Customers living in Wheatley communities can now apply for a bursary to fulfil their potential and go into further education.

The 2025 bursary programme is run by Wheatley Foundation, the group’s charitable trust.

The scheme offers bursaries of up to £1500 a year for full-time students and up to £750 for part-time students.

The programme is open to customers living in homes owned by Wheatley Homes in the central belt and in Dumfries and Galloway. It’s also available to tenants of Loretto Housing, as well as people who live in a home factored by or rented from Lowther.

Nearly 500 customers have been helped through a Wheatley bursary since the programme launched in 2016.

Wheatley Homes tenant David Burns, 28, lives in the south side of Glasgow. David’s mum has been battling cancer, and he has been caring for her since her diagnosis. Receiving a bursary in 2024 has allowed David to go on and complete his degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Strathclyde University.

He said: “The bursary from Wheatley Foundation helped me with the cost of travel, which became much more expensive when peak fares were reintroduced, as well as the costs of study materials and some new tech to help me study.

“It made things a lot less stressful, as I didn’t need to worry about money as much. It also helped bridge the gap between Student Awards Agency Scotland payments.”

Wheatley Homes tenant Jodie Thomson, 37, lives in Wigtownshire with her husband and three children. Jodie is about to complete an HNC in Childhood Practice through Dumfries and Galloway College.

She said: “After being a stay-at-home mum, I helped out at my son’s nursery and then decided to go to college to complete this course.

“I wasn’t sure how we would manage, but the bursary was a great help. It helped me provide for my family while I was studying.”

Wheatley Homes tenant Nicola Jack, 49, lives in West Lothian with her two youngest children.

The mum of five is currently studying for an HNC in Health and Social Services at West Lothian College.

She said: “The bursary has been a huge help for me. It helped me cover travel costs for getting to and from my course, as well as helping with the household bills. With the cost of living at the moment, it has made such a difference.

“I have a friend who was lucky enough to get a bursary and that encouraged me to apply. I was delighted to be successful and it really helped.

“When I finish the course, I hope to go on and work with older people – particularly those with dementia or physical disabilities.”

With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the Wheatley Foundation bursaries will ease the financial burden to help customers with the expense of studying for an HNC, HND, Undergraduate Degree or Postgraduate course.

Since the programme was launched in 2016, Wheatley has awarded hundreds of bursaries to help tenants reach their full potential.

Funded by the Group’s charitable trust, Wheatley Foundation, the bursaries are available to people living in homes owned by one of Wheatley’s social landlords – Wheatley Homes Glasgow, Wheatley Homes East, Wheatley Homes South and Loretto Housing – and people who live in a home factored by or rented from Lowther.

Chair of Wheatley Foundation, Professor Paddy Gray OBE, said: “Since 2016, the scheme has helped 482 people to go on to further education and get the qualifications they need.

“Our bursary programme is another way Wheatley Foundation can help people in our communities achieve their dreams.”

Applications are open until 30 June 2025, using the online form.