Bursaries are available to Councils for learners with ADSO membership who wish to undertake either the Certificate or Diploma programme but are unable to do so because of the overall cost.
In each financial year, a total of £5k is available between the two programmes: £3,750 across the Certificate programme and £1,250 across the Diploma programme.
ADSO and our main sponsor Civica are providing funding for this initiative.
How to apply
Follow the instructions for the application process on the relevant certificate or diploma page. As part of this process the applicant is asked to complete a form. The form contains an option to receive a bursary application.
In addition, a letter of support from the applicant’s Council is required. The letter is usually provided by a monitoring officer or a Councillor that the applicant supports. Full instructions for how to complete this step will be provided to the applicant.
Deadlines
ADSO Certificate in Democratic Knowledge – March 2025: Bursary applications must be submitted by 30 November 2024
ADSO Diploma in Local Democracy – October 2025: Bursary applications must be submitted by 31 July 2025
Applications will not be accepted after these deadlines to allow for decisions to be made in line with the formal registration process for these programmes.
Additional Information
Applications will be assessed, and decisions taken by the Qualifications Manager in consultation with the Chair of ADSO.
There are four levels of bursary that can be applied for, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% To qualify, applicants must submit a letter of support from the authority and answer all the criteria questions in the application form.
Please note – bursary applications will only be considered from learners who are paid up members of ADSO.
For all enquiries please contact: ADSO@swcouncils.gov.uk