Acton (Middlesex) Charities - Educational Grant

Educational Grant from Acton (Middlesex) Charities

You get an annual grant of up to £300 (about 350 EUR) to help pay for books and equipment while you study. The money is paid in December. This is not a large scholarship for tuition fees, it is a top-up for study materials. If you are on a vocational course shorter than 3 years at a local college, you may get a smaller grant of £100-200 (about 115-235 EUR) instead. The grant comes from a small local charity in west London that supports people living in the old parish of Acton.

Who can apply

• Where you live: Your home address must be in Acton (the former borough in west London), either at present or at the time of your application for a place at university. This is the key requirement, and no one living outside this area will be awarded a scholarship.
• Age: You are above 18 and below 25.
• Study: You are undertaking a full-time degree programme in the UK that leads to a recognised qualification and usually lasts at least 3 years.
• Institution: Your degree programme is not run by a private school or a private institution, as these do not receive public funding.
• Field of study: Any topic is fine.
• Nationality: Applicants of any nationality may apply, provided they meet the residence requirement in Acton.
• School background: If there are more applicants than funding available, priority will be given to those who have spent part of their school years at an Acton school.
• Postgraduates: You can apply, but applications for postgraduate programmes will be processed last.

How to apply

Send the official form to the charity’s case officer every year between 1 September and 30 November. Do not submit the application until you have started your course. Enclose written confirmation from your college or university stating that you have commenced your studies and specifying the course you are undertaking. You must include this confirmation with every annual application.

How realistic are your chances?

The scholarship is restricted to students living in the small town of Acton, meaning that only a few people are eligible. The charity states that the number of local applications has risen sharply and now exceeds the available funds, meaning it can no longer support every eligible applicant and is processing applications on a priority basis. First-year students and first-time applicants take precedence over students in later years of their degree and postgraduate students. You’ll have the best chance of success if you clearly meet the residency requirement, are still at the start of your degree, and apply as soon as the application window opens.