What is bursary funding?
Bursaries are funds donated directly to JST to reduce the cost of sailing for voyage crew that match certain criteria.
What are the criteria?
Every funder has their own criteria. The most common criteria relate to age (i.e. under 25 years old), geographical area (i.e. lives in a specific county), or disability (sometimes this is for anyone with a disability, sometimes this is more specific, such as only for people with a visual impairment).
How much bursary funding can I get?
This varies. Some funders set their own limits, for example £250 per person. Others request their grant benefits at least X amount of people. It may also depend on how much funding is available – we apply for new funding throughout the year but often need to wait until a fund has been completely allocated before asking for more!
Can anyone apply?
Yes. However, there are several things to bear in mind:
- Bursaries are prioritised for first-time voyage crew. If you have sailed before, any amount received is likely to be less than a previous bursary, or, amounts granted to first-time crew.
- We cannot allocate a bursary without knowing which voyage you want to sail on. You have to submit a booking request for a voyage as well. You do not need to pay anything when making a booking request, as we first need to confirm there is a suitable berth for you on the voyage. If you don’t submit a booking request, by the time the monthly Committee meets there may no longer be a space for you!
- Funds are finite and allocated on a first come, first served basis. This means that even if someone you know with a similar background has had a bursary, there may not be the same funds available when you apply.
- Sometimes bursaries are donated with the only restriction being that they are for anyone who cannot afford to meet the voyage costs. These funds are less frequently received but are most in demand. Therefore what you write in your bursary application is vital in deciding who receives these funds at the monthly Bursary Committee meetings.
When should I apply?
As soon as you find a voyage you want to sail on, submit your booking request and then fill out a bursary application (a link to the bursary form is also in the booking process). If your voyage is in less than 4 weeks time then your application will be reviewed outside of the regular Committee schedule. You can’t apply after you have sailed, so make sure you get those applications in quickly if your trip is short notice!
How do I apply?
If you would like to apply for a bursary, please complete this online form or download the Bursary Application Form. Remember to have your voyage number ready! We ask you a few questions to help us match you to the funds you may be eligible for.
We will ask why you should be considered for bursary funding, and any relevant information you might think would support your application. You may want to think about what you hope to gain from your voyage, and how this might be beneficial for you in the future.
What happens next?
The Committee meets toward the end of every month. You will be contacted by a member of the bookings team after the meeting to let you know the outcome of your application.
If you are successful, after your voyage we will ask you to return a brief report of your voyage (in any format that works for you) to be forwarded to the funder, or used to help apply for more funding (we anonymise such quotes or reports if so).
