Prestigious Travelling Fellowships - Applications now open

In 2018, The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust will be investing £1.5 million in UK citizens through its Travelling Fellowship programme.

This will directly support UK citizens who want to travel overseas to gain knowledge, experience and best practice to inspire positive change in their UK professions and communities, and society as a whole.

The application process for travel in 2018 is now open, and there are 14 varied categories – including a new one focused on Supporting Vulnerable Children through Bereavement. See www.wcmt.org.uk for full details.

• Craft and Design
• Education
• Enterprise
• Environment, Conservation and Sustainable Living
• Health and Wellbeing
• Horticulture
• Mental Health –Community Based Approaches
• Migration –Living Well Together
• New Approaches to Social and Affordable Housing
• Nursing and Allied Health Professions
• Science, Technology and Innovation
• Supporting Vulnerable Children following Bereavement*
• Young People (for applicants aged 18-25)
• Open

(*new category for 2018)

Successful applicants must demonstrate the commitment, the character and the tenacity to travel globally in pursuit of new and better ways of tackling a wide range of challenges facing us today, and upon their return work to transform and improve aspects of today’s society.

A travelling sabbatical for people with the drive, determination and desire to make a positive difference, can further their leadership and role model abilities, introduce them to a network of individuals working in the same field, and enhance their personal development.

As Churchill himself said, in 1908,

"What is the use of living, if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone?”

Employees who are awarded Fellowships bring great benefits to their employers, not only in terms of the positive impact on their personal development, but also with the advantage of their enhanced knowledge, new ideas and examples of best practice that they bring back to the organisation.

Churchill Fellows come from all over the UK and from many different backgrounds. No qualifications are required. These opportunities are available to all UK citizens resident in the UK over the age of 18. What Fellows share is a passion to make a difference and a desire to share their passion to inspire others.

Successful applicants will receive an average Fellowship grant of over £6,000, covering return airfare, daily living costs, insurance and travel within the countries being visited, for approximately six weeks overseas.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust was established shortly after Sir Winston’s death in 1965, as his national memorial and living legacy. Since then it has awarded over 5,400 Travelling Fellowships, with Fellows making outstanding contributions in areas as diverse as dementia support, mental health, the crafts, conservation, housing, and education.

Churchill’s beliefs and passions are still living on through our Fellows – who are remarkable individuals, representing a wide range of backgrounds, qualifications, interests and professions, but sharing the desire to do something for the improvement of individuals and communities in the UK.

The deadline for the 2018 applications is 5pm on Tuesday 19^th September 2017.

In total 150 Fellowships were awarded in the UK in 2017, an investment of over £1.4 million. The Fellows are currently travelling to 49 countries between them, across six continents, carrying out a wide range of projects.

To maximise the impact of our Fellowships we have developed partnerships with other organisations, focused on specific areas of concern and relevance for the UK today. Lessons learnt from overseas travel are effectively co-ordinated and disseminated, and incorporated into best practice in the UK for the benefit of others in similar communities and professions.

Our current partners are:

The British Council

The Rank Foundation

The Royal Horticultural Society

The Burdett Trust for Nursing

The Royal College of Nursing

FoNS – Centre for Nursing Innovation

The Mental Health Foundation

The National Housing Federation

Winston’s Wish

We have many examples of Fellows’ stories of achievement from 1965 to the present day. If you would like one from a particular year or location, or would like to interview a Fellow, please contact The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Press Office on 020 7799 1660, or email press@wcmt.org.uk