The fund has been created to support the Viking Community Fund’s Strategic Priority of ‘More Younger People wanting to stay/return to Shetland’. For the purposes of the fund, young people have been defined as those up to the age of 25.
Bursary Fund FAQs
- Why is the maximum age limit 25 and under?
- Why can I not apply for bursary funding if I am a Shetland resident studying full-time away from Shetland?
After much deliberation and discussion, the SCBF board of directors agreed that bursary funding should be used to support young people remaining in Shetland to further their education. The funding available is limited and cannot support all of Shetland’s young students and needed to take a more focused approach to the priority area. Any change to this decision will be widely communicated.
- What can the bursary funding be used for?
The bursary fund can support a variety of costs.
- Tools or equipment required for practical elements of course/apprenticeship
- Books and stationery for studying
- Mechanical tools, joinery tools, hairdressing equipment, art supplies etc
- IT, such as a laptop up to a maximum of £450
- Subsistence (food, drink and travel) for mainland college time when undertaking an apprenticeship, up to £25 per day (alcohol not included)
- Driving lessons, the fund can pay for up to 8 lessons where this is required for your apprenticeship/attending college, i.e. the bursary fund is not a driving licence fund, and you would need to explain/give evidence why this is necessary for your studies.
- Fuel costs to/from college/apprenticeship where bus travel is not an option, i.e. there is no bus service where you live that can get you where you need to be on time. For example, living in Walls and undertaking an apprenticeship in Eshaness
- Course fees when not already covered by other funds, i.e. exam re-sits
- Resettlement where student is living full-time away from home, i.e. student from Unst but living in Lerwick to attend college/undertake an apprenticeship – up to £100
The bursary fund cannot support general living expenses.
- I am an apprentice applying to the fund, why do I need to provide a copy of my employment contract?
Contracts are requested as evidence that you are undertaking an apprenticeship. Other suitable evidence may be accepted. If the fund is oversubscribed, and you are in receipt of a higher wage than the minimum apprenticeship wage, priority may be given to those on lower wages.
- Why do I need to provide proof of address and what evidence can I send?
The fund is only open to young people with a permanent residential address in Shetland. Accepted proof of address include,
- Driving/provisional licence
- Bank statement (you can blank out the transaction details)
- Appointment letter from the hospital/optician etc
- I’m having problems attaching the supporting documents to the online bursary application, what can I do?
You can send your supporting documents (proof of address, evidence of place on course/apprenticeship, employment contract, quote for equipment) via email, text or WhatsApp to SCBF Administration. Contact details can be found on the Bursary Fund Guidelines.
- Do I have to spend my bursary award locally?
SCBF would prefer you to spend your bursary locally, i.e. for purchasing laptops and or tools/equipment. However, this is not a condition of your award and you can make purchases elsewhere.
- I am purchasing tools for my apprenticeship; do I have to spend all the funding at one time?
No. You have 12 months to spend your bursary and can make purchases as and when required.
Please contact SCBF with any queries or concerns you may have, and we will be more than happy to help.
