Students must attend Weymouth, Brockenhurst, Kingston Maurward or Bournemouth & Poole College, and now including Yeovil or Wiltshire college (Salisbury Campus). The bursaries can pay for things such as travel costs, fees for equipment or clothing, essential study trips or IT software and hardware.

The funding is available to those who are particularly disadvantaged such as care leavers or those with caring responsibilities as well as young people with disabilities or those who live on a family income of less than £21,000. The DCF Bursary Scheme, set up by the Dorset Community Foundation because of a generous legacy gift from the retired teacher Marjorie Gordon, has been running for the last four years and has supported nearly 90 local students.

Jon Yates, Chief Executive at the Foundation explained: ‘The DCF Bursary Scheme aims to give a level playing field to young people who are unable to fulfil their potential because of difficult circumstances. Sometimes what some would consider minor costs such as travel or the cost of a laptop or tools prevent students from training up and gaining valuable skills to enter the workforce.’

To apply or find out more, please click here.