Mountain Training Scotland bursary scheme

Mountain Training Scotland

About Mountain Training Scotland's Bursary Scheme

As part of our Strategic Key Aim to increase equitable, inclusive and diverse access to Mountain Training schemes in Scotland, Mountain Training Scotland offers a limited number of annual bursaries.

 

These bursaries are available to:

  • Independent candidates facing financial barriers, whose participation supports our diversity, equity, and inclusion aims.
  • Scottish charities seeking to upskill staff or volunteers through approved training or qualification courses, where funding constraints exist.

 

This is part of Mountain Training Scotland’s Strategic Key Aim 2 ‘To progress the equitable, inclusive and diverse, access to the Mountain Training personal skills training and qualification schemes in Scotland’.

 

Read Scotland bursary case studies

 

Independent candidates

Mountain Training Scotland annually offers a limited number of bursaries to support candidates wishing to undertake a Mountain Training skills course (for individual candidates only), or training or assessment (including a re-assessment) course in one of Mountain Training's qualifications provided by Mountain Training Scotland via one of its approved providers for whom both the personal financial constraints may be a barrier to participation and whose participation may promote Mountain Training Scotland’s commitment to diversity, equity, equality and inclusion.

 

Scottish charities

Mountain Training Scotland annually offers a limited number of bursaries to support Scottish charities who would benefit from their staff or volunteers undertaking a Mountain Training skills course or qualification training or assessment (including a re-assessment) course provided by Mountain Training Scotland via one of its approved providers.

 

This is solely for Scottish charities where financial constraints are a barrier to supporting their staff and volunteers to completing this.

 

Charities must also provide evidence that their activity will support Mountain Training Scotland’s commitment to diversity, equity, equality and inclusion aims.

 

Funding

Funding is available up to a maximum of £600 for the Mountain Training course fees ONLY (Please note the bursary does NOT cover scheme costs such registration fees, first aid course, travel/accommodation, purchasing equipment etc) and must be claimed within 6 months of the Bursary being awarded.

 

The candidate or charity must pay for course fees initially and claim the amount awarded within six months of the bursary award being made. Payment will be made via BACs after confirmation by Mountain Training Scotland with the course provider of attendance and completion (in assessments the candidate only has to complete the course irrespective of the result). In case of difficulty in this respect, please contact Mountain Training Scotland.

 

Candidates may apply for different schemes but no more than one bursary per course, and no more than one bursary award per calendar year.

 

Mountain Training Scotland would like to acknowledge the generous financial support from the Cairngorm Club that helps support bursary awards to applicants. Based in Aberdeen, the Cairngorm Club was founded in 1887 and is the oldest and one of the largest hill walking and climbing clubs in Scotland.

 

 

Eligibility criteria for bursary consideration

Independent candidate

To qualify for a bursary, candidates should be able to demonstrate:

  1. an indication of the personal financial constraints which prevent them from participating on the course;
  2. their commitment to encouraging wider participation in walking and climbing activities from their community. This may be either through their own circumstance or through a clear intention to either work towards gaining a Mountain Training qualification OR use their Mountain Training qualification to facilitate participation in walking and climbing activities by others in their community (as part of this you will be asked to provide a reference from a referee who is not a spouse, partner or close family member to vouch for and support the above);
  3. that they have fulfilled all the stated experience prerequisites for attending the skills course, or for the qualification training or assessment course; OR they have completed a Mountain Training qualification course run by a Mountain Training Scotland approved provider and submitted a bursary application within four weeks of the end date of the course - the list of approved courses and providers is below;
  4. that they have a commitment to the relevant activity through their own personal background and experience;
  5. that they have registered for the relevant qualification;
  6. that they are old enough to attend/register on the Mountain Training course/qualification of their choice and resident in Scotland at the time of application and the relevant course.
  7. that their Mountain Training course is one of those provided by Mountain Training Scotland and will be delivered by a Mountain Training Scotland approved provider.

 

 

Scottish charity organisation - supported candidate

To qualify for a bursary, organisations should be able to demonstrate:

  1. an indication of the personal or organisational financial constraints which prevent them from supporting participant(s) to attend the course;
  2. their commitment to encouraging wider participation in walking and climbing activities from their community. This may be either through their own circumstance or through a clear intention to either work towards gaining a Mountain Training qualification OR use their Mountain Training qualification to facilitate participation in walking and climbing activities by others in their community (as part of this you will be asked to provide a reference from a referee who is not a spouse, partner or close family member to vouch for and support the above) - see below.

 

The candidate representing the organisation should be able to demonstrate:

 

  1. that they have fulfilled all the stated experience prerequisites for attending the skills course, or for the qualification training or assessment course; OR they have completed their Mountain Training skills course or qualification course run by a Mountain Training Scotland approved provider and submitted a bursary application within four weeks from the end date of the course.
  2. that they have a commitment to the relevant activity through their own personal background and experience.
  3. that they have registered for the relevant qualification and are a current employee or volunteer for the supporting charity applying for the bursary.
  4. that they are old enough to attend/register on the Mountain Training course/qualification of their choice and resident in Scotland at the time of application and the relevant course.
  5. That their Mountain Training course is one of those provided by Mountain Training Scotland and will be delivered by a Mountain Training Scotland approved provider.

Application process

  1. Applications must be made using the prescribed form which is available below. A reference is required to support the application from an independent referee who can vouch for the applicant’s commitment to encouraging wider participation in climbing and or hill and mountain walking from their community. Please note referees cannot be a spouse, partner, or close family member.
  2. Bursaries can ONLY be awarded to courses administered by Mountain Training Scotland AND undertaken and completed with a Mountain Training Scotland approved provider. This includes retrospective applications.
  3. Retrospective applications for completed Mountain Training qualification courses will be considered if an application is submitted within four weeks from the end of the course and the course meets the criteria noted in Section 2 above.
  4. All applications will be considered as soon as is reasonably possible by the designated Board Member + one other Board Member of Mountain Training Scotland and the outcome will be communicated formally to the applicant by a nominated Board Member (usually the Treasurer). This may take up to four weeks.
  5. Appeals will be considered by the Mountain Training Scotland Board of Directors at the next Board meeting and their decision shall be final. This will be in accordance with the Mountain Training Scotland Complaints Policy.
  6. The candidate or charity must pay for course fees initially and claim the amount awarded within 6 months of the bursary award being made. Payment will be made via BACs after confirmation by Mountain Training Scotland with the course provider of attendance and completion (for assessments the candidate only has to complete the course, irrespective of the result). In case of difficulty in this respect, please contact Mountain Training Scotland.
  7. Candidates may apply for different schemes but no more than one bursary per course, and no more than one bursary award per calendar year.

 

How to apply

To apply for a bursary please download the Mountain Training Scotland Bursary Application Form at the link below – please note a reference is required to support the application.

 

Retrospective applications for Mountain Training qualification courses completed with a Mountain Training Scotland approved provider will be considered if an application is submitted within four weeks from the end of the course.

 

All applications will be considered as soon as is reasonably possible by the designated Board Member + one other Board Member of Mountain Training Scotland and the outcome will be communicated formally to the applicant by the Board via email. Please note: this may take up to four weeks to process.

 

Candidates may apply for different courses/qualifications but no more than one bursary per course, and no more than one bursary award per calendar year.

 

Eligible Mountain Training schemes

Skills courses:

  • Rock Skills Introduction
  • Rock Skills Intermediate
  • Rock Skills Learn to Lead Sport Climbs
  • Rock Skills Learn to Lead Trad Climbs
  • Hill Skills
  • Mountain Skills

 

Qualifications

  • Camping Leader
  • Lowland Leader
  • Hill and Moorland Leader
  • Mountain Leader
  • Winter Mountain Leader
  • Indoor Climbing Assistant
  • Bouldering Wall Instructor
  • Climbing Wall Instructor (including Abseil and Top roping Module)
  • Climbing Wall Development Instructor
  • Rock Climbing Instructor
  • Rock Climbing Development Instructor

 

Mountain Training Scotland approved providers (30 May 2025)

Abacus Mountain Guides
Ancrum Outdoor Centre
Aspect Mountaineering
Aspen Outdoors Ltd
Avertical World
City of Edinburgh Council
Climb Torridon Ltd
ClimbScotland
Dolphin House Outdoor Education Centre
ELC Outdoor Learning
Fiona Chappell
Glasgow City Council Education Services (DofE Glasgow)
Glenalmond College
Glenmore Lodge – Scotland’s National Mountain Centre
Gordonstoun
Alan Halewood (Climb When You’re Ready)
Hillgoers
John Jackson (Falkirk Council)
Kieran Thompson
Lochore Meadows Outdoor Education Centre
Mary Matthews
Mehmet Karatay
Nic Crawshaw (EICA Ratho)
Outdoor Pursuits Scotland
Outdoor Resource Base
Peak Adventures
Pete Hill WMCI
Plas y Brenin – National Outdoor Centre (Winter Mountain Leader only)
Richard Bentley MIC
Samantha Leary / Leading Edge (Winter Mountain Leader only)
Scotch on the Rocks Guiding
Scout Adventures Lochgoilhead
Cliff Smith (City of Edinburgh Council)
Stuart Ritchie (Outlook Adventures Scotland Ltd)
The Ledge
Thom Humphrey (I See Adventure)
Way of the Wild
Young Persons’ Services – East Renfrewshire Council

 

Mountain Training Scotland’s core diversity, equity, equality and inclusion aims

Mountain Training Scotland is fully committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment in walking, climbing and mountaineering. Our core aims include:

  • Identify and seek to address the challenges facing candidates accessing and completing a Mountain Training qualification.
  • Promote greater diversity of participation in walking, climbing and mountaineering related activities.
  • Ensure and develop accessibility and access to all Mountain Training awards for candidates based on ‘reasonable adjustments’.
  • Support the Mountain Training Association in providing accessible and low-cost opportunities in Scotland for candidates both pre- and post-qualification.
  • Develop links between leadership and safe participation, and other relevant agendas including education, health and wellbeing.
  • Support the needs of youth and community workers, and young adults via Mountain Training Scotland courses, training, resources, expertise and networks.