Trustees review each application across a number of areas, including the student’s statement, and then give a total score based on their judgement in each of these areas. It is based on the judgement of each individual Trustee. The Trustees then submit their returns to the Chairman and Secretary and a subcommittee of Trustees they meet to agree the final allocation of bursaries. 

We will look at the hardship faced by the family in supporting the young person at University. The trustees will look at household income after making allowances for rent or mortgage. Any exceptional expenditure may be considered if details are provided. A family with a single parent or one where the children are being cared for by grandparents will be considered. Disability or chronic illness of a parent or parents is another factor and so is disability or chronic illness of the student or a sibling. Evidence of any difficulties encountered by the student in his or her education or upbringing will be considered and evidence of any volunteering or out of school activities are other factors. The student statement is very important because this gives the Trustees an insight into the motivation and achievements of the student and their hopes and ambitions. 

 All payments are subject to university reports confirming entry and subsequent registration/attendance and continuation of studies. A report with evidence of registration must be submitted for each of the subsequent payments: spring and autumn. By the 28th February for the spring payment and by the 18th October for the autumn payment. If the evidence of registration is not received by Postal Family Fund by the dates specified, then the payment will be deferred to the next payment date. If a claim is not received by Postal Family Fund by the 30th June or the 31st December for the respective spring or autumn payments, then the Trustees of Postal Family Fund reserve the right to cancel that instalment of the bursary. A subsequent failure to submit evidence of registration by these dates may result in the cancellation of the remaining bursary payments.

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. 

All the results will be sent out at approximately the same time, around the end of September each year. Results will be sent the applicant parent or guardian given on the form.

Note: To stop our emails going to your email junkbox, please ensure postalfamilfund@royalmail.com and sec.postalfamilyfund@royalmail.com have both been added to your email safe list. 

The university bursary will be paid in two equal instalments usually during November and in late March. The money is paid directly into a bank account.

Payment will not apply to any placement year e.g. for work experience, for which the student receives payment if employed under a contract of employment. In such cases the award will be deferred until after the placement year has been completed and the student has returned to the university for full time study (and proof of registration has been received by Postal Family Fund). The student must write to the Trustees of Postal Family Fund not later than the 30th of April if a ‘placement year’ is to be taken at the start of or during the following academic year and authority obtained to defer the payment of any remaining element of the award.

If the course involves an academic year (or a substantial part of a year) spent outside the UK then the bursary can still be paid, but only to a UK bank account. We will require evidence that the period spent outside the UK is part of the degree course.

Bursary payments cannot be paid for previous years, or part thereof, on any course i.e. no retrospective payments prior to the date of the award.

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).