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With our Apprenticeship Bursary, postal families can support young people on their apprenticeship journey. This bursary is intended primarily for apprentices earning minimum or low wages in order to help them with apprenticeship expenses.
How much is the bursary?
£525 for every 6 months of the apprenticeship contract, for a maximum of a year. For subsequent years, apprentices may reapply.
When do I apply?
Applications for 2026 are now open.
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Who can apply?
Royal Mail or Post Office employee or pensioner (including a spouse or partner) who is responsible for a child aged 21 and under, who is undertaking an apprenticeship.
Employees must have worked for a minimum of 2 years to be eligible to apply. Please check the detailed eligibility criteria before you apply.
This bursary is unrelated to the apprenticeship programme at Royal Mail and is open to apprentices from all sectors and industries.
The bursary is primarily aimed at apprentices on minimum and low wages to help cover the costs associated with their apprenticeship.
How to Apply
Your application will be dealt with in strict confidence. It will only be seen by the Postal Family Fund team.
Create Account
To apply, simply create a Postal Family Fund account to access your Apprenticeship Bursary application form.
Complete Application
Fully complete the application form. We’ll then get in touch and request supporting documents.
Trustee Review
Your application will be reviewed by our trustees who will announce their decision by writing to you.
FAQs - Apprenticeship Bursary
Who can apply for the Apprenticeship Bursary?
The Applicant must be an employee or pensioner of Royal Mail or Post Office Ltd.
Serving Royal Mail (RM) or Post Office Ltd plc employees (who have parental responsibility for the young person) must have a minimum of 2 years continuous service with Royal Mail or Post office Ltd.
Who can I apply for?
A young person enrolled in an apprenticeship contract with an employer and a training provider.
Are there any age restrictions?
The young person for whom the bursary is sought must be 21 or under at the date of application.
What evidence is needed and when?
Evidence of postal worker employment/pension from the applicant. For the apprentice, evidence of apprenticeship employment and proof of attendance are required.
How is the decision made?
The Trustees can exercise their discretion. It is therefore important that the application form is fully completed, and all relevant information included, on which the Trustees will base their decision.
When will I know the result of my application?
Our decision will be emailed to the email address of the applicant parent or guardian given on the form.
What will be paid and how?
The money is paid directly into the parent or guardian’s bank account.
Can I appeal a decision?
The decision of the Trustees is final. There is no right of appeal. This bursary being a charitable gift does not form part of the applicant’s contract of employment with Royal Mail or Post Office Ltd. Postal Family Fund is an independent organisation with charitable status and is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (reference 37-BEN).
Our History
Supporting postal families for over 150 year
Formerly known as The Post Office Orphans Benevolent Institution (POOBI), the Postal Family Fund is a charitable organisation that helps Royal Mail Group & Post Office Ltd families with children who are experiencing difficulties and are in need of a little extra support.
The charity was established in 1870 by staff from the General Post Office (a forerunner of Royal Mail Group& Post Office Ltd) to help the families of their colleagues who faced hardship as a result of death or chronic illness or disability.
Find out more
"This bursary is a great support for anyone undertaking an apprenticeship, especially if they are on apprenticeship wages, which are significantly less than standard hourly pay rates."
Alison - Postal WorkerJoin the family
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