To increase Mountain Bike participation and develop Mountain Bike Leadership further, Scottish Cycling has identified the need to provide financial support towards the Mountain Bike Leadership Awards. 

This support is aimed at those who can help us reach a number of targeted areas and contribute to the growth and diversity of Mountain Biking.

Aims of the programme:

• To increase MTB participation and introduce new people to the sport
• To increase the number of female MTB leaders
• To increase the number of young (U25) MTB leaders
• To support and develop MTB projects (non-profit)
• To help make cycling more inclusive

Criteria  

Applicants must be able to demonstrate and fulfill certain criteria to be eligible for a bursary.

General criteria  

• Applicants must be active and competent mountain bikers
• Applicants must the desire and motivation to become a MTB leader

Specific criteria 

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that a MTB Leadership Award and becoming a MTB leader will create a significant new and sustainable increase in MTB participation.

Bursary Levels

The Bursary offered will depend on the applicant and outcomes of the application.

Bursary funding	Criteria
50 % of the total course costs up to a maximum of £250	Candidates will have to be able to demonstrate that the qualification will create a new and sustainable increase in MTB participation.
60 % of the total course costs up to a maximum of £300	For young people and females that can demonstrate that the qualification will create a new and sustainable increase in MTB participation.
70 % of the total course costs up to a maximum of £350	Candidates have to demonstrate that they will work with a ‘hard to reach’ or minority group.
Funding based on circumstance	Young people on low or no income that are not in education.

Note – Criteria are approximate as every application will be reviewed and allocated funding on its own merit.

Application Process
 
There will be two application windows for the MBL bursary in 2018.  All applicants will formally apply for the bursary via an online application.  Applications after the deadline will not be considered. 

Application Form

Downloadable copies of the application form are available by emailing mtbleadership@scottishcycling.org.uk

Application period 1: Opens 15-02-18 Closes 15-04-18
 
Application period 2 Open 15-06-18: Closes 15-08-18

Decision will be made two weeks after the deadline.  
 
The application form will ascertain the potential impact of the funding as well as the aspirant leader’s goals and motivations.  Scottish Cycling reserves the right to allocate bursary’s as they see fit.

Terms and Conditions

• Bursary’s are on a first come first serve basis and applications will close when the 2018 budget has been spend
• The bursary can only go towards the cost of the British MBL Level 2 Award, Including; MBL Registration, L2 Training and L2 Assessment.
• Candidates will undertake leadership training within 6 months of being granted the bursary
• Candidate will aim to book their assessment within 12 months of being granted the bursary
• Within 18 months new  Leaders must log and evidence a minimum of: -  6 led rides as an assistant Leader -  6 led rides with the target group as identified in the application process.
• All candidate must agree to take part of our monitoring and evaluation process.
• If any of the terms and conditions is not met Scottish cycling reserve the right to cancel and recoup the bursary funding.

Mountain Bike Leadership Bursary Finance Information

For more information, please contact mtbleadership@scottishcycling.org.uk