The Upholders Charity provides scholarships for students aged between 16 and 24 years and adults in financial need who are studying for an AMUSF qualification. The scholarship covers up to 50% of the cost of one stage of the AMUSF upholstery diploma qualification. More information on the AMUSF qualifications can be found by contacting one of the AMUSF Approved Training Centres.
The Upholders Charity Bob Fowlds Memorial Scholarship
When to apply
The scheme opens: 1st March 2023 (to be confirmed)
Closing date for applications: 30th June 2023 (to be confirmed)
Scholarship Eligibility
Candidates need to meet one of the criteria below and be able to provide relevant documentary evidence to support their application. Applications without the correct supporting evidence will not be considered. Please ensure you have sought the permission of any third party before you provide any evidence which may include their personal data.
Scholarship Criteria
Scholarships are available to candidates who meet one of the following criteria:
| Criteria | Evidence Required |
|---|---|
| Be between the ages of 16 to 24 years and a permanent resident in the UK | Copy of your birth certificate |
| In receipt of Free School Meals | Please provide a letter from your school/college confirming you receive free school meals (local authority funded only). |
| In receipt of a 16 to 19 Bursary in England or Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland | Please provide an official award letter for academic year 2020-2021. We do not accept evidence that relates to scholarships/bursaries at independent or fee-paying schools. |
| In receipt of Further Education Discretionary Learner Support (DLS) or equivalent FE funding for Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. | Please provide an official award letter for academic year 2020-2021. |
| In receipt of Income Support, Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) | If you or a parent/guardian you live with are in receipt of one of these benefits, please provide an official award letter (all pages) from the UK Jobcentre Plus dated 2020. If it is your parent/guardian in receipt of JSA or ESA then it must be the income-based benefit (e.g. means tested) and not contribution-based |
| Universal Credit | If you or a parent/guardian you live with are in receipt of Universal Credit (income used to calculate the award must be less than £35,000) please provide a recent statement from 2020. We must be able to see the name of the claimant and address, the date, and the take-home pay for the period. |
| Live with a family member in receipt of Working or Child Tax Credit where the candidate is named on an award and the household income as stated on the award is less than £35K | Please provide an Award Letter for 2020-2021. You must be named on the award and the household income used to calculate the award must be less than £35,000. Please ensure you provide both the pages that show this or your application will be rejected. |
| In receipt of or living with a parent/guardian in receipt of Asylum Support | Please provide an official award letter dated 2020. Please note that you will only be eligible to apply for this Bursary if you legally have permission to work in the UK as at 1st April 2021. |
How to apply
Applications must be made using the application form supplied by the AMUSF Training Centre you wish to work with. The application form must be countersigned by an Approved AMUSF Training Centre.
The completed application form must be submitted by email to the Clerk at clerk@upholsterers.co.uk. Your application will be rejected if you do not provide a complete, countersigned application form with evidence of your eligibility to apply attached.
What happens next
The Upholders Charity aims to process applications within 28 days of the closing date, and you will be notified of the outcome of your application by email.
Should your application be successful, you will receive a Letter of Award by email. This sets out the terms and conditions of the scholarship and your obligations as a recipient. Payment of the scholarship will be made directly to the AMUSF Training Centre. If you have paid the course fee directly to the AMUSF Training Centre, please state this in the application form.
If you have any questions about the scheme, the application form, or if you have not heard from The Upholders Charity with the outcome of your application and more than 28 days have passed since the closing date please email the Clerk at clerk@amusf.org.
An Upholders Charity Bob Fowlds Memorial Scholarship is awarded at the absolute discretion of the Trustees and may not be appealed. Feedback is not given to unsuccessful applicants.
If you are unsuccessful in your application this year, you may apply again next year.
Important note: If you are successful in applying for a scholarship and subsequently fail to complete the course you may be required to pay back the monies you received.
About the Bob Fowlds Donation
Bob Fowlds was the last surviving upholsterer of the family business A. V. Fowlds Limited. The family business had been active in the upholstery trade in South London and beyond for 150 years. When Bob died suddenly in 2020, his sister, Barbara, kindly agreed to make a substantial donation in memory of her brother, to the Upholders Charity to support the training of disadvantaged upholstery students.
The Scholarship is funded through The Upholders Charity of the Worshipful Company of Upholders and a donation made by Barbara Fowlds.