RIWAS Rural Careers Fund

Alongside the important role the County Show plays to support the rural economy, surpluses generated by the Show go towards the Rural Careers Fund, which helps young people to develop their careers and roles on the Island.

Since the creation of a new committee 11 shows ago, the County Show has steadily re-established itself at the heart of the rural sector. With a changing rural community, it has never been so important to engage with the wider general public to explain, promote, celebrate and showcase everything that is good about the countryside.

The RIWAS Rural Careers Fund is a scheme which offers financial support to people aged under 25 (and exceptionally, older) with a strong connection to the Isle of Wight.  The scheme is intended to add value to the Isle of Wight's farming and land-based industries by offering financial support to help young people gain relevant qualifications or skills.

There are two categories of award from the fund:
• Scholarships of up to £3,000 each are awarded annually
• Bursaries of up to £200 which are considered regularly throughout the year

Eligibility 

Applicants should generally be under 25 years old, but exceptionally an older candidate may be accepted.  Successful applicants will be Island residents, or have a strong Island connection, and their award will be in some way bring added value to the Island.  Previous applicants are welcome to reapply for an award, whether or not they have been successful in the past.

What will the fund pay for?  

The awards are for people who want to develop their skills within agriculture or land-based and related industries.  This could include full-time study, short courses, or broader vocational development.  Travel costs alone will rarely be the basis of a successful award, although may form an element of it.  Awards will not normally be made to support second degrees or other post-graduate study.

• A scholarship is primarily aimed at individuals looking to take a full-time course leading to a qualification.
• Bursaries can help pay for a variety of training and personal development costs.  For example, to pay for a short course to learn a new skill, to buy some equipment to get a qualification, or for accreditation fees and other study costs.

Key Dates 

Applications for bursaries are considered regularly throughout the year and there is no final deadline.

2025 Scholarship applications must be received by 31st July.

The application process 

RIWAS Rural Careers Fund applications are considered by a panel.  For a bursary award, a simple application form will normally be all that is required.  Scholarship applicants will submit an application form and then be invited for an interview.Successful candidates will need to present evidence of how they have benefitted from the award, and to attend an annual awards event.  In addition, successful scholarships will be expected to attend and be actively involved in at least three RIWAS events including the County Show.

If you are interested in finding out more about the RIWAS Rural Careers Fund, please telephone 01983 296244 or send us an email .

RIWAS Rural Careers Fund form

Please tell us whether you are applying for:

Applying for a scholarship
Applying for a bursary
A Scholarship is primarily aimed at individuals looking to take a full-time course leading to a qualification, and awards of up to £3,000 are made annually.

A Bursary is intended to be used towards payment for an identified training or other personal development course. Bursaries are normally up to £200; larger awards are exceptionally made where the panel considers it appropriate. An applicant will need both to identify the specific expense, and provide the panel with strong reasons to consider a higher award in his or her application.

Applications must be received by 31st July 2025.

Interviews for scholarship applications will be held during the last week of August.

This form is to be completed by the person who will be taking the course for which help is being asked. If
you need any help with completing it, please ask the RIWAS office

Name
Address
Post code
Date of birth
Telephone
Email
Marital status
single

Marital status
married

Marital status
divorced

Marital status
separated

Marital status
widowed

How long have you lived on the Island?
Last School/College/University attended
County
Occupation
Full or part time
Occupation of husband / wife / partner
Parents' status
single

Parents' status
married

Parents' status
divorced

Parents' status
separated

Parents' status
widowed

Father's occupation
Mother's occupation
Please understand that selection for both Scholarships and Bursaries is competitive and the panel considering applications can only consider your application on the information that you give us. Bearing that in mind,
please answer the following questions as fully as you can.

The information that we ask you to include is for guidance only; we are interested to know as much as you
can tell us about the course and your aims and ambitions.

Feel free to use separate pages, rather than just the spaces on this application form.
Letters of support, although not essential, will be welcomed by the panel and will be considered with your
application.

Tell us about the course or activity that you wish to study
Please include: where are you going to study this course or activity, how long is the course, is it full time or how many days per week is it, when will you start, what qualification will this give you.

Tell us why you want to do this course or activity, and what you hope will follow on from it
Please include: how does this course or activity fit into your plans for the future, how does this fit into our charitable aim (to add value to the Isle of Wight's farming and land-based industries by offering financial support to help young people gain relevant qualifications or skills).

3. Tell us why we should support you in this course or activity
We know that this is a difficult question to answer but please tell us why you think that it would be important that the Rural Careers Fund helps you. Please also tell us why you need the help that you are asking for.

I confirm that to the best of my knowledge the information I have given is correct
 

Downloads

Careers Fund Application form

Forms

RIWAS Rural Careers Fund
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