Wac Arts provides an accessible, affordable Arts Programme for both children and young people, engaging those who face the greatest barriers to participation. Our Arts Programme classes are accessible and priced at levels to ensure they are affordable. We recognise however that for some people, even this may represent a barrier to entry. We offer limited Bursary places to support those with specific circumstances.
Following a period of research, we are making a commitment that our standard class fees (Weekend and Evening classes only & excluding small group music tuition) will be capped against income earned for 30 minutes of work, at the National Living Wage. For example, since April 2025 this has been £12.21 per hour, being £6.11 per 30 minutes. Our policy is that our standard class fee will not exceed this amount per hour of tuition. To be clear we are not increasing fees to this level but committing the organisation to a policy of capping fees against the yardstick of National Living Wage, to ensure it remains affordable for generations to come. We recognise however that for some people, even this may represent a barrier to entry. This policy sets out the financial support available to people with specific circumstances and the eligibility criteria for a Wac Arts bursary.
Introduction
1. Wac Arts endeavours to optimise the use of the Bursary Fund to provide meaningful support to prospective and current members facing financial barriers which hinder engagement with activities.
2. The bursary fund is reviewed annually by the organisation and is set on multiple factors, including the financial performance of the charity and the success of its fundraising activities.
3. All bursaries are awarded on a discretionary basis and Wac Arts is free to determine which applicants receive bursary funding and the amount they receive. While the organisation shall do its best to ensure the selection of applications is fair, the final decision of the successful applicant and amount offered is up to the organisation’s discretion.
4. Wac Arts accepts bursary applications for the following:
- Term-time classes delivered on Saturdays, Sundays and weekdays
- Holiday Clubs/Holiday Projects/Summer School
5. Wac Nites has been priced at a universally subsidised fee for all participants and is not eligible for further bursary support.
Terminology
6. ‘The Recipient’ is the person who is participating in the classes such as the child, ward or student.
7. ‘The Applicant’ is the person making the application on behalf of the child, ward or student such as a parent, guardian or care giver.
8. The recipient and the applicant may be the same person.
Eligibility
9. Individuals who meet one of the following criteria may apply to the Wac Arts Bursary fund.
- The recipient is care experienced
- The recipient is aged 4 – 30 and currently seeking asylum in the UK
- The recipient is in receipt of Carers Allowance, or is carer under the age of 16 for a parent or sibling
- The parent/ guardian/ participant is in receipt of universal credit
Bursary Fund Management
10. The Bursary Fund is overseen by the Chief Executive Officer with support from the Arts Programme Team and the Finance Manager.
11. The management team reserve the right to amend the bursary application process and the criteria for eligibility at any time.
12. Bursary eligibility criteria and the application process is reviewed annually by the Programmes Team and any recommendations for changes are submitted to the Chief Executive Officer for approval.
Conditions
13. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
14. The applicant/recipient must be able to prove eligibility in order to be awarded a bursary.
15. Evidence of eligibility criteria such as an official, recent letter confirming status and or entitlement, evidence of universal credit in written form, a supporting reference letter from a working professional, who knows the recipient well and who is able to verify the applicant’s personal circumstances truthfully and accurately.
16. Bursary awards for Weekend and Evening classes are only valid for one academic year, and applicants must reapply at the start of each year.
17. Bursary awards for Holiday Club/Holiday Projects/Summer School are only valid for one week/the project only. Applicants must reapply for each project they wish to participate in.
18. Depending on the eligibility status of the applicant/recipient, the bursary award for holiday and summer School will be 33% per week of activity.
19. Depending on the eligibility status of the applicant/recipient, the bursary award can be up to 50% of the class fees for weekend/evening classes.
20. Bursary applications for the academic year 25-26 must be received by Friday 8th August 2025. All bursary applications will be reviewed, and places will be offered within a week of this date. Bursary applications received after this date will go on a waiting list should any places become available later in the year.
21. All bursary applicants will have their bursary funding capped at 50% up to a maximum amount of £60 per recipient per term. Any classes enrolled in above this cap will be payable at full price.
The Application Process
22. Applications are primarily accepted though the online application form, although alternative options can be made available for those with barriers to access.
23. The applicant must supply evidence supporting the reasons they are applying for a bursary. This can be receipt of universal credit, ESA or other relevant financial information, or a supporting letter from a working professional which must state the contact details and job title of the referee and state the relationship to the applicant.
24. The writer of the supporting letter should not be related to the recipient and should be a person of good standing in the applicant’s community, or work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession.
25. Wac Arts does not require a character reference at any point during the bursary application process.
26. Wac Arts does not make decisions based on the quality of a person’s contribution to our programme and recognises that such qualitative references are subjective.
27. It is the responsibility of the applicant or applicants’ representative to notify referees that they may be contacted by Wac Arts representatives, in order to verify the recipient’s circumstances.
The Review Process
28. Bursary applications undergo a review process. First Stage Review is conducted by a member of the Arts Programme team. Where the evidence submitted requires further review or provides a more complex case, a second stage peer review is conducted to determine the award of funds.
29. Where there is a discrepancy between the first and second review, the CEO will make the final decision as to the bursary award.
Bursary Outcomes
30. Applicants are notified by email of their bursary outcome within a week of the deadline date of Friday 8th August 2025.
31. Bursary outcomes are sent via email to the address provided with the application.
32. Applicants receive the outcome of their bursary application only.
33. Bursary Outcomes are as follows:
- Bursary funding awarded
- No bursary funding awarded
- Additional or alternative evidence requested
34. Applicants must book their course (s) within 2 weeks of their bursary application being accepted. Failure to do so may result in their selected course being unavailable to book.
Appeals
35. Applicants are entitled to appeal their bursary outcome for the following reasons:
- A significant change of circumstances since the submission of the application
- If they are now able to provide evidence requested by Wac Arts 36. Appeals should be submitted by email to admin@wacarts.co.uk with the subject ‘Bursary Appeal’.
37. Appeals involving a change of circumstances undergo a review by a member of Wac Arts Management Team, who was not on the original review panel, and their recommendation is made to a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
38. Applicants are notified of the outcome of their review within 5 working days.
39. Outcomes of appeal decisions are final.
40. Applicants may only appeal a bursary award once per academic year.
Prohibitions
41. Applicants who are found to have made false statements or submitted fabricated evidence on their application form will be barred from all future bursary funding and may have their place on the Wac Arts Programme revoked.
42. Applicants who attempt to influence the bursary application process through bribery, bullying, blackmail, coercion or extortion will have their place on the programme revoked and will be barred from all future engagement with Wac Arts.