DWICA Bursary Support Scheme
It was in August 1968 DWIA members meet at 25 Crewe Street that the seed was sown by agreement to donate then 25 guineas (£1,811 in 2022) to then Jamaica’s first Prime Minister charity organisation called “Sir Alex Bustamante Foundation Scholarship” which aimed to support the educational development of young people in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean Islands.
Beginnings
In August 1975 during a DWICA meeting at Pear Tree House, an educational bursary / scholarship scheme for Windrush 2nd and 3rd generation was discussed and further information was required to get a detailed understanding of the process associated.
January 1976 DWIA executive meeting held at Pear Tree House the scheme was approved. Further consideration would be given to suggestions to such as increasing DWIA membership fees to raise funds for the scholarship award scheme
In April the introduction of a new application process and promotional drive. At the end of the year (1976) five scholarships were awarded to young people covering their cost for attending college was paid for DWIA scholarship scheme (£100 in 1976 = approx. £767 today)
Supporting
In 1996 DWICA gave £50 to Pear Tree Library in Normanton in celebration marking the library’s 80th year of service to the community
In 1998 the scheme was now in its 22nd year, DWICA was congratulated by Community Matters, a national body formally known as National Federation of Community Organisations for introducing such a scheme and continuing to support people via the application process
Sports
During 2000’s Sports bursaries became a popular request from the application process and as such five awards were made to young people development in sport an additional two awards were made to students into higher educational.
The educational bursary scheme continues to provide support young people for course books & equipment etc via the application process.
Today
In recent times DWICA has through its partnerships and collaborations has enabled DWICA volunteers to undertake nationally recognised vocational training courses to improve skills set to deliver projects e.g. Summer School, Carnival costume design\& make, Marshal duties (LANTRA award), Arts Award Assessor (Arts Council England) etc.