Discover Funding Opportunities

WATIF Driving Lesson Fund 2024

The WATIF Driving Lesson Fund provides financial support up to £300 for driving lessons to residents within the WATIF area of benefit in Scotland. The fund aims to enhance health and wellbeing, increase access to essential services, and encourage sustainable economic development by helping young people gain driving skills for employability, travel to education, and to reduce social isolation. Applications must be made by the person taking the lessons, and applicants can apply up to 4 months prior to their 17th birthday. Payment is made directly to the driving school or instructor upon approval. The fund is part of WATIF's broader mission to create a beautiful and vibrant place with a great quality of life for all through community partnership and support.

Young Carer Grant

Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment of £390.25 for young carers in Scotland. This grant supports young people aged 16 to 19 who are providing care for others. To be eligible, applicants must be caring for 1, 2, or 3 people for an average of 16 hours per week for at least the last 3 months. Recipients can use the grant for personal expenses like clothing, driving lessons, or holidays - no reporting on expenditure is required. Young Carer Grant can be claimed once per year until the recipient turns 20, with a mandatory one-year gap between applications. Applicants must wait at least one full year between applications or their claim will be rejected.

Whiteside Hill Education and Training Fund

This fund provides bursaries to residents of the Kirkconnel & Kelloholm and Royal Burgh of Sanquhar and District Community Council areas 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 Whiteside Hill Wind Farm Community Fund. The Whiteside Hill Education & Training Fund is designed to improve the opportunities and livelihoods of people living in Kirkconnel & Kelloholm and Sanquhar & District. Courses leading to formal or recognised qualifications are favoured, though other courses will be considered where applicants can demonstrate how the skills and knowledge gained will realistically support them in securing or retaining work. Awards can cover course fees, study aids and equipment, technical equipment, travel and subsistence costs, accommodation costs, childcare costs, and certain driving lessons. The maximum award for first time applicants is up to £1,500, second time applicants up to £1,000, and further applications up to £500 per year. Courses supported can be on a full-time or part-time basis and may include apprenticeships, SVQs, NCs, HNCs, HNDs, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate qualifications (excluding PhDs), short vocational courses and other courses that meet the fund purpose.

RWE Bad á Cheò Wind Farm Education & Training Fund

This fund provides bursaries to residents of the following Community Council areas in Caithness; Watten, Halkirk District, and Lybster, Latheron and Clyth. It helps them access training and education opportunities that better equip them with the range of skills needed to enter or retain employment in key sectors of the local economy. The purpose of the fund is to improve opportunities and livelihoods of people living in these areas. Awards are made to those seeking to undertake training or education in key sectors relevant to the area, including Health and Social Care, Teaching and Education, Food and Drink, Tourism and Customer Services, Culture, Heritage and the Natural Environment, Communications and Information Technology, Renewables, Energy and Climate Change, Engineering, Science, Maths and Technology, Construction and the Trades, and Sea based industries. Courses leading to formal or recognised qualifications will be favoured, however other courses will also be considered where the applicant can demonstrate how the skills and knowledge gained will realistically support them in securing or retaining work. Courses supported can be on a full time or part time basis and may include apprenticeships, Modern Apprenticeships, Foundation Apprenticeships, SVQs, NCs, HNCs, HNDs, undergraduate degrees, post-graduate qualifications (though not PhDs), short vocational courses, and other courses that meet the Fund purpose. Awards are made for costs that are directly related to attending your course or apprenticeship, including course fees, study aids and equipment, tools for trade, travel and subsistence costs, accommodation costs, childcare costs, and driving lessons.

River Avich Hydro Education & Training Fund

This fund provides bursaries for individuals living in Inverinan, Lochavich, Dalavich, or Kilmaha seeking to improve their employability prospects or develop a new career. Awards can support participation in a range of courses, from short non-certificated courses to post-graduate degrees. Started in 2021, the fund is being provided by Awesome Energy Dalriada (AED), owner and operator of the River Avich Hydro-power Scheme. AED is a community benefit society set up and run by the local community to develop and operate the hydro scheme. Bursaries are available for individuals seeking to improve their employability prospects or develop a new career. The fund aims to support local residents in gaining the skills and confidence required to enter or retain employment in sectors including management of natural resources, STEMD, construction, tourism, hospitality, food and drink, rural development, health and social care, education, creative industries, and other sectors generating benefits for the local community. Bursaries can support a wide range of courses, full or part-time, including driving lessons/tests, Modern Apprenticeships, Foundation Apprenticeships, NC, HNC, HND, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate qualifications (but not PhDs), and short vocational courses. Bursaries can cover travel, subsistence, childcare, driving lessons and tests, study aids, technical aids/equipment, course fees not already being paid for from elsewhere, and accommodation costs.

Old Luce Education and Training Fund

This fund provides bursaries to residents of the Old Luce 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 purpose is to improve the opportunities and livelihoods of people living in Old Luce. Priority is given to courses leading to formal or recognised qualifications, though other courses will be considered where applicants can demonstrate how the skills and knowledge gained will realistically support securing or retaining employment. Participation in a wide range of courses can be funded including Modern Apprenticeships, HGV Licence Training, Foundation Apprenticeships, HNC, HND, undergraduate degrees and post-graduate qualifications (though not PhDs). Awards can cover course fees, study aids and equipment, technical aids, travel costs, accommodation costs, and driving lessons with practical and theory tests.

Nadara Gordonstown Wind Farm Education & Training Fund (Auchterless, Inverkeithny & Fisherford)

This fund provides educational and training bursaries for individuals living in the Auchterless, Inverkeithny & Fisherford Community Council areas seeking to improve their employability prospects or develop a new career. Awards can support participation in a range of courses, from short courses to postgraduate degrees. The fund aims to support residents in gaining the skills and confidence they need to improve their employability prospects or develop a new career, and is not limited to education or training in support of any specific industry or economic sector. Awards can support participation in a wide range of courses, either vocational or professional, and full-time or part-time. Applications to support courses leading to formal qualifications will be favoured over informal courses. Examples of formal qualifications include SVQs, NCs, HNCs, HNDs, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. The chosen course may be provided anywhere in the UK. Driving lessons may also be supported. The fund is part of the Gordonstown Wind Farm Community Fund, provided by Nadara, the owner of Gordonstown Hill Wind Farm in Aberdeenshire. Multi-year grants can be awarded to support, for example, HNDs or degree courses.

Langhope Rig Wind Farm Education & Training Fund (Sub Fund A)

This Fund provides bursaries to residents of Ettrick & Yarrow, Lilliesleaf, Ashkirk & Midlem and Upper Teviotdale & Borthwick Water Community Council areas to help them access training and education opportunities that better equip them with the range of skills needed to enter or retain employment. The purpose of the fund is to improve the opportunities and livelihoods of people living in these Scottish Borders communities. Courses leading to formal or recognised qualifications are favored, including apprenticeships, Modern Apprenticeships, Foundation Apprenticeships, SVQs, NCs, HNCs, HNDs, short vocational courses, and many other courses. Awards can cover costs directly related to attending courses or apprenticeships, including course fees, study aids and equipment, technical aids/equipment, travel and subsistence costs, accommodation costs, childcare costs, and driving lessons and tests. The fund is provided from Langhope Rig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund and operates on a rolling basis.