WYT Bursary

Woking Youth Theatre (WYT) wishes to enable participation in workshops and shows to be open to all, irrespective of their (or their family's) financial position, and therefore have created a Bursary Fund specifically intended for Talented Members of Low Income Households. The Bursary Fund is intended to provide financial help to members who are facing financial difficulty which means that they would be prevented from or struggle to participate in WYT without some help towards the costs.  WYT are able to award discretionary bursaries to members, taking into account their individual circumstances and within the guidelines below.

Allocation

WYT wish to allocate up to £500 per year of funds to award 3 bursaries in any one year, in the form of monthly subscriptions and show fees for 1-2 shows per annum. Where a member does not participate in a full year of monthly workshops or 2 shows then, subject to funds being available, additional bursaries will be awarded  

Criteria for allocation

Bursaries will be allocated on an individual basis against the criteria set out below. All potential or current members (or parents of potential or current members) are eligible to apply if they feel they meet the criteria. Bursaries will be awarded for workshop participation on the basis of 3 month membership (renewable every 3 months for further 3 month awards) and for show participation on a show by show basis.

Applications will be considered where members fulfil one or multiple of the below criteria

• The young person is in-care
• The young person is in receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit (UC) in their own right
• The young person is disabled and in receipt of both Disability Living Allowance (or Personal Independence Payments) and Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit as a replacement for ESA in their own right
• The parent(s), guardian(s) or young person are in receipt of Income Support, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit (provided the parent(s), guardian(s) or young person are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190), or Working Tax Credit run-on which is paid for 4 weeks after qualification for Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit ends (evidenced by Allowance or Credit statements/notices)
• The family of the young person have a total gross family income of less than £16,000pa (evidenced by receipt of benefit and/or P60, Tax Credit Award Notice, evidence of self-employment income or 3-6 months’ worth of bank statements)

Administration

Applications will be accepted by 1st January, 1st April, 1st July, & 1st October for workshop subscriptions, and 1 month in advance of the first rehearsal date for show fee support. 

Confirmation of a bursary award will be made to the member and where relevant their parent(s)/guardian(s), by letter or email and the relevant funds from WYT will be allocated to make subscription or show fee payments on behalf of the recipient

Bursary Terms 

The member will be required to undertake an audition in order to be considered for a bursary award

Any bursary award will be subject to the youth theatre member adhering to the WYT member contract and all WYT policies. Bursary recipients must ensure they display exemplary attendance for workshops and rehearsals, and standards of behaviour whilst at any WYT related event  

Bursaries will be awarded by the Trustees of WYT, who have the right to remove the bursary on the advice of Workshop leaders, Directors, Musical Directors, Choreographers and/or Producers

Confidentiality

WYT will handle applications confidentially and will do their utmost to ensure that other members are not aware of bursary recipients. Copies of information given in evidence to support applications will be retained by the Trustees for audit purposes and will be kept confidentially

Fraud

If members, parents or guardians provide false or incomplete information or do not make the Trustees aware of part of the household income that is relevant, then the bursary will cease and the member will be asked to leave WYT with immediate effect.