Bursaries extended to support young people in education and training
Scottish Huntington’s Association is extending its bursary scheme to help young people from families impacted by Huntington’s disease to reach their potential in education, training and employment.
It follows a successful pilot in 2021/22 during which bursaries were awarded to 33 young people aged between 16 and 25 who access support from the charity’s Youth Service.
The continuation of the Hyman Robertson Foundation-funded bursaries for a second year also recognises the ongoing impact of the pandemic and current cost of living crisis on young people from HD families by including household utility bills such as gas or electricity, and food and care packages.
Bursaries can help with:
- Digital and data packages including laptop and WiFi costs
- PPE (for those attending site-based events or work-based learning)
- Food and care packages
- Travel costs (to volunteering, education and/or employability courses)
- Books/materials for education
- Clothes
- Utility bills (heating, electricity)
- Education organised trips or events
- Qualification costs
- Theory/driving lessons and tests
- Access to post-Covid sports/wellbeing related services and equipment.
A maximum award of £300 is open to all young people aged 16+ from HD families, including those who received a Scottish Huntington’s Association bursary in 2021/22.
Feedback to the scheme has been overwhelmingly positive:
“I was made homeless when I finished school because I wasn’t getting on with my carer. My mum has Huntington’s disease so I can’t stay with her either. I’ve been sleeping on friends’ sofas and I don’t have a bank account so I haven’t been able to get any benefits. I applied for a bursary to buy clothes for interviews. Once I get a job, I’ll be able to save up to go to university next year. This money will be the first step to my new life.”
“The bursary was a massive help when I needed to buy hand tools for my apprenticeship. They’ve been a great help to me in my job every day.”
“I couldn’t afford the equipment I needed for my college course as my Mum died last year of Huntington’s disease and I don’t have much money. The bursary meant that I could start my course without worrying about how to pay for the chef whites I needed to work in the kitchen.”
“I needed a new battery and charger for my laptop. I was completing a Masters at Imperial College London, working remotely from Glasgow during lockdown, and my laptop would suddenly stop working and turn off while I was working on assignments. I would waste hours trying to fix things because as a student I didn’t have the money to get it professionally repaired. With the bursary, I was able to get the relevant parts replaced and get on with my studies. I’m very grateful for the help and am looking forward to graduating.”