Education | Posted on September 3rd, 2024 | return to news
Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show organisers award grants to students
15 youngsters from Dorset have been awarded grants from the organisers of the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show to help them work in agriculture.
A total of 15 young people from across rural Dorset have been awarded grants that will help them pursue careers in agriculture, animal welfare and conservation.
The grants came from the Student Support Fund, which is managed by Gillingham and Shaftesbury Agricultural Society, organisers of the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show. This fund is specifically set up to support students entering the agricultural, horticultural, countryside and land-based industries.
Now in its fourth year, the fund offers help towards the cost of college or university, to pay for books and equipment, or to meet transport costs of getting to a place of study from a rural location.
This year, the fund has awarded a record number of students with grants totalling £6,000.
Among this year’s lucky group is Georgia Angel, 21, from Margaret Marsh, a hamlet in north Dorset, who was awarded a grant to support her further education. Georgia has a degree in Biological Science and will now go on to study at the Bristol Veterinary School.
Another recipient is 12-year-old Oliver Swanton, from Shaftesbury, who is keen to work in agriculture. He will use his grant to help pay for the bus journey to the Dorset Studio School, a school in Dorchester for those who wish to pursue careers in the land and environment sectors.
Matthew Price, chair of the Student Support Fund said: “There is a huge amount of positivity about these youngsters and many display a great work ethic.”
Some of the recipients volunteered at the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show in August as a thank you for their funding and to learn more about the work behind the scenes that goes into these rural events.
Several of the students were presented with their funding awards at the show by Battens Solicitors, who also presented a cheque for the Student Support Fund funded through donations to the Battens Charitable Trust, which has been running for 39 years. Naomi Dyer, director of Battens, said: “Our Charitable Trust is focusing on young people and having a presence at the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show is a great way to support these young people and the local farming community.”
Matthew added: “We are so grateful to company sponsorship, private donations and local community groups such as The Young Farmers who fundraise for the Student Support Fund.”
Applications for the 2025 Student Support Fund open in March 2025. To find out more, email studentsupport@gillinghamandshaftesburyshow.co.uk. If you are interested in supporting the Fund through fundraising or sponsorship, please contact Sue Harris on 07970865790.
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