Review: Tuath's New Horizons Educations Bursary 2023

In 2023, Tuath Housing launched its inaugural “New Horizon” Education Bursary. The funding provided forms part of Tuaths’ commitment under the Tenant Engagement Strategy 2022-2025 to support residents to partake in accredited or non-accredited courses, short or long-term. Funding provided varied from €250 to €1000. The overall funding was €20,000, all of the funding was allocated, the New Horizons Education Bursary received a positive engagement from Tuath residents.

Introduction

The new fund launched in May of 2023 across all of Tuath Housings social media platforms, Tuath Housing website and advertised in the Spring/ Summer residents’ magazine. A trusting relationship was built with residents and Tuaths Tenant Engagement team to assist residents with the application process. Residents expressed different opinions and expectations about starting and returning to education. These included boosting confidence and social skills, meeting new people, and enhancing their employability skills. Tuaths Tenant Engagement team helped with any additional supports required to support applicants. There was a positive response for the bursary, over 120 people expressed interest, whilst 80 applicants completed an application, and overall, 22 residents were approved the bursary.

Below is a summary of the application process, a breakdown of the courses and the funding provided to each applicant.

Application Process

Number of Enquiries and Submission Methods

Approximately 120 people expressed an expression of interest in the bursary. The advertisements for the bursary were on all Tuath social platforms and Tuath Housing website. There were also posters created with QR codes which were disseminated collectively by Housing Service Coordinators and the Tenant Engagement team to the residents whilst onsite.

There were various submission methods for applicants to apply:

• QR codes which gave the applicants as an option to scan and access application and apply directly online for education bursary.
• Alternative options were also accessible to applicants whereby they could get their applications sent through post or sent by email directly to their email account.

Application Response
Some of the applicants were residents and non-residents as well as applicants who did meet the course criteria. Below is a brief analysis of the applicants that expressed interest and put forward an application.3.

Application Analysis
Breakdown of expression of interest, total applications received, and total applications approved for bursary.

A. – Approval Statistics

• Expression of Interest: 120
• Total Applications: 59
• Residents Approved: 22

Below is a breakdown of applicants that were Ineligible for bursary.

B. – Ineligible Applicants

• Non-residents
• Applicants applied for funding for equipment and materials rather than course fees
• Some applicants were in receipt of government and other education funding
• Lack of correspondence after application submission did not return necessary documentation
• Some residents applying for the bursary next academic year 2024

C. – Eligible Applicants

The following table lists the various courses and college that the 22 residents have signed up to. The majority of funding was paid directly to educational institutions to pay full or partial fees for residents towards short- and long-term courses which are accredit and non-accredited.

Judging Panel
The Education Bursary panel consisted of one member of Tuath Board of Management and two Tuath Housing Managers. We would like to thank the judging panel for their time in assisting the Tenant Engagement team with the bursary process.

Conclusion
In 2023, the New Horizons Education Bursary proved to be an enormous success! Over 22 Tuath residents will benefit from funding that will help them progress on their personal and professional journey. We wish all of the recipients the best of luck this year.
In 2024, we will contact our residents to learn more about their experiences and how they are progressing with their educational journey. We will also open the 2024 bursary in two phases next year (January to May and August to November) due to the bursary’s overwhelming demand. Accessibility will be provided by a biannual bursary opening.