A Three-Year Journey with the Langhope Rig E&T Fund

Fund Background

The Langhope Rig Wind Farm Education & Training Fund (E&T Fund) was established to improve the opportunities and livelihoods of people living in the fund area. The fund provides bursaries to help individuals access training and education opportunities that better equip them with the range of skills needed to enter or retain employment.

As well as supporting with course costs, including Apprenticeships, SVQs, NCs and short vocational courses (for example), the fund supports with wider costs to ensure it is flexible and meets the study needs, such as driving courses, supporting with equipment costs, including laptops, and accommodation costs.

Olive's Journey: Three Years of Support

This case study follows Olive, who is pursuing an MA in International Relations and Social Anthropology at a Scottish University. It aims to demonstrate how the fund's flexibility has addressed the evolving educational needs across her university journey.

First Year (2023): Opening Doors to Opportunity

When Olive first approached the fund in 2023, she faced a challenge that many rural students experience - geographical isolation. Living in a remote area without the ability to drive meant that employment opportunities during university holidays were virtually non-existent. 

Olive explained her situation with clear need:

"I live in a very remote area, which is only accessible by car. This grant will also help me as once I pass my test, I will be able to find a part-time job in my local area, which is currently inaccessible without driving. Overall, therefore, receiving this grant will ultimately transform my life, giving me the freedom of movement to work and travel."

The panel awarded £500 for driving lessons, recognising that mobility was fundamental to Olive's ability to support herself financially. This investment proved transformative, enabling Olive to access employment opportunities during holidays. More than just learning to drive, this support established the financial independence that would prove valuable for her continued studies.

Second Year (2024): Equipping for Academic Success

By 2024, Olive faced a different but equally significant challenge. Her existing laptop was starting to deteriorate; it lost essays and notes, and caused delays during lectures. For someone spending many hours on academic work, reliable technology wasn't a luxury but a necessity.

Olive returned to the fund and applied to upgrade her laptop, explaining: 

"I would like to have this model because it will provide me with a very fast and efficient service, which is necessary as I spend a huge amount of my day on my laptop as a student and require a functioning and good quality device."

The fund contributed a further £500 towards the new laptop, recognising the technical benefits this would provide. This investment eliminated technical barriers to learning and enabled seamless participation in lectures and efficient completion of coursework.

Third Year (2025): Sustaining Academic Focus

As Olive entered her final year of study, a new challenge emerged. The high cost of living in her university town, with rent alone costing close to £1,000 per month and total monthly expenses reaching upwards of 1,000, was requiring extensive part-time work that was beginning to impact her study time. 

Olive explained her dilemma:

"The grant would contribute towards my accommodation costs, which would greatly help me with my studies, as it would enable me to work fewer part-time hours to fund my accommodation, thus allowing me to invest more time in working towards my degree.”

Once again, the panel agreed to support Olive and awarded £1,000 towards accommodation costs for her final year of study.

Demonstrating Fund Flexibility and Impact

Holistic Support Approach

The fund's support has demonstrated flexibility by addressing three distinct educational barriers:
1.    Geographic Access (Year 1): Driving lessons to overcome rural isolation
2.    Technical Resources (Year 2): Essential computing equipment for academic success
3.    Financial Sustainability (Year 3): Accommodation support to maintain focus on studies

Progressive Support Model

Each award built upon previous support, creating a foundation for continued educational success:

• Driving ability → employment opportunities → partial self-funding
• Reliable technology → improved academic performance → progression to final year
• Accommodation support → reduced work hours → enhanced academic focus

Long-term Investment in Employment Prospects

Olive shared her career vision: 

"This course will provide me with an undergraduate degree in International Relations and Social Anthropology from a top UK university; it will be great for my employability in the future, especially in corporate graduate roles."

Conclusion

The fund demonstrated responsive funding through its ability to address different needs at different stages of education, showing its effectiveness in supporting genuine educational progression. 

By addressing transportation, technology, and accommodation challenges across three years, the fund has invested £2,000 to enable Olive, from a remote rural area, to complete a university degree that will significantly enhance her employment prospects.

The fund's success lies not just in its financial support, but in its recognition that educational barriers are diverse and evolving. This adaptive approach ensures that support reaches those who need it most, when they need it most, creating lasting positive impact on both individual lives and the broader community.

One last note from Olive:

"The financial support provided by the fund has alleviated some of the financial pressures associated with pursuing higher education, reducing my need to work additional shifts and allowing me to focus more fully on my studies. I am genuinely grateful for the opportunities the fund has afforded me."

Read more about the Langhope Rig Wind Farm Education and Training Fund