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Old Luce Education and Training Fund

Grant size Up to £2,250
Area
Dumfries and Galloway
Key dates  
Application Deadlines: Applications can be received at any time.

About this fund

This fund provides bursaries to residents of the Old Luce Community Council area to help them access training and education opportunities that better equip them with the range of skills needed to enter or retain employment.  

The monies are provided from Old Luce Community Fund.

Grant size:

For driving lessons, theory and practical test costs, for car or for commercial vehicles there is a flat grant of £500 available.

For other costs, the maximum award is 

  • First time applicants or short course: up to £1,000
  • Second time applicants: up to £750
  • Any further applications up to £500

Similarly, if your course runs over several years, any award will be capped at

  • First year of study: up to £1,000 per year
  • Second year of study: up to £750 per year 
  • Any further year of study: up to £500 per year

Purpose of this fund

The purpose of the Old Luce Education & Training Fund is to improve the opportunities and livelihoods of people living in Old Luce, geographically defined by the community council boundary. 

Priority will be given to courses leading to formal or recognised qualifications, however other courses will also be considered where you can demonstrate how the skills and knowledge gained will realistically support you in securing or retaining a job. Apprentices can also apply, provided it's for a cost you cannot claim back from your employer or another agency.  

Participation in a wide range of courses can be funded (full or part-time), including Modern Apprenticeships, HGV Licence Training, Foundation Apprenticeships, HNC, HND, undergraduate degrees and post-graduate qualifications (though not PhDs). Private tuition providing additional support to the school curriculum cannot be funded. Driving lessons for car or commercial vehicles along with practical and theory tests can be supported.

Additional criteria

Awards can cover costs that are directly related to attending your course or apprenticeship, including: 

  • Course fees, where these costs cannot be waived or funded through any other means
  • Study aids and equipment e.g. laptops, software, stationary (up to £700)
  • Technical aids/equipment e.g. specialist clothing relating to the course, tools, other specialist equipment 
  • Travel e.g. bus, train or petrol
  • Accommodation costs
  • Practical and theory tests and driving lessons.

You must provide information on the full costs that you need to meet in relation to the course. For example, if you are a first-time applicant taking a week-long course that costs £400, you will only be able to apply for £400 plus related travel & subsistence. And if you receive funding from elsewhere, for example, £100 towards the course fees, you will only be able to apply for £300. 

Study location: 

We recognise that the fund area has limited further education opportunities however any course being undertaken locally will be looked upon more favourably than a course that requires you to leave the area. By local, we would generally mean south and central Scotland. 

Who can apply?

The fund is open to individuals aged 16 or over and living in the Old Luce Community Council area. Applications for bursaries must be from individuals taking an education or training course to improve/gain new skills linked to employability (including re-training for a new role or retraining for their current role) or thinking about applying for one. Although applications won’t be means-tested, personal circumstances will be taken into account in the event of high demand once applications have been assessed.

Please note that the fund is open to anyone over the age of 16, but priority will be given to applicants between the ages of 16-25 years.

What can’t be funded?

Awards can only support charitable activity, as defined under the Charities and Trustees Investment Act (Scotland) 2006 and further outlined in guidance published by the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator (OSCR). 

In addition, the fund cannot support the following types of activity: 

  • The advancement of religion or party politics
  • Activities that are the responsibility of statutory authorities  
  • Activities contrary to the interests of the developer or Foundation Scotland
  • Anti-renewable energy/windfarm activities
  • Retrospective funding i.e. paying for costs incurred before a decision on an application to the fund for support can be made, including the repayment of loans or debts 

The fund will not support training or equipment that an employer should be providing for an individual or is necessary for an individual to carry out their current job. 

If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, please send an e-mail to grants@foundationscotland.org.uk.    

How are decisions made?

Foundation Scotland will review your application and may contact you for further information. It's then passed to the Old Luce Fund Panel for a decision. The outcome will be sent to you by email between six to eight weeks after your application has been submitted. 

Frequently asked questions

  • When should I apply?

    You should apply as soon as you're sure that you're going to take the course and have been accepted onto it.

    We will normally respond to your application between six and eight weeks after your application has been submitted. Please tell us about any important dates relating to your course, for example, registration or start date, or the date for a decision about any other funding towards it. 

    If you need a response sooner, please get in touch with us as soon as you can. We will do our best to turn your application around in time. 

  • What evidence do I need to provide?

    This will depend on the course you are looking to take. Some evidence may need to be provided to us along with your application (as set out in the application form), some periodically through the term of your award and some upon completion of your course. Examples include: 

    • Your offer letter or confirmation of a place on the course 
    • A copy of your attendance record or statement by someone from the educational institution confirming you have been attending regularly 
    • A copy of your qualification certificate
    • Evidence you have booked a block of driving lessons 

    You may not have these documents at the time of application but will need to provide them when you can. Evidence of expenditure (receipts or invoices) will not be required as a matter of course but may be requested in some circumstances, for example, if you are awarded funding to buy a laptop. Please keep any relevant receipts for up to 12 months. 

  • How likely am I to get this award?

    If the fund is oversubscribed then we may not be able to offer an award to every applicant, or we may not be able to award everyone the full amount requested.

  • What are my responsibilities?

    If you are offered an award you will need to accept terms and conditions via our online portal. This states that you must spend the award as described in your application form. If your plans change you will need to let us know as soon as possible. It may be possible for you to retain the award, for example, if you intend to switch courses, or if you find another training provider offering a better deal. But you must tell us your circumstances have changed in the first instance.  

    You will also be required to provide some feedback on your experiences to demonstrate the impact of the support you received from the fund.  

  • How is the grant award paid?

    We will pay the award to you electronically by bank transfer so, you will need to provide a bank statement that shows your name, address, account number and sort code. In some cases, we can pay your education or training provider directly; if this would suit your circumstances, please let us know. 

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. 

The fund operates on a rolling basis until further notice, which means that you can apply as soon as you are sure your going to complete the course. 

Apply now

Contact information

For application process and technical enquiries

Central Systems Support

For criteria and fund priority enquiries

Katie Barnwell, Community Funds Adviser

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