Eligibility, Process and what you
might wish to think about!

Q. Have past prizewinners offered any advice for future travellers?

Yes. In 2005 Peter Thomas and Edward Morley, who travelled around the cultural capitals of Europe, wrote:

These are recommendations we should like to make for a similar European trip of between 2 weeks and one month.

– Research and plan ahead. You can use the World Wide Web to explore possibilities. When on the trip itself think two to three days ahead.

– Remain flexible. If the train is late and you cannot make it to your hostel on time, what will you do? Take all useful contact details with you all the time and give your plans a bit of leg room. Stay organised and informed.

– Belongings. Label all belongings and keep precious things close to you. Every morning we checked Passport, Debit Card and Interrail pass. Distributing them can lessen the risk of being stolen but remember where you put them. Don’t compromise on safety for the sake of a few minutes.

– We would recommend the approach of quality not quantity to the extent that it is better to visit fewer sites but to learn more than to rush through as many as possible and take nothing away.

To gain the most out of a similar trip you need to be prepared to integrate and orientate yourself culturally to your changing environments. Accept traditions, ask if you are not sure, attempt to speak the local language/languages and importantly keep an open mind.

Q. When will I receive the cheque if I win?

Cheques are usually issued in April/May/June at the awards event. In exceptional circumstances we post them. We cannot make bank transfers currently but are working towards this

Q. Insurances/Liability?

We accept no responsibility for what happens to you on your journey or project. It is up to you and your parent/guardian/carer to take out any appropriate insurances and/or satisfy your/themselves about the arrangements made by your school/college/gap year organiser.

Q. What happens after I apply?

We will decide this in the light of the number and quality of applications we receive.

We are likely to draw up a shortlist and then ask you to come and talk to us about yourself and your plans, recognising that it will be good practice for you to attend an interview as well as for us.

You will be notified by email or letter if you have won an award and invited to a prizegiving evening, which will last for about an hour and probably take place on a Sunday close to the beginning of the summer term Cheques will be handed over at this occasion and there may be some local publicity of the awards shortly thereafter .

Q. Can I apply for just the David Lindop or just the Edyvean–Walker Awards?

No, it’s one process. Just apply and we will draw up our shortlist.

Q. Are there any restrictions on how I spend the award if I receive it?

We would normally expect you to spend the prize on project, travel, accommodation or subsistence costs, either yourself or via a third party organisation to whom you pay a fee. However, it might be used for equipment or supplies. In certain circumstances we would be very happy for you to donate a part of the award received e.g. if you are part of a charitable venture in the Third World. There are no real restrictions save that the money is for you to use but you must give us an idea of how you plan to use it in your application.

Q. How much are the Awards for? How many are there?

We vary this according to the quality of applications and the success of our investments in any given year. We annually make one David Lindop Award and will probably agree three to six Edyvean- Walker Travel Scholarships. The David Lindop award will be worth around £500-£1000. The Edyvean- Walker Travelling Scholarships will probably each be worth between £100 and £350 but this may vary according to available finance and demand..

We recognise that some travel plans will have to be adjusted in the light of the money you eventually have. In general please think of these awards as a contribution to your travel plan and not as the source of all its funds.

Q. How do I set about planning a Gap Year or Travel Project?

Use a search engine! The Dmoz Open Directory Project has a useful list of websites under its UK education pages.There are companies specialising in Gap Year Travel.Alternatively,speak to your head of Careers, head of Sixth or Tutor. S/he may be able to give you pointers about how to start or put you in touch with others who have gone before.

Warwickshire County Council promotes significant European and Global Partnerships for state school headteachers and students to places as diverse as Brazil and China. Its Youth Service is continually developing its overseas links, for example with the EU for the Youth Parliament.

The Mid-Warwickshire College ( Rugby Annex) has an established exchange with Switzerland.

Many private educational establishments make and nurture links abroad and promote them.

Q. I’m not someone who’s already done lots of travelling, been involved in clubs and societies or had a job. Can I ask for help with my personal statement?

Don’t worry. Lots of people are in this position. The Trustees do not just want to hear from young people who have already done it all. There is plenty of help on offer at schools and in the college re personal statement writing, often in lesson time. Also some young people may find it difficult to write about themselves because they have difficulties, e.g. dyslexia, in the way. We won’t mind if you ask someone to write on your behalf so long as they make it clear that you have asked them to and why? We will observe confidentiality where you or your referee or advocate asks us to do so.

We will pay a lot of attention to the travel project to which an Award might go. If this is imaginative and fits our criteria, this is every bit as important as what you have already done.

The Trustees are keen that at least one or more awards go to people like you and we’ll put a lot of weight on what your referees have to say.

Q. What do I have to do to apply?

If you have looked around our website and have all the answers you need, we would like to hear from you. Use our online form on our application page to make an application. We will acknowledge, usually within a week, and tell you what’s next.

Q. What kind of travel qualifies?

We will look at this flexibly. The travel will sometimes take the form of a Gap Year, but could, for example, be a summer’s internship working in an EU country, or an element of a Duke of Edinburgh award. Or you could be a Youth Parliamentarian. Or you might be a member of a band planning a gig somewhere in Europe. Or you might be part of a World Challenge Project. The travel will normally last for at least a week. It can be to more or less anywhere in the World, including the UK. The travel must be educational, vocational, charitable or purposeful but we will interpret this with reference to your personal statement and profile, for example if you have severe learning or medical/physical difficulties, our definition of educational or purposeful travel will vary according to your needs.

Please note that we will not make awards for travel which at the time is to areas of the World where the Foreign Office has issued ‘stay away’ guidance or high risk notices.

Q. What are the awards given for?

All the Edyvean Walker Travelling Scholarship awards must be used for travel which is educational, vocational, charitable or otherwise purposeful, i.e. not just a holiday. The travel must be completed by the beginning of the next but one academic year. The scope of the David Lindop Award is a litte broader. Originally given for alternately schools and individual projects it can recognise projects where travel is not the primary element of the project.

Q. What are the rules on eligibility?

Your permanent address must be in the Rugby Borough at the time of your application. You will be aged 16-21 either when you apply or when you travel. You will probably be attending a state or private school, an FE College ( e.g. the Rugby Annexe of the Mid Warwickshire College), at University or you will be undertaking local or distance learning or training whilst in employment in the Rugby Borough. We will also welcome applications from young people, qualified by residence and age, who are currently doing other things. We welcome applications from young people involved with youth clubs.