New Cumnock Education and Training Fund

About this fund

This fund provides grants to residents of New Cumnock 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 the RWE Enoch Hill Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.   

The maximum award is up to £3,000 for a multi-year course and up to £1,500 for a short course (less than a year). Second time applicants that have not benefitted from a multi-year course can apply for a second grant of up to £500 for a course that further builds their skills.  

Purpose of this fund

The New Cumnock Education & Training Fund aims to improve access to training and education opportunities that better equip residents to secure or retain employment. 

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

Courses leading to formal or recognised qualifications will be favoured. However, other courses will be considered where you can demonstrate how the skills and knowledge gained will realistically support you in securing or retaining work. As well as helping cover the cost of the course, you can also ask for support with childcare, travel and equipment. If you are learning to drive to support your efforts to retrain or find work, you can apply to the fund to cover the cost of your theory and driving test once you have these booked. We will need you to send us evidence of each booking.

Additional criteria

Awards can cover costs that are directly related to attending your course, including:
•    Course fees, where these costs cannot be waived or funded through any other means
•    Study aids and equipment (for example, laptops, software, stationery). A cap of £500 will normally be applied for support towards the purchase of laptops to support course studies unless you can demonstrate a genuine educational need for IT equipment of a higher spec.
•    Technical aids/equipment for example specialist clothing relating to the course, tools, other specialist equipment.
•    Travel for short courses
•    Accommodation costs
•    Childcare costs to allow you to study
•    Driving lessons and driving theory tests can only be funded for Category C and above. Category B car licenses are not eligible.

You must provide information on the full costs that you need to meet in relation to the course. 

Who can apply?

The fund is open to individuals aged 16 or over and living in New Cumnock. If you work for a community organisation that serves New Cumnock you will also be eligible to apply.

Your application must be for the purpose of increasing your employment potential. Apprentices can apply for costs that cannot be claimed back from their employer or another source.

Students attending secondary school but also college for part of their week are eligible to apply. However, the fund can only support costs that are not covered by statutory provision, i.e. through the school, the college, or the local authority. 

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). Theory and driving tests are the only exception to this.

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. 

How are decisions made?

Foundation Scotland will review your application and may contact you for further information. Foundation Scotland will make a decision based on the information you provide and its fit with the fund. In the event of any uncertainties, Foundation Scotland will consult a sub-group of the RWE Enoch Hill Community Liaision Group that includes representatives of New Cumnock Community Council and New Cumnock Development Trust. The result will be sent to you by email. We aim to make decisions within four weeks of your application so please take this into account when you apply.