Duncraig Educational Trust Scheme
This scheme is currently closed and will re-open in April 2010
General Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is it?
The Duncraig Educational Trust Scheme offers scholarships, grants and assistance for young Highland people who have a particular, unique or exceptional talent. Approximately £25,000 is available each year for the following specific purposes:-
- To help with the cost of attending a specialist course of study in arts, language and heritage, science and environment
- To help with the cost of purchasing equipment to follow a specialist course of study in arts, language and heritage, science and environment
- To help with the cost of participating in sporting events at national or international level
- To help with the costs of specialist sport coaching
Funding from the Trust is both limited and targeted and, unfortunately, this means that assistance is not available for standard and/or routine costs associated with attending most university or college courses or courses that are part of the school curriculum.
Who can apply?
The funds are almost exclusively for pupils and former pupils of secondary schools in the Highland Council area.
Each year, however, up to 5% of the funds can be allocated to young people of Highland descent who meet the essential criteria of the scheme. In this context, “of Highland descent” means that at least one of the young person’s parents or grandparents attended secondary school in the Highland Council area for a minimum of two years.
Am I eligible?
You are eligible to apply if:-
- You are between 16 – 25 years old, and
- You meet the essential criteria and purposes of the scheme, and
- You either attend or have attended secondary school in the Highland Council area, or
- At least one of your parents or grandparents attended secondary school for a minimum of two years in the Highland Council area
What funds are available?
Awards of up to a maximum of £1000 (or 75% of eligible costs) are available for young people with particular, unique or exceptional talents.
What are the eligible costs?
It really depends on the type of help you are applying for. For example, eligible costs can include:-
- Tuition/course fees if these are not available from other sources such as the Student Award Agency for Scotland
- Living expenses if you are living away from home
- Travel costs if you are living at home and travelling to study
- Costs for specialist sports coaching, attending training sessions or competing in events
- Cost of essential specialist equipment (based on provision of at least one estimate)
Are they any rules about eligible specialist courses?
Yes, specialist courses needs to be accredited and places awarded by a competitive and recognised selection process. This will include audition where appropriate.
You will need to provide confirmation that you have been offered and have registered on the course before any award would be paid to you.
Please note that, as the Trust is designed to help young people with a particular, unique or exceptional talent, it is very unlikely that funding will be available for attendance on specialist courses which are below HND or an equivalent level.
Are there any rules about eligible sports activities?
Yes, help is available for sports activities which are recognised by sportscotland
http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/SiteNavigation/Contacts/
You will also need to provide independent evidence that you have been selected by a competitive and recognised process to participate in sporting events at national or international level or to take part in specialist sports coaching/training.
Is funding available for more than one year?
Most awards are likely to be made on a “one off” basis.
In exceptional circumstances, however, funding might be available for more than one year and, where this is the case, a number of extra rules will apply.
- The maximum length of time such funding might be available will be either 4 years or for the duration of the course/training (whichever is the shorter period of time)
- Such funding will normally be agreed “in principle” and subject to annual review. In other words, the continuation of funding will depend on how well the person who received assistance has progressed throughout the year
- Such funding will normally be agreed on the basis of a reducing scale of support from year to year. In other words, the level of award is likely to decrease each year
- The recipient of an award will have to produce evidence of satisfactory progress, performance and attainment each year. This will take the form of a written report – Report on Award. The report will need to be signed off by a recognised independent person who is qualified to assess this (such as a course tutor or a representative from a national governing body of sport)
- Funding will not be available to repeat a failed year or to undertake a completely new course of study.
I have received an award from the Trust before, can I apply again?
Yes, you can if you still meet the essential criteria for the scheme. If have been awarded a grant previously, however, you will need to send us the Report on Award about your progress, performance and attainment at the same time as you make your next application. We will not be able to progress your application without this report.
Is there anything else I need to know?
Yes, because the funds are limited and demand is high, priority will be given to young people
- Who attended a Highland secondary school for a minimum of two years
- Who completed their secondary school education in the Highland Council area
- Whose financial or personal circumstances might prevent them achieving their potential in one of the identified areas
- And, if you are applying for assistance with a specialist course, priority will be given to those courses which lead to a first post-school qualification.
There may be additional conditions for specific awards e.g. if funding is awarded “in principle” for more than one year.
It is not possible to consider any retrospective applications.
Data Protection
Please be aware that the personal information you provide will be used
- To process and validate your application
- To publicise the scheme as detailed in the General Terms and Conditions below
So, please think about whether you are willing to accept these before you apply.
What are the General Terms and Conditions?
All awards must be used for the purposes for which they are allocated
Awards will be paid when the recipient of the award has signed and returned one copy of the offer letter and has provided all the required information such as confirmation of registration on a specialist course.
All award recipients must submit a short personal report (Report on Award) on what the award from the Trust has helped them achieve. This will normally be one or two A4 sheets and the report must be countersigned by an independent person who is in position to vouch for their achievements, performance and progress (e.g. head of department or tutor of a specialist course or sports coach or representative of the relevant national governing body of sport). This information may be used in publicity about the Scheme. The Report on Award should be submitted no later than 30th September of the following year.
However, applicants who have received an award from the Trust previously and are applying again must send their Report on Award with their new application.
Information about the awards will be publicised and, on occasions, recipients of awards may be asked to take part in specific publicity events such as photo opportunities etc
The standard publicity information will include the following
- Name of recipient of the award
- School attended
- Amount of award
- The purpose of the award
- Report on what the award has helped the recipient achieve
As the governing body of the Trust, the Council reserves the right to withdraw awards if the recipient of the funding fails to make reasonable progress or is guilty of serious misconduct. In such circumstances, the Council’s decision will be final.
How do I apply?
You need to complete an Application Form and return it by the annual deadline date. Applications must be received by 5pm on Friday 12 June 2009. There is only one application round each year.
Who decides?
The Highland Council is the governing body of the Trust and, if your application is eligible for consideration, a group of elected councillors will make the decisions. Where appropriate we will consult with specialist council staff and specialist external organisations like the Highland Institute of Sport or the Scottish Arts Council to clarify selection details or for advice on specific issues relating to applications.
Elected councillors will make their decisions based on merit and strength of the application and your personal details will not be presented to them.
When will I know if my application has been successful?
In most cases, we will certainly aim let you know the outcome of your application before your term or programme starts. However, the earliest that we might be able to let you know is in late August or early September each year.