Infused Learning, a Nottinghamshire-based social enterprise founded in 2014, which offers further and higher education courses through tutor-supported distance learning, has launched its first ever scholarship programme.

Aiming to support 20 individuals in its first 12 months, the programme is being funded by the company and donations from businesses and the public, and is open to any UK resident.

Joint founder of the not-for-profit organisation Infused Learning, Tara Askham, said: “Many people struggle to study in the traditional ways because our lifestyles, work commitments and home lives often prevent it.

“Infused Learning provides a wide range of courses through distance learning, however, unlike most other firms in this sector we provide comprehensive tutor support to all our students.

“Our ethos is to enable access to education for all and this is why we have set up our Scholarship Programme. There are many people out there that struggle to afford education and we want to support as many of those individuals as we can by providing our courses free of charge to successful applicants.

“The process to apply for our Scholarship Programme is simple. All we need is 500 words, in writing, about why they deserve a place on their chosen course. This is then judged by an independent panel and a decision is made; the panel meets each month to consider submissions. Successful applicants will be able to save themselves in excess of £2,500, depending on the qualification or course chosen.

“People from all walks of life can benefit. In the first tranche of successful applicants to be announced we will be supporting a recently paralysed 17-year-old young man, a recovering alcoholic and a single mother.

“Without us these individuals would have struggled to pay their course fees, or would not have been able to access education at all, so we are thrilled to be making a real difference to people’s lives.

“We would encourage any businesses or members of the public that would like to donate to the scholarship programme to get in touch with myself or our other founder Natalie Sharpe, all of our contact details, and more information on the scholarship programme can be found on the website https://www.infusedlearning.org.uk/”