The application deadline for the DCF Bursary Scheme provides grants of up to £1,000 to young people aged between 16-21 in vocational training has been extended to the 21st September.

Funding through the DCF Bursary Scheme is available for young people from all across Dorset who attend or plan on attending Bournemouth & Poole, Kingston Maurward, Brockenhurst or Weymouth College on a vocational course. The bursaries can only be used to support educational or training needs, examples include the full cost or a contribution towards: fees for equipment, special clothing, travel costs for a specific course or activity, IT hardware and software.

A similar scheme which specifically supports young people aged between 16-21 in STEM education is also open for applications. The Superior STEM Bursary Fund provides grants of up to £1,500 to young people who attend or plan on attending Bournemouth and Poole or Brockenhurst College on a STEM (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) course. Examples of things the bursary will support include fees for equipment, course fees (depending on the age of the applicant) and special clothing. The fund will only support students from a particular area in Dorset covering Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Wimborne and the surrounding area (more details on the specific area on the Foundation’s website).

Both schemes focus on supporting particularly disadvantaged young people and applicants will be required to evidence financial need. Applications to the Superior STEM Bursary Fund will be assessed on a rolling basis.