Minnygap Education & Training Fund

Area:

• Dumfries and Galloway

Key dates Application deadline: Applications are welcome at any time.

About this fund:

This fund provides bursaries to residents of the Johnstone, Templand and Kirkpatrick Juxta community council areas to help overcome any financial barriers they face in acquiring new skills, knowledge and qualifications which will enable them to enter into, retain and enhance employment. This fund is provided by the Minnygap Community Fund.

The maximum award is:

• First time applicants: up to £1,500
• Second time applicants: up to £1,000
• Any further applications: up to £300 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 £300 per year

Purpose of this fund:

The purpose of Minnygap Education & Training Fund is to improve the opportunities and livelihoods of people living in Johnstone, Templand and Kirkpatrick Juxta, geographically defined by community council boundaries. This includes the villages of Johnstonebridge, Templand and Beattock.

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.

Courses supported can be on a full time or part-time basis and may be: Apprenticeships, Modern Apprenticeships, Foundation Apprenticeships, SVQs, NCs, HNCs, HNDs, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate qualifications (excludes PhDs), short vocational courses and other courses that meet the fund purpose.

Additional criteria:

You must provide information on the full costs you require 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.

We recognise that the fund area has limited further education opportunities; however, any course taken 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

If you are applying for costs linked with an Apprenticeship arrangement, you must be employed within the fund area.

Who can apply?

The fund is open to individuals aged 16 or over and living in the Johnstone, Templand or Kirkpatrick Juxta Community Council areas.

The Education & Training Fund can also support individuals who live out with the area of benefit depending on the circumstances. For example, someone who lives outside the area but works at a business within the area may be eligible for an award.

What can’t be funded?

You cannot apply for funding for any costs incurred before a decision is made on your application (retrospective funding).

We cannot fund training or equipment that your employer should be providing for you or that is necessary for you to carry out your current job.

If you're an apprentice, you cannot apply for any costs that you could claim back from your employer or another source.