. An interim financial report may be required if the SOA Committee deems it necessary.
(6) In the event of procrastinating the date of proposed activity, the Organizers should make a request in writing to the SOA Committee for approval. The SOA Committee will consider each request individually and will grant a maximum of 6 months (from the original proposed date of activity). In the event of changes during the progress of the activity, alternations should be reported to the SOA Committee for approval.
(7) The SOA Committee reserves the right not to disburse the full-awarded amount if the activity is found to be progressing unsatisfactorily.
IMPORTANT NOTE
The SOA Committee reserves the right to alter the application criteria and regulations as and when necessary.
The Fund should be used to subsidize, in majority, participants to complete the three Awards and less in ratio for other participants.
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ADDITIONAL GUIDELINE FOR APPLYING SOA JOINT SCHOOLS PROJECT FUND
1. Funds will preferably be directed to participants in fulfilling the requirements of the 3 Awards.
2. Funds will be allocated in such a way that it will benefit as many SOA User Units/ participants as possible.
3. The items funded should be basic and essential to the programme. Any expenses beyond the very basic will not be provided.
4. The amount of funding allocated to the Organizers will be based on the lowest possible cost in helping the participants to fulfil the requirements of the respective Section, e.g. Expedition projects will be limited to 4-days-3-nights and Residential Project activities to 5-days-4-nights.
5. For events to be held outside Hong Kong, expenses of leaders and instructors could be counted in the total expenditure. However, no extra expense on instructor fees will be supported.
6. Under normal circumstances, no single school will be entitled to take more than 70% of the vacancies of the proposed course/ activity
7. Organizers are responsible for the following duties:-
a) Issue circular, selection of participants, issue letters of acceptance and response to enquiries.
b) Venue booking, notification of the Police and arrangement of transportation, souvenirs, etc. whenever necessary.
c) Control of funding.
8. Programme and name list of participants should be forwarded to the SOA before commencement of the course/ activity.
9. Preference will be given to programmes designed to help participants fulfill the requirements of the relevant Section in whole rather than in part.
10. In consideration of the cost-effectiveness of the Award programme, Organizers are advised not to spend substantial funding on hiring instructors and the fact that the programme is not for elite training. They should also follow closely the guideline, if any, on the ratio between instructor and candidates as proposed by the respective Section Panel. Fund will not be granted to cover the portion of instructor fee considered to be excessive.
11. In the event of major changes during the progress of the activity, alternations should be reported to the SOA. The amount of funding approved may be reduced for major changes.
12. If other funding support is sought and granted, the Organizers should spend all such fund first.
13. The Award and Schools Operating Authority titles and/or logo should appear in all publications, banners, backdrops and press releases for the programme to be organized.
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