REACH BURSARY SCHEME
Reach is all about helping young people with upper limb differences live lives without limits. But sometimes the two-handed world throws up barriers, and we need to find a way round them. That’s where the Reach Bursary Scheme comes in. The Reach Bursary Scheme helps individuals to cover the cost for specialist equipment, adaptations or additional training that is needed because of their upper limb difference, to allow them to continue following their dreams.
Most applications we receive are for car adaptations to help with learning to drive, we have also made awards for adapted sports equipment or musical instruments or equipment to help with schoolwork. Bursary awards are decided on by an independent Bursary Panel, appointed by the Reach Board of Trustees, and bringing together a wealth of professional and lived experience of upper limb difference. If you are a child or young person aged 0-25 with an upper limb difference, living in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands, and you are members of Reach you could be eligible to apply.
Because our Bursary pot is small, the Bursary panel have come to the decision not to accept applications for mechanical prostheses. If a mechanical prosthesis is what you would like help with, please find links below for organisations that might be able to help you:
Open Bionics Foundation: https://openbionics.com/en/open-bionics-foundation/
Grants for Equipment: https://www.disability-grants.org/disability-equipment.html
Low cost or no cost helpful adaptions:
LimbBo Helpful Adaptions: https://limbbofoundation.co.uk/helpful-adaptations/
Project Limitless: https://www.yourkoalaa.com/projectlimitless
Below are just a few examples of the variety of applications.
Following an assessment by his mobility Centre, Tom was advised on the type of car and adaption needed that he would require to drive. As there were no instructors locally that could help, Tom and his parents decided to buy an automatic car and the driving adaption. Tom applied to Reach to help towards the cost of a blue tooth steering ball and was successful! Reach awarded Tom £770.
Some bursary applications are less related to ‘things’ and are more about engaging in activities to enable the applicant to excel in their chosen field.
Young Reach athlete Rhian Hughes excels in gymnastics. Rhian’s dedication, hours of training and commitment really impressed the bursary panel and she was awarded the full amount of £2000 to help support her gymnastics travel, accommodation and kit required as she climbs up the competition ladder.
Dakota Catesby-Potts was successfully awarded £650 to help towards IT equipment for him to use as he started his high school in September.
To qualify for the Reach Bursary:
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- You must be under 25 years old.
- Be a member of Reach for more than 1 year.
- Please read full T&C here
Bursary Panel Top Tips:
- Include costings with your application, if possible please include a quote.
- We want to provide practical support to remove barriers for young people with upper limb difference; show us in your application what difference the bursary funding will make.
- Include supporting statements from Coaches/Music Teachers/Mentors to evidence need and demonstrate that the costs being applied for are incurred because of having an upper limb difference.
Everyone on the Bursary Panel is keen to advance each applicant’s potential. If you would like help preparing your application contact reach@reach.org.uk. The process is straightforward, and the results are rewarding both for the applicant and for Reach!
Maximum funding award: £2,000
Please apply for a bursary using this FORM
The Bursary Panel meet 4 times a year to consider applications. Please make sure to submit your application at least 2 weeks before meeting date for consideration in that round. Please note if all Bursary Funds are allocated before year end, we will let you know on the website that the Bursary Award is closed so please do check before applying.
2023-24 Bursary Panel Meetings:
WC 15 May 23
WC 31 July 23
WC 16 October 23
WC 22 January 24