Skip to main content

Cairnryan Education and Training Fund

Grant size Up to £4,500
Area
Dumfries and Galloway
Key dates No deadlines - apply at any time

About this fund

This fund provides bursaries to residents of Cairnryan 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 fund is provided by monies from the Cairnryan Community Fund.

Purpose of this fund

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

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 it is for 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 and many others including driving lessons where it is expected that driving will increase opportunities.

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, stationery (up to £600)
  • Technical aids/equipment e.g. specialist clothing relating to the course, tools or other specialist equipment
  • Travel e.g. bus, train or petrol
  • Accommodation costs 
  • Driving lessons and driving practical and theory test - where an education or training opportunity is distant from the individual’s residence and public transport not viable, or where it is expected that driving will increase opportunities – up to £1,000

The level of the grant depends on the course you want to do and your own situation. For short courses under a year, you can apply for part or all the course fee, up to a maximum of £2,000. If the course fee is less than £2,000 the fund may be able to assist with the cost of travel, childcare and subsistence.  

For courses of one year or longer and full-time the fund can offer the following levels of grant:

Type of CourseYear 1Year 2Year 3
Modern Apprenticeship (day release)£2,000£1,500£1,000
NC, HNC, HND, Degreemax. £2,000*max. £1,500*max. £1,000*

*The amount awarded for this will depend on course fees and other costs.

For courses of one year or longer and part-time the fund can offer a contribution to travel, childcare and subsistence-based on £5 per study day and/or a contribution to essential equipment up to £600 in Year 1 only.

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

Who can apply?

The fund is open to individuals aged 16 or over and living in the Cairnryan Council area.

What can’t be funded?

  • You cannot apply for funding for any costs incurred before a decision can be made on your application (retrospective funding).
  • We will not fund training or equipment that your employer should be providing for you or that is 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 assessment will include details of the course and finances but will not include any personal details, so your anonymity is upheld at the Community Fund Panel.

The outcome of the decision will be sent to you by email. This information is also confidential and while we report on grants from the education and training fund, no individual's name will appear in the report.

Frequently asked questions

  • When should I apply?

    The fund has no deadlines and you can apply at any time however we recommend you apply as soon as you're sure that you are taking the course and have been accepted onto it. We will normally respond to your application within six weeks after the application is made.

  • What evidence do I need to provide?

    This will depend on the course you wish to take. Evidence may need to be provided to us along with your application (as set out in the application form), periodically through the term of your award and/or upon completion of your course. Examples of evidence we may ask for 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

    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 sign and return the 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.

    Please keep evidence of your spending in relation to the grant - the donor sometimes asks for evidence of this, for example receipts for laptops or accommodation.

    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 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 can be submitted online using the link below. If you have any problems accessing the form, please email grants@foundationscotland.org.uk and we will be pleased to help.

If you would like to review the questions you will be asked to answer before starting the form, you can see them here

You can apply as soon as you are sure that you are going to do the course but please allow enough time for us to process your application - we cannot make grants for courses that have already started some time ago or have been completed already.

If you have already started an application and not completed it, please login here to resume. 

Contact information

For application process and technical enquiries

Central Systems Support

For criteria and fund priority enquiries

Linda West

Useful links

Individual Training Accounts which can offer £200 towards the costs of some courses. 

Prince's Trust Development Awards can offer grants to some individuals aged 16-30.  

Turn2us Grants offer a range of grants.   

SAAS offer a range of grants and loans for individuals on University or some College courses.   

  • Bus passes:

Scottish Government's Free bus pass scheme for individuals aged 5-21

Scottish Government's Free bus pass scheme for individuals aged 60+.