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Beinneun Student Scholarship Fund

Grant size Up to £750
Area
Highland
Key dates  
Application Deadline: 27th September 2024

About this fund

The Beinneun Student Scholarship Fund provides bursaries for individuals living in Fort Augustus, Glenmoriston and Glengarry seeking to improve their employability prospects or develop a new career. It is provided from the Beinneun Community Benefit Fund which supports voluntary organisations, charities, householders, students and social enterprises across these three communities.

The maximum Scholarship award is £750 per application per calendar year and four scholarship payments can be made per applicant over the lifetime of the fund.

Purpose of this fund

The Beinneun Student Scholarship Fund provides bursaries for individuals over 16 who are resident in in Fort Augustus, Glenmoriston and Glengarry areas and wish to access educational courses or training opportunities.

Funding can be used to cover part or all of course fees, travel costs, accommodation, essential equipment such as books or IT equipment, and tutor costs.

Although the Scholarship is not means tested, preference will be given to those applicants who can evidence real financial need for the funds.

Please see 'additional criteria' below for more information.

Additional criteria

Bursaries can support a wide range of courses, including full or part-time and short vocational courses. Examples include Modern Apprenticeships, Foundation Apprenticeships, NC, HNC, HND, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate qualifications, forklift tickets, LVG / HVG and many others.

Bursaries can cover any of the following costs where these will help you attend your chosen course:

  • Course fees not already being paid for from elsewhere (see below)
  • Travel: bus, ferry or train fares, fuel (If you are under 22 years old you are eligible for free bus travel through the Young Scot initiative. This should be used in the first instance and other transport costs will only be considered if your course cannot be accessed by bus.)
  • Study aids (e.g. laptop, software, stationery, books – please provide quotes)
  • Technical aids/equipment (e.g. specialist clothing related to the course, tools, other specialist equipment– please provide quotes)
  • Accommodation costs (please provide quotes)
  • Tutor costs

The level of grant offered will depend on the course you are looking to attend and your circumstances, including any bursary that may be available through Skills Development Scotland, Student Awards Agency for Scotland, a local college fee waiver or bursary, or elsewhere.

Who can apply?

The fund is open to individuals aged 16 or over who are residents of in Fort Augustus, Glenmoriston and Glengarry. 

Your application must relate to a further/higher education or training course to develop skills and employability.

What can’t be funded?

Information on common funding exclusions can be found here. The Beinneun Student Scholarship also cannot support:

  • General living costs
  • Environmentally damaging or unsustainable activities
  • Travel abroad
  • Vehicle purchases

You cannot apply for funding towards any costs incurred before a decision can be made on your application (retrospective funding). See below for information on decision timescales. If you are in any doubt, please contact the Grants Officer (details below).

We will not fund training or equipment that your employer should be providing for you or that is necessary for you to carry out your current job (or a job you are likely to move into with your current employer).

Apprentices cannot apply for any cost that can be claimed back from their employer or another source.

The fund cannot meet any costs already covered by a school, college, the local authority, or another awarding body such as an industry trade body, Skills Development Scotland, or Students Awards Agency Scotland.

How are decisions made?

Foundation Scotland will review your application and may contact you for further information.  You will receive a decision by email. 

Frequently asked questions

  • What evidence do I need to provide in support of my application?

    This will depend on the course you are looking to take. We may need you to provide some evidence along with your application (as set out in the application form), and some upon completion of your course. Examples include:

    • Quotes for the costs you need to pay.
    • Your offer letter or confirmation of a place on the course.

    You may not have these documents at the time of application but will need to provide them when you can.

    • A copy of your qualification certificate, when you report back to us at the end of the course.

  • Can I apply for the costs of a course that has already started?

    If you have already started a course from 1st August 2024, you may apply as an exceptional circumstance due to the late opening of the fund this year. However, in future years it will not be possible to apply for courses which have already begun.

  • Can I apply for an award if I am already employed?

    If you are currently employed, we will not fund training or equipment that your employer should be providing for you, or that is necessary for you to carry out your current job (or a job you are likely to move into with your current employer). 

  • What are my responsibilities?

    Under the terms of your Grant Acceptance, you will have to spend the award as described in your application form or as otherwise agreed in writing with us.

    If your plans change you will need to let us know as soon as possible. It may be possible for you to retain your award, for example, if you intend to switch courses, or if you find another training provider offering a better deal or providing the course in a way that suits you better. But you must tell us your circumstances have changed in the first instance.

    You will be required to provide some feedback on your learning experience to demonstrate the impact of the support received from the Fund.

  • Can you pay my fees directly to the training provider?

    Where this is possible for both yourself and the course provider we can arrange to pay fees directly. However, you will need to include this information in your application form.

How to apply

Applications are submitted online using the link below. You will need:

  • A working email account that you can access - to set up an online portal account through which applications are submitted online.
  • A recent bank statement - because we often need to check account details are correct before we can pay out a grant.  A scanned or photographed or electronic copy will need to be uploaded during the application process.
  • Evidence of your home address - this could include a driving licence, SAAS letter or a bill (for example for your mobile phone). Any official letter (for example from the Scottish Exam Board, school correspondence, NHS appointment letters, tax letters or a payslip). If you are at college or university, they may be able to provide something suitable.

If you would like to review the questions you will be asked to answer before starting the form, you can see them here. 

If you have any problems applying online or setting up your portal, please email grants@foundationscotland.org.uk or call 0131 524 0300 (during office hours) and we will be pleased to help.

If you have already started an application and not completed it, please login here to resume. 

Click here to apply

Contact information

For application process and technical enquiries

Central Systems Support

For criteria and fund priority enquiries

Christie McAlpine, Grants Officer

Useful links

  • Careers advice and training course listings are available from Skills Development Scotland (SDS) (My World of Work) 

Information about other potential sources of funding: 

 

Bus passes: