Guidance Notes BAT Skills Bursary Programme The application form and guidance notes are available in the following formats: by post by E-mail on CD in large print from our website This bursary programme is funded by a community legacy given to County Durham Community Foundation by British American Tobacco (formerly Rothmans). Programme Criteria This bursary programme is for people who wish to: carry out training that will benefit a local community group or the local community improve their skills, potentially allowing the applicant to obtain a qualification It is open to anyone who: is a volunteer for a local community group lives or volunteers in Darlington, Easington or Sedgefield has a clear aim for what they want to achieve has the commitment and ability to succeed If you fit in with the above criteria, then you may be eligible for a grant of up to 1,000 to assist with your training needs or associated costs (e.g., equipment, childcare). What we will fund This bursary programme aims to help volunteers achieve their training requirements in order to improve their skills and benefit a voluntary group or their local community.
We will consider applications for funding for the following: training courses (these can take place within the voluntary organisation or with a local training provider or college) childcare costs (we will only consider costs that are additional to the usual costs incurred as a result of the training) travel costs equipment (only that necessary to carry out the training) for people with special needs, access to specialist equipment Section 1 Your contact details Name, address and contact numbers Please give your full name and home address. Complete every box; it is important that we can contact you about your application. Section 2 Employment and Education Current employment status Please give details of your current employment. We will not contact them without your consent, and being employed is not a requirement of this bursary programme. However, it gives us an idea of the additional skills you bring to your volunteering position. Current volunteering details Please give details of your current volunteering activities. As this bursary programme is only open to people who are currently volunteering, it is important that your organisation is aware of your application. They will also be required to be one of your referees. Previous voluntary activity This part of the form is for you to tell us about your previous involvement in community activities. Please list any voluntary groups you have belonged to or have worked for, starting with the most recent.
Previous paid employment We would like to know what experience you have of paid work and what full or parttime occupations you have had since leaving school, including childcare responsibilities. Work backwards and give details of your current occupation first. In addition, if you have been paid for any work in the community or in a voluntary organisation, this should be mentioned here. Education and Training We will not assess you on your qualifications but your education history will help us decide whether or not the proposed activities for your bursary are appropriate and realistic. Please work backwards and list the most recent educational activity first. Section 3 Training requirements Type of training Please tell us the name of the course you wish to undertake, where you will be studying, when the course starts, how long the course lasts and the name of the qualification you will be working towards. Current skills Please provide us with a brief description of what skills you already have which you think will help you to gain your qualification. Can you commit to the training? If you receive a bursary, it is important that you only take on activities that you can expect to complete. If you are concerned in any way about being able to complete the training, please let us know. We may be able to assist you with additional funding, or allow you longer to complete the training. Joint applications Up to four like-minded individuals can apply for a bursary at the same time. If you are applying for a bursary jointly with others, we need to know. Please list the names of any other people applying with you so that we can speak to you all together. Each individual should fill out a separate application form. You do not have to do the same activity, for example, you could go on different training courses to support your voluntary organisation or local community.
Section 4 Benefits Benefits to you Please provide a brief description of how the bursary will help you in your community and voluntary work, please include details of what it will enable you to do that you cannot do now. Benefits to your voluntary organisation or local community Please provide a brief description of how a bursary would help your voluntary organisation or local community. Section 5 Financial information Support required Please tick the necessary box to indicate what support is required. Actual costs Please give details of the total cost of the training, this will also include elements that you are not requesting funding from us for. List each item separately and inform us of how much you are requesting from the bursary programme, and how much you are obtaining from other sources (includes other funders as well as your own contribution). Please include quotes with your application. Other sources of funding To be eligible for a bursary you do not have to raise funds from any other source, but please tell us if you have applied elsewhere for funding, and, if so, if that funding has been confirmed or if you are still waiting for an outcome. Section 6 Independent referees Please give the names and details of two people who know you well and can tell us about your voluntary work and how that impacts on the local community. They will need to explain and support your strong personal motivation for applying for the bursary. You should tell us how this person knows you; they should not be another applicant, a member of your family or a family friend. One of the referees must be your current line manager within your volunteering position.
Section 7 Additional information We would like you to tell us a little more about yourself, giving information that is not covered elsewhere in the application form. What are your hobbies and interests? Do you have family? Why do you volunteer? This information is not used in the assessment process but helps us to build a picture of you. We have also asked you to tell us if you are or have been in care (for under 25 year olds) and if you are registered disabled. We ask for this information as we administer other educational funds that prioritise people in or coming out of care or disabled people, so we may be able to fund your application from a different source, or share to costs across more than one fund. Section 8 Declaration It is important that you are sure that all the information you have given to us on the application form is accurate. Please ensure that you sign and date the form before sending it back to us. Section 9 Contact details If you have any difficulties completing this form, or would like to receive additional guidance before submitting it, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the grants team. Our details are: County Durham Community Foundation Victoria House Whitfield Court St Johns Road Meadowfield Industrial Estate Durham DH7 8XL Tel: 0191 378 6340 Fax: 0191 378 2409 E-mail: info@cdcf.org.uk www.cdcf.org.uk Charity no: 1047625 Company no: 3072153 ENTRUST no: 581043