[dropcap type=”circle”]Y[/dropcap]oung people aged between 16 and 25, who live in Lower Heyford or Caulcott, can apply for a grant to help pay for their education or training.
The £250 Educational Grant for Young Persons is made by Lower Heyford Relief in Need Charity and was introduced to help young people pay for the next stage of their education or training. It is allocated for two years of continuous study.
One young person who previously received a grant has just completed an HND and has landed his first job. He said: “I will always be grateful to the charity for supporting me and would urge other young people to apply. It gives you a bit of independence to be able to pay towards your education. I have now landed my dream job using the skills that I developed at college and the £250 grant gave me a huge boost when I really needed it.”
Dr Liz Goodwin, Clerk to the charity, said: “We have already helped several young people who are studying a variety of subjects including law and film production, and we are keen to hear from others who could benefit from the award. We know there are lots of young people from the two villages who would be eligible and applications are open now.”
The £250 grant is not means tested and can be used to pay for books, study trips, tools and equipment, including computer equipment and software, or any other relevant expenses. Applications are welcome from people who are studying part time or full time, and the grant applies to apprenticeships and vocational training either full or part time, as well as university or college courses.
To be eligible, young people need to have been resident in the parish for two years and the awards are open to everyone, regardless of family or personal circumstances.
Dr Goodwin added: “The awards are a way for the villages to support their young people and encourage them in their endeavours. We know that the people who have already received them have found the extra funding very beneficial.”
The awards are given on a one-off basis and not for each year of study and applications are welcomed from anyone who has started their studies at any time during the last 12 months or are planning to leave school this summer. Funding will be retrospective and receipts will need to be provided for items purchased before an award can be made.
To apply, and for further information, please contact liz_goodwin@ymail.comThe Lower Heyford Relief in Need Charity is a long established charity in the Parish. It derives its income from the rent of property and agricultural land and this is used to help people in times of genuine need or financial hardship as well as supporting projects which benefit people living in Lower Heyford and Caulcott.
The charity provides financial help to residents of the villages who can demonstrate a real and unavoidable need. Here are some examples of things which would be considered:
Special payments to meet sudden distress.
Payment of travelling expenses for visiting people in hospitals.
Grants of money towards the cost of essential household equipment or furniture.
Providing medical and nursing aids such as wheelchairs for disabled, handicapped or infirm people.
Providing services in the home for disabled, handicapped or infirm people (including gardening).
Grants towards school uniforms.
Enabling school trips.
Helping a victim of crime.
Assistance following fire or other damage to a home.
Supporting a non-commercial village organisation.
If you live in Lower Heyford or Caulcott then you can find out more about the grants by contacting liz_goodwin@ymail.com