Nadara Gordonstown Wind Farm Education & Training Fund (Auchterless, Inverkeithny & Fisherford)

About this fund

This fund provides educational and training bursaries for individuals living in the Auchterless, Inverkeithny & Fisherford Community Council areas seeking to improve their employability prospects or develop a new career. Awards can support participation in a range of courses, from short courses to postgraduate degrees. 

The fund is part of the Gordonstown Wind Farm Community Fund, provided by Nadara, the owner of Gordonstown Hill Wind Farm in Aberdeenshire. Funding for bursaries comes from the annual donation allocated to Auchterless, Inverkeithny & Fisherford from that fund.

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

Multi-year grants can be awarded to support, for example, HNDs or degree courses. Maximum award levels are as follows: 

Course Duration	Maximum award
Short course (up to one year)up	up to £1,500
Multi-year course (year one)	up to £1,500
Multi-year course (year two)	up to £1,000
Multi-year course (future years)	up to £300

Previous applicants may apply for a second bursary towards the costs of attending a further course, where sufficient justification is provided, and for a maximum of £1,000.

Purpose of this fund

This fund aims to support residents of Auchterless, Inverkeithny & Fisherford in gaining the skills and confidence they need to improve their employability prospects or develop a new career. The fund is not limited to education or training in support of any specific industry or economic sector. 

Awards can support participation in a wide range of courses, either vocational or professional, and full-time or part-time. However, applications to support courses leading to formal qualifications will be favoured over informal courses. Examples of formal qualifications include SVQs, NCs, HNCs, HNDs, under and postgraduate degrees (although PhDs will not be supported). The chosen course may be provided anywhere in the UK. Driving lessons may also be supported. 

Apprenticeships will not be supported as these are already funded extensively through trade bodies and the Scottish Government.

Applicants must demonstrate how the skills and knowledge they gain will realistically support them in progressing their career – whether that means securing or retaining a job or setting up their own business. 

Bursaries can cover any of the following costs where these will help individuals participate in their chosen course: 

• Course fees – where these cannot be funded through other means
• Travel: bus or train fares, petrol (note a mileage rate will not be paid)
• Subsistence: meals, refreshments
• Childcare
• Driving lessons (up to 10) and driving theory test if the course is distant from your normal place of residence and public transport is not viable
• Study aids such as a laptop, software, stationery or books. The usual maximum allowance for IT equipment is set at £600 unless you can evidence the strong need for more
• Technical aids/equipment such as specialist clothing related to the course and tools
• Accommodation costs

Additional criteria

Given the rural nature of the area, the fund will support travel, subsistence, and childcare costs at the following rates, up to the maximum award figures stated above:

Course duration	Daily rate
One year or more (full or part-time)	up to £7.50 per day
Up to one year	up to £15 per day

Support towards the cost of study aids or equipment related to courses of one year or longer may be up to £600 in the first year of an award, within the maximum award figures stated above. Such costs will only be supported where the study aids or equipment are considered essential and integral to your chosen course but must be purchased separately (i.e., not covered by course fees) and are reasonable value for money. Study aids or equipment other than books will not be supported in relation to courses shorter than one year. 
 

Who can apply?

Applicants must be individuals aged 16 or over who:

• Are taking, or thinking about applying for, an education or training course or apprenticeship to gain new or improved skills linked to employability. This may mean re-training for a new role or retaining a current role.
• Are ordinarily resident within the geographical area served by Auchterless, Inverkeithny & Fisherford Community Council.
• Require some financial support to help them attend/study. Although applications will not be means-tested, information on personal circumstances will be requested. Still, it will only be considered in the event of high demand on the fund and once applications have been assessed against other fund criteria.

You can apply for a bursary before receiving a formal offer of a place on the course. You will, however, need to supply evidence of acceptance onto the course before we can make any payment to you. 

If you are offered a bursary for study over multiple years, you must provide evidence of course completion each year before releasing your next payment.
 

What can’t be funded?

Costs relating to apprenticeships will not be supported as these are already funded extensively through trade bodies and the Scottish Government. 

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?

Award decisions are made by Foundation Scotland. Once you've submitted your application, we'll arrange a short telephone interview to discuss your chosen course, your circumstances, and the costs you need help with.  

We aim to notify you of the decision within four weeks of receiving your application.