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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?
£500 for every 6 months of the apprenticeship contract, up to a maximum of £1,000.

When do I apply?
The Apprenticeship Bursary  applications are open all year round.

Need a reminder? Keep up to date on our grants and bursaries by signing up for our newsletter.

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.

University Bursary Application Form
Check Eligibility

Please check the Apprenticeship Bursary eligibility criteria before you apply.

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.

A postman's son forges a career in top IT consultancy

Manjit Ugra has worked at Slough delivery office for almost 30 years. He successfully secured funding from the Postal Family Fund for his son Jay to study economics at the University of Birmingham. Jay said, ‘I’m hugely grateful to the Postal Family Fund. I’d saved up since I was born to go to university, but I still couldn’t have afforded to go without the extra help. Had I taken a year out, I might have missed out on Capgemini’s placement scheme.’

Read Jay's story

Chelsie lands dream paramedic job thanks to university bursary

After hearing about the scheme from a colleague, dad Graham applied and was awarded a bursary, allowing his daughter to complete a three-year paramedic science degree. ‘It’s been a great achievement for Chelsie,’ said Graham, who is a postman in Wales. ‘I’d definitely recommend the Postal Family Fund to anyone thinking of applying. It’s been a huge help to us.’ Chelsie Read is now a qualified paramedic working for the South Western Ambulance service in Bristol.

Read Chelsie's story

Gurkha's daughter studies at top London university

With the support of a University Bursary from the Postal Family Fund, 19-year-old Sumnima Rai started a BSc Psychology course at Goldsmiths, University of London. Sumnima’s father, Sumendra Rai, said “The Postal Family Fund bursary has helped my family immensely. My wife and I have part-time jobs and we could not have supported our daughter’s further education without their help.”

Read Sumnima's story

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?

Any employer/prospective employer-provided monetary sponsorship or bursary must be declared on the form.

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 posted to the address of the applicant parent or guardian given on the form. 

What will be paid and how?

The money is paid directly into a 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

"I am very proud of what Jay has achieved and am extremely grateful for the Postal Family Fund's financial support. I would wholeheartedly encourage others to take advantage of this incredible opportunity."

Manjit Ugra - Postal Worker

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