One Degree More

If Sir Isaac Newton hadn't been able to go to university we might have very different ideas about planet earth.

Launched in 2010, One Degree More builds on the success of our Shuker Scholarships and makes funding available to young people from across the county for university education or vocational training who may otherwise be excluded for financial reasons.

The origin of our education funding was a £2.5 million legacy to the Community Foundation left by Brian and Marie Shuker of Trowbridge. Their express wish was to provide financial support to young people from West Wiltshire to enable them to undertake a university course. We have been able to fulfil those wishes and are sure they would be delighted to know that in the past 5 years we have supported 70 young people through university.

It was always our aim to be able to provide financial support to young people form all across Wiltshire. In 2013 this will become a reality following a £1 million donation from the Underwood Trust and the transfer of the William 'Doc' Couch Fund from Wiltshire Council putting a further £2.1m into the programme. In total, we now have an endowment of £6 million that is solely generating money for young people in Wiltshire. This is broken down into three main types of grants; university scholarships, vocational training grants and personal grants.

Scholarships

“Unfortunately due to receiving a large volume of applications we are unable at present to accept any further applications from Swindon residents, however, you may wish to complete the Expression of Interest form and if current circumstances change, we will be able to contact you, using the details you provide in the form”.

One Degree More Scholarships are available to young people from Wiltshire and Swindon who are under 25 and are about to start or are currently enrolled on an Undergraduate Degree course at a UK university.

As the programme is currently oversubscribed, we are only able to accept further applications from individuals that are themselves or their parents/carers in receipt of means tested benefits.

Funding can be sought for up to £5,000 per year for the duration of the course, however, amounts awarded and applied for are normally far lower. In previous years this funding had been restricted to West Wiltshire, however, scholarships are now available to all who have lived within Wiltshire for the past 2 years.

If you think you may wish to make an application to this fund, please complete the questionnaire on the following link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EOI-Individuals

A member of the grants team will contact you with the full application requirements shortly afterwards.

Vocational Training

If you need equipment so that you can undertake a practical vocational course at college or you are unable to afford child care or transport costs, we may be able to help. We have funding available for young people from Wiltshire and Swindon in financial difficulty. Applications tend to be for modest amounts, usually under £1,000, however it is at the discretion of our education panel and our grants officers will be able to advise you.

Personal Grants

Personal grants are typically funded by either the Greenacres Fund or the Wiltshire Society Fund. The former is intended as a personal assistance grants for children from Wiltshire and Swindon who are aged between 0 - 20 years of age and have either a disability or who have been in care. The Wiltshire Society Fund is for young people from Wiltshire and Swindon who are aged below 25 and come from a household on means tested benefits. Grants can be awarded to help in a number of ways, for example to pay for equipment, courses or travel costs.

Click here to see how One Degree More helped Angela

If you would like to made a donation to the One Degree More fund please call Jon Yates on 01380 729284.

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