20 grants of £500 offered to female students by Lincolnshire charity

The charity Futures for Women is partnering with the Grimsby Institute to offer up to 20 grants of £500 each to female students in need of financial support to complete their studies.

Futures for Women was established in 1859 by suffragist Jessie Boucherett, whose family lived in North Willingham, Lincolnshire. Her grandfather, Ayscoghe Boucherett, was MP for Grimsby between 1796 and 1803 and oversaw the opening of Grimsby’s first dock. Jessie Boucherett made it her life’s work to improve the employability of women and established the Society for Promoting of the Employment of Women to encourage women with training for careers suited to their capabilities, rather than the respectable and underpaid choices of employment that were expected of them. The charity, now named Futures for Women, is still supporting women today.

The grants of £500 each are available to female students of 19 years and over who are studying or will be studying a further education course at Grimsby Institute in September, which will lead them to paid employment. The grants may be used towards course fees or associated hardship costs. Applications for a grant are being administered by Grimsby Institute’s Bursary department.

Futures for Women’s Chair Rosie Parr said: “We look forward to supporting women studying at Grimsby Institute in the home county of our charity’s founder, and we hope that at such a difficult time for so many, our grants will assist them to find new career directions and to achieve their work aspirations.”

Susan Wells, Schools Liaison and Admissions Manager at Grimsby Institute, said: “We are delighted that Futures for Women have offered this support in memory of Jessie Boucherett, to local learners hoping to gain skills and qualifications to progress in their careers.”

Female students who are either currently studying  at Grimsby Institute, or who will be starting a course in September 2021, and who are interested in applying for a grant should email the Bursary department at [email protected] or telephone 01472 311222 for an application form. The closing date for applications is 31 May 2021.