Closing date: Friday 14th July 2017
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.
Bursaries
The Eagle House bursary scheme offers awards of £1,500 per year to help young people go to university. £500 payments are made at the beginning of each term, subject to your ongoing attendance. Awards are usually for three year, but can be offered for longer courses in exceptional circumstances.
Bursaries are not restricted to specific universities or courses and do not need to be repaid.
If you are awarded a bursary you will be required to:
- provide us with a short 100-150 word profile about yourself that we can use on our website and in promotional materials. You can use your first name or an alias if you prefer.
- complete a short annual feedback form at the end of each year to report your grades and the difference that the bursary has made to you.
Continuation of the bursary will be conditional upon the receipt of the feedback form and a satisfactory reference from your course tutor.
If you discontinue your studies, for whatever reason, Somerset Community Foundation reserves the right to recover a proportion of the funds awarded and/or withdraw from making any further payments.
Can I apply?
You must be:
- aged 18 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);
- entering higher education for the first time;
- a home (UK) undergraduate starting your course in September 2017;
- applying for the full student finance package that you are entitled to.
How do we make our decisions?
Eagle House bursaries are awarded based on your personal circumstances (e.g. the length of time supported by Children’s Social Care and your current financial situation). When the fund is oversubscribed we will also consider your academic ability, the course you will be attending, and your interests outside of education.
How to apply
If you meet the criteria above then you can apply by completing the application form.
The form requires the following information, which you may like to get ready:
- The name, address, telephone number and email of your referee (usually your social worker).
- Your UCAS number and a copy of your UCAS statement (to be pasted into the form).
- A short statement (250 words) outlining why you are applying and what difference a bursary would make.
- A short statement (150 words) describing your interests outside of education.
You are welcome to include any letters of support you may have alongside your application form.
Other sources of support
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 Andy Ridgewell at the Somerset Community Foundation on 01749 344949 or andrew.ridgewell@somersetcf.org.uk for advice.
