Wheatley bursaries to help DGHP customers go on to further education

DGHP, part of Wheatley Group, is now able to help make further education a reality for customers across Dumfries and Galloway through bursaries worth up to £1500 for full-time students and £750 for part-time studies.

DGHP, part of Wheatley Group, is now able to help make dreams of going to university and college a reality for customers across Dumfries and Galloway.

As a result of joining Wheatley Group, applications for education bursaries are now available to people living in DGHP homes for the first time – and people who live in a home factored by DGHP or who are renting with Novantie.

As universities prepare for a phased return for students after summer, in line with Scottish Government restrictions on coronavirus, the country’s leading housing, care and property-management organisation is inviting applications for 50 bursaries.

DGHP’s Managing Director, Matt Foreman, said: “The bursaries, supported by the Group’s charitable trust, the Wheatley Foundation, are available to people living in homes owned by one of Wheatley’s social landlords, which includes DGHP.

“This is the first time we have been able to offer a programme like this and I would encourage customers of DGHP to consider applying for this.”

Bursaries, worth up to £1500 for full-time students and £750 for part-time studies, will support some of our customers from across Dumfries and Galloway for up to two years.

YourPlace customer Laura Timoney is a Radiography student at Glasgow Caledonian University and she said she would encourage other customers to apply.

Laura, 35 from Castlemilk, said: “Having the Wheatley bursary has been really helpful. It has helped with buying medical books, as well as allowing me to buy a yearly travel ticket. It has taken the stress out of university life and has given me the freedom to focus on the important things like studying and my placement.”

A tenant of Dunedin Canmore, Jason Munro, graduates in September from Edinburgh College after studying Social Sciences and he also encouraged anyone considering further education as an option to look at the bursary programme.

Jason, 22, said: “I was very happy to get the bursary. I had changed courses which meant I had to pay course fees. The bursary was crucial for me.

“I’d previously been working in a supermarket while studying. I never had a day off and it was really difficult to balance both. The bursary allowed me to concentrate on my studies.”

Bursaries are available for people who want to study for an HNC, HND, Undergraduate Degree or Postgraduate course.

More than 150 people in Wheatley communities have benefited from the bursary programme since its launch in 2017.

Wheatley Foundation Vice-Chair, Eric Gibson, said: “The cost of further education is a barrier for too many people. We want to help people who wish to go to university and college to achieve their dream.

“The Wheatley education bursaries really make a difference and are life-changing for our customers. Our bursaries help anyone who qualifies – irrespective of their circumstances – to fulfil their potential.”

The deadline for bursaries application is 30 June 2020. For more information and to apply, email bursaries@wheatley-group.com

Other landlords in the Wheatley Group are GHA, Dunedin Canmore, Cube, West Lothian Housing Partnership, Loretto Housing and Barony - and people who live in a home factored by YourPlace Property Management or renting with Lowther Homes.

Tuesday, June 02, 2020