Application Guide

This section is for applicants aged 12-15 (and up to 18 with SEND.)

Your parent/carer or guardian must complete this part of the application form and have a valid UK bank account (we’ll ask for proof if your application is successful). We won’t pay money into a bank account for children under 16 years of age.

If you are over 16, you don’t need to complete this part. Just click the ‘next’ button on the form and it will allow you to move onto section 2.

If you are 16 or over (or up to 25 with SEND), you can apply for a bursary yourself so you can start your form at Section 2.

If we make you a bursary offer, you will need to show proof that you have a valid UK bank account.

For applicants under 16, you can complete this part yourself, or with the help of an adult.

This section asks about eligibility to apply for the bursary.

Ignite Bursaries are for young people who are living in low-income households and experiencing financial disadvantage, who are aged 12 – 18 (up to 25 for young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities).

Priority for bursaries will be given to applicants who meet one or more of the Essential Criteria on the list below.

We will also welcome your application if you meet one or more of our Additional Criteria.

We will ask you to select which statements apply to you. Please note, for safeguarding purposes we may ask to see proof of circumstances.

Essential Criteria

• I am eligible for Free School Meals
• I live in a low-income household
• I have a long-term health condition or a disability
• I have experience of the care system (including kinship care)
• I am a young carer
• I am in receipt of financial support from a college/sixth form (i.e. travel support, free meals, childcare support)

Additional Criteria

• I have an Education, Health and Care Plan in place
• I live with a lone/single parent
• I am part of a family household with three or more children
• I am part of a family with a baby under one
• I am part of a family where my mother is aged under 25
• I have recently arrived in the UK and English is an additional language
• I am a young parent
• I have experience of the criminal justice system
• I have experienced extenuating circumstances

What do we mean by low household income?

Low household income is when a household’s earnings are below the level needed to meet basic living costs such as housing, food, healthcare and education.

What do we mean by extenuating circumstances?

These are circumstances or situations that a young person has had to deal with in their day-to-day life, that are of the young person’s control and resulted in a negative impact. This could include a young person experiencing significant family issues or discrimination.

If you would like to talk about what we mean by extenuating circumstances further, or if you have questions about any of the other criteria listed, please get in touch. Our contact details are at the top of this guide and anything we talk about will be kept in confidence.

This section asks about your creative interests and what you will use the bursary money for.

Please make sure the young person applying for funds completes these sections using their own words. It may be helpful to write your answers in advance, then cut and paste them into the application form.

For each of these questions, you have up to 1200 characters (approximately 200 words).

What are your creative passions and interests?

This is simply the creative thing you love doing, that you can show a passion for, and which you would like to develop and improve. We want you to tell us about it.

Here are some examples of what your creative practice might be:

Painting, drawing, photography, digital art, textiles, printmaking, ceramics or clay, creative writing, dance, music creation, animation, set, costume or lighting design, singing, directing, producing, curating.

But it might be something different!

If you’re not sure and want to ask us about your creative practice, just get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.

What will you use the Ignite Bursary for?

This is where you tell us how the bursary money will support your creativity. The more detail the better, we want to understand how the money will be spent and what difference it will make. Here are some examples of things that may spend it on:

• Helping you visit a college or university (maybe for an audition or open day)
• Buying things you need, like supplies, materials, tools, or software (like musical instruments or things you need to make art)
• Paying for travel to work experience or creative volunteering opportunities
• Joining workshops, classes, or special training
• Meeting and talking with artists, mentors and creative professionals
• Going on trips to performances, shows, or museums (help with tickets, transport, or staying overnight)
• Creating or improving your portfolio, video reel, or website
• Renting special spaces, like a music studio

How will the Ignite Bursary support your ambitions for the future?

Here you can tell us how you want to develop your creativity, and any plans you have for the future. Maybe you plan to study subjects that involve your creative skills, or you hope to work in a creative job. We’d love to hear your ideas.

Which bursary amount are you applying for?

There are 3 amounts you can apply for, depending on the amount of support you need at the moment. Choose from £150, £300 or £500.

In this section we ask you to upload evidence to support your application.

There will be a button for each proof. The buttons will open up an upload screen in a new window. Once you have uploaded your images, you can close that window and return to your application form.

Proof of Age

For safeguarding reasons, we need to see two proofs of age for the young person applying.

At least one proof must be a scan, clear photo or screenshot of the following:

• A birth certificate
• A valid passport

Ideally, a scan of both documents would be best.

However, you can also supply proof from one of the following:

• An official letter, or document showing the name and date of birth of the applicant dated in the last 12 months.
• A valid bus pass / POP card
• EEA identity card
• A PASS ID card
• Photo driving licence / provisional licence
• Student card

Home Address

We need to see proof that the young person applying lives in Sunderland.

If you are applying and you are under 16:

Please provide one proof dated in the last 12 months, showing the name and address of the parent / guardian or carer you live with. This can be a scan, clear photo or screenshot of one of the following:

• A household utility bill (electricity / gas / water etc)
• Any other official document showing name and address
• UK Driving Licence
• Lease or tenancy agreement
• NHS Certificate / Medical Card

If you are over 16:

Please provide one proof dated in the last 12 months, showing your name and address.

This can be a scan, clear photo or screenshot of one of the following:

• Any official document or letter that has been sent to your home address in the last 12 months and also shows your name
• Child Benefit letter
• EEA Identity Card
• A PASS ID card
• Photo Driving Licence / Provisional Licence

A Note About Bank Accounts

If we make a bursary offer, we will ask for details of a valid UK bank account for either:

• The named adult on the application (if the young person is under 16)
• The young person applying (if over 16)

You don’t need to send this proof unless you accept a bursary offer.

In this section we ask you to give us the contact details for an adult (over 18) who can provide a reference for you – the young person applying. We call this person a referee.

This person cannot be a family member/friend.

It should be someone like a teacher (maybe your art, drama or music teacher), a youth worker (if you go to a youth or community club) or a professional who is involved in your creative interest (a drama leader, choir master etc).

Please check with the person first before you share their details on the application form.

We will follow up with the referee to confirm the information in your application. This will be by email or phone.

Please be aware that we can’t accept an application without a reference.

While you’re filling in your application form, you can save your progress at any time to come back to it later.

To do this, hit the ‘Save for later’ button at the bottom of the form. It will provide a temporary link that you can use to return to your form at the point that you hit the save button, or you can get the link sent to your email address.

This link will expire after 30 days. Progress after that link is generated will not be saved, so make sure you request a new link whenever you need to leave your application form before you submit.

Please use this checklist before you submit your application and make sure:

• Applicants under 16 have completed details of their parent, guardian or carer in Section 1
• Contact email and phone number are correct
• Eligibility Criteria has been completed
• Proofs for applicant date of birth and address have been uploaded
• Details for referee have been added – including phone and email contact information

Once we receive your application and attachments, we’ll send a confirmation email to you (if you are over 16), or the named adult on the form (if you are under 16).

We will contact the referee on your form to confirm your application details, and then the application will be reviewed by our Ignite Bursary panel in early March.

The members of the panel will be a mixture of people who work at creative organisations in Sunderland, people who are youth workers or work with a youth organisation and people from Culture Start.

If your application is successful, we will contact you (if you are over 16) or the adult named on your application (if you are under 16) to make a bursary offer by March 14 2025.

If you are not successful, we will email you in April 2025. We can give you some reasons why you your application was not successful if you wish. You are welcome to apply again the next time the bursary applications open.