Grants up to £500 for young people who have been looked after in foster/residential care.
Eagle House Small Grants is currently closed to application for a review. If you live in Somerset, BANES or North Somerset please consider applying for a SWEF Training and Employment Support Grant. For more information and to apply click here.
Background
Eagle House was designed and built in 1740 by the architect for Georgian Bath, John Wood the Younger. A family home until 1942, the house then provided housing and education for local young people from disadvantaged backgrounds until it was sold in 1982 by Somerset County Council. The Eagle House Trust was established with the proceeds of the sale and has been managed by Somerset Community Foundation since 2011.
Today the Trust offers financial assistance to children and young people in Somerset and historic Avon (i.e. Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire) who have been looked after in foster/residential care or have received considerable support from Children’s Social Care at some point in their lives.
Can I apply?
You must be:
- aged 16 to 24 (at the time of applying) and have been looked after or have received considerable support from Children’s Social Care from the areas listed above;
- able to provide the contact details of a referee (usually a social worker) and;
- not be under the care of a different local authority.
Small grants
The Eagle House small grants scheme offers grants of up to £500 to improve the wellbeing and independence of young people by supporting their education, talent, professional development, employment, or enterprise.
You could apply for a training course that will help you pursue your career, for a bike to get you to and from college, for an educational trip or activity, as well as other activities.
Please note that you can apply for up to £250 for a bicycle.
Application for laptops
The maximum grant for a laptop is £300.
Driving lessons
Applications for driving lessons can only be considered if driving is an integral part of the intended employment, ie: mobile hairdressing, community nurse, lorry driving, tractor driving etc and evidence of a job or apprenticeship offer can be provided.
How do we make our decisions?
Eagle House grants are awarded based on your personal circumstances (e.g. the length of time supported by Children’s Social Care and your current financial situation) and how much your proposed activity is likely to enrich your education, nurture your talent, contribute to your personal development, further your employment prospects, or develop your enterprise.
How to apply
If you meet the criteria above then you can apply by completing the application form.
Once you have completed the form, email an electronic version to info@somersetcf.org.uk or post a hard copy to:
Somerset Community Foundation,
Yeoman House,
The Royal Bath & West Showground,
SHEPTON MALLET,
Somerset,
BA4 6QN
Other sources of support
The Eagle House Trust also offers a university bursary scheme.
For general information please visit Propel, a website from The Who Cares? Trust created to help inspire more care-experienced young people into higher education.
Other support can be found below:
Further information
If you would like to find out more about your eligibility to apply, please contact Somerset Community Foundation on 01749 344949 or info@somersetcf.org.uk for advice.