Barr Education and Training Fund
| Grant size | Up to £3,000 |
| Area |
South Ayrshire
|
| Key dates | |
| Application deadline: | Applications can be received at any time. |
About this fund
This fund provides bursaries to residents of the Barr 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 funding is provided from the Barr Community Fund.
Grant Size:
The maximum award is:
- First time applicants: up to £1,500
- Second time applicants: up to £1,000
- Any further applications: up to £500 per year.
Similarly, if your course runs over several years, any award will be capped at:
- First year of study: up to £1,500
- Second year of study: up to £1,000
- Any further year of study: up to £500 per year.
Purpose of this fund
The Barr Education & Training Fund aims to improve the opportunities and livelihoods of people living in Barr. The community council boundary geographically defines this.
Courses leading to formal or recognised qualifications will be favoured. 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 should this be a cost you cannot claim back from your employer or another agency.
Courses supported can be on a full time or part-time basis and may be Apprenticeships, Modern Apprenticeships, Foundation Apprenticeships, SVQs, NCs, HNCs, HNDs, short vocational courses as well as other courses.
Additional criteria
What can I apply for:
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 another means
- Study aids and equipment e.g. laptops, software, stationery
- Technical aids/equipment e.g. specialist clothing relating to the course, tools, other specialist equipment - Up to £700)
- Travel e.g. bus, train or petrol
- Accommodation costs
- Driving lessons and driving theory test (where an education or training opportunity is distant from the individual's residence and public transport is not a viable option) - Up to £1200
Study location:
We recognise that the fund area has limited further education opportunities; however, any course undertaken locally will be looked upon more favourably than a course requiring 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 Barr Community Council area.
What can’t be funded?
You cannot apply for funding for any costs incurred before a decision has been made on your application (retrospective funding). We will not fund training or equipment that your employer should provide for you or necessary for you to carry out your current job.
Apprentices cannot apply for any cost that can be claimed back from their employer or another source.
If you have any questions concerning 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. The outcome will be sent to you by email.
Frequently asked questions
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When should I apply?
You should apply as soon as you are sure that you are going to take the course and have been accepted onto it. We will normally respond to your application between six and eight weeks after the application deadline. 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 than this, please get in touch with us as soon as you can. We will do our best to turn your application around in good time.
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What evidence do I need to provide?
This will depend on the course you are looking to take. Some 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, and
- a copy of your qualification certificate.
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.
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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.
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What are my responsibilities?
If you are offered an award you will need to sign and return a Grant Acceptance form. 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 experience to demonstrate the impact of the support you received from the fund.
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How is the grand award paid?
We will pay your 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.
Contact information
Central Systems Support
Christie McAlpine, Grants Officer
Useful links
- Careers advice and training course listings at Skills Development Scotland My World of Work |
- Information about Individual Training Accounts which can also cover the costs of some courses SDS Individual Training Accounts (ITA) | My World of Work