Order of Malta Volunteers

BURSARIES

Student and Travel Grants
As in previous years, a £50 discount off the full cost of the pilgrimage is available to students in full time education or volunteers making their own travel arrangements to and from Lourdes BOTH WAYS.
If you fill these criteria and would like to apply for a student or travel bursary please contact Emily Barran Lourdes@omv.org.uk Please note: this grant cannot be claimed alongside any other discounts (Including medical, chaplain or bursaries).
WE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT THE ORDER OF MALTA VOLUNTEERS IS A CHARITABLE ORGANISATION, ABLE TO RUN SOLELY OFF THE DONATIONS OF ITS VOLUNTEERS. WE ASK YOU TO ONLY APPLY FOR GRANTS OR BURSARIES IF YOU NEED TO.

NEW FOR 2011 ... Volunteer Bursaries
The OMV pilgrimage to Lourdes remains one of the cheapest offered by any other British organisation. This said, we understand that many of our volunteers may not be able to afford the full cost of the trip, particularly in the current economic climate.
For the first time, we have put together a fund to enable a wider variety of volunteers to join us on our pilgrimage in July. Please see below for details:

How much of a bursary can I apply for? The size of each bursary will vary on a case-by-case basis between £50 and £200 off the full cost of the pilgrimage. Each applicant will be asked to choose how large a grant they wish to apply for. Please do not be surprised if you are not awarded the full amount.

Who is eligible for a bursary? There are no set criteria for those applying to the fund. Any volunteer, who has not asked for a student or travel grant, may apply for a bursary. The Lourdes Committee will consider each case on an individual committee. Below is a list of guide criteria. This is in no way exhaustive and we invite anyone to apply whether they meet all or none of the criteria. Applicants however will be expected to fit some of the following:

How do I apply? If you are interested in applying to the grant, please send an email to Emily Barran at Lourdes@omv.org.uk who will send you an application form.
Upon receipt of your application, you will be sent a code with which to apply formally for the pilgrimage for £1. All information submitted will be treated as highly confidential.

How are the applicants to the fund selected? All emails will be collected and individual applications considered by the Lourdes Committee (James Grew, Emily Barran, Natalia Leigh, Breidge Boyle and Kieran King), after the Lourdes deadline of the 28th April 2011. Successful applicants will be chosen based on the information provided. All applicants will receive a reply before the 9th May 2011.
Applicants may be awarded an amount less than that applied for. In this case, you will be asked whether you would like to proceed with your application or not. Successful applicants will be asked to send a check for the remaining amount. Unsuccessful applicants will be given the opportunity to send the full amount by cheque if they still wish to attend the pilgrimage.
The Committee's decision is final.

If you have any questions regarding the fund, please contact Emily Barran at lourdes@omv.org.uk
If you would like to make a donation to the fund, please contact James Grew at chairman@omv.org.uk
WE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT THE ORDER OF MALTA VOLUNTEERS IS A CHARITABLE ORGANISATION, ABLE TO RUN SOLELY OFF THE DONATIONS OF ITS VOLUNTEERS. WE ASK YOU TO ONLY APPLY FOR GRANTS OR BURSARIES IF YOU NEED TO.

*If you decide you can no longer attend the pilgrimage after sending an application for a bursary, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can withdraw your application.

**Applying for a bursary will in no way affect your application to the pilgrimage.

*** All personal details will be treated as highly confidential and information destroyed after decisions have been made.