Plymouth Astor Trust (VHS) Scholarships Bursary

Providing financial support for students each academic year undertaking a course of study relating to young children (0–8 years)

Lady Nancy Langhorne Astor

The application deadline for the 2024–25 academic year is 3 March 2025.

Plymouth Astor Trust (VHS) Scholarships Bursary

Previously, bursaries were provided by the Nancy Langhorne Astor Scholarships Trust. The Trust has been closed and resources transferred to the Plymouth Astor Trust (VHS) which is now funding bursaries.

The Plymouth Astor Trust (VHS) is providing generous financial support for students each academic year relating to their interests in the care and education of young children (0–8 years). The trustees are particularly interested in supporting students to access experiences abroad that they would not otherwise be able to do.

Successful applications in previous years have funded study trips abroad to The Gambia and Prague as well as Forest School and Beach School Training, and Introductory Courses in Play Therapy as well as Makaton, and Paediatric First Aid courses, and costs associated with research activity.

Lady Nancy Langhorne Astor

The Plymouth Astor Trust (VHS)

In 1918 the Astors bought the Victory House Boys and Girls’ Club (or Victory Club) and in the mid-1920s they acquired the old Batter Street Congregational Chapel, 38 Looe Street. They converted these buildings and linked them together to form the original core of the Virginia House Settlement. Their vision was to create facilities for the local people and to give opportunities for training, employment, entertainment and socialising. The VHS’s facilities included a meeting room, gymnasium, billiard and social room, a library, music room and a dance hall. There were smaller rooms where cooking, carpentry, dressmaking and singing classes were held; writing classes were held in the library.

In more recent years, the trust have sold a number of the buildings and invested the funds raised; it is the income from these investments that is used today to fund grants to local charities.

Since 2006, The Plymouth Astor Trust (VHS) has awarded nearly £409,000 in grants with 62 organisations benefiting. The Trustees have a wide range of experience in business, property, PR, Academia and Social Welfare. The Trustees are blend of youth, male and female. In 2019 Virginia House Settlement became “The Plymouth Astor Trust (VHS)” and intends to continue to support the less fortunate in the city for many years to come.

In 2023 the Nancy Langhorne Trust was closed and its resources transferred to the Plymouth Astor Trust (VHS). The Plymouth Astor Trust (VHS) is funding bursaries from the income generated from these resources.

Nancy Langhorne Astor

Nancy Langhorne Astor entered politics in 1919 and was the first woman to sit as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons serving as MP for Plymouth Sutton until her retirement from politics in 1945. In 1939 her husband Waldorf was elected Lord Mayor of Plymouth and supported by Nancy they served the city for five years during the second world war.

During Nancy’s parliamentary career she gained attention as someone who championed temperance, women's rights and benefits for children. Nancy supported the development of nursery schools for London's poor children, a project organised by Margaret McMillan. In addition to her usual philanthropic fundraising, she led ministerial delegations for the Nursery School Association, made speeches in parliament and in 1934 published a memorandum calling for the universal provision of nursery schools.

At the heart of her ‘women’s’ politics was a concern with poor households, a subject on which she was far more radical than most in her party at the time. She was passionate about housing and with Waldorf’s capital, built model homes for the poor of Plymouth (Mount Gould). She was also preoccupied with the education of the poor, sharing the McMillan sisters’ vision of nursery schools as a route out of ill-health and poverty. As well as founding some nurseries, she helped the McMillan sisters to establish a training college for nursery school teachers.

Nancy Astor: the first woman to sit in the House of Commons 1919–1945 (UK Parliament)

On 28 November 1919 Nancy Astor was elected as MP for Plymouth Sutton.

This film gives an insight into her interests and achievements and includes first-hand accounts from those who knew her.

Read about our students' experience

A trip to Prague

Rubi Blackburn

When I found out I received the funding I was incredibly excited and nervous. During the trip we visited many places that we felt were necessary to further understand the Czech culture, and where the lives of children would fit into this. We noticed their parks involved a lot more risk taking, and parents seemed to feel comfortable leaving their children to play independently.

At the school we visited there was a huge difference in the type of education represented to the children. The ethos reminded me of a Montessori approach. The children helped themselves to snacks and lunch and were given lots of independence in the classroom. It was clear the children really benefitted from this and felt very comfortable in their environment. The play in the classroom was incredibly child lead, and mainly observed by practitioners. Children were confident to show us their play despite the language barrier.

This experience has really opened my eyes to the possibilities that the education system has, and some changes that the UK could make. Children are powerful creative beings that is often limited by our education system. Seeing the comparison has inspired the way I will practice in future, and I will aim to strive for an education system that mirrors that of Prague.

A trip to Sri Lanka

Imogen Harcombe

With the money awarded to me I was able to pay for my flight over to Sri Lanka, without funding I would not have been able to afford the trip. This meant that I could spend more time there helping the community. I had an amazing time travelling around Sri Lanka, witnessing the culture as well as helping the local community. Not only did our volunteering involve teaching English, but we also spent time planning lessons, decorating classrooms and getting involved in playtime with the children. We taught children in kindergarten, primary schools and sixth form, helping many children at different levels from different backgrounds. The local teachers were all so welcoming and the children we taught were so smart and charming. Working with older students was very rewarding as they really enjoyed having us there, we enjoyed making friendship bracelets together.

I believe that this opportunity will have a positive impact on my future career, not only do I have volunteering experience but also the experience of teaching English as a foreign language which could be impressive to employers. The Astor Trust Bursary made this possible and I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity.

Rubi in Prague

Imogen Harcombe volunteering at a school in Sri Lanka

Imogen in a school playground, Sri Lanka

Imogen in a classroom, Sri Lanka

Should you have any questions about applying for the Plymouth Astor Trust (VHS) Scholarships Bursary, please contact plymouthastorscholarship@plymouth.ac.uk.

Eligibility criteria

According to the terms of the trust agreement applicants should normally:

Be studying within the Plymouth Institute of Education.
Be enrolled on one of the following programmes:
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies
BEd (Hons) Primary (Early Childhood Studies)

Travel and other expenses deemed part of a student’s programme requirements are not eligible for a bursary.

Application process

1. There are certain eligibility criteria for receiving a bursary. Before completing your application, you should check your eligibility (see the previous section).

2. Your application must be supportedby a reference from your Personal Tutor indicating how long they have known you and containing a brief statement of support for your application.

3. As soon as you decide to apply for a bursary you should approach your Personal Tutor and ask them to send the reference to plymouthastorscholarship@plymouth.ac.uk.

4. Applications not completed on the application form downloaded from the Plymouth Astor Trust (VHS) Scholarship Bursary page of the University website will not be accepted.

5. Complete all the fields on the application form as fully as possible and ensure that all typed words in the open comment boxes are visible.

6. Submit your completed application form to plymouthastorscholarship@plymouth.ac.uk by the closing date at 15:00. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

7. Application forms will be reviewed by a selection panel (the Trustees and/or their representatives) and applicants will usually be informed of the outcome of their applications by email before the Christmas break.

8. A one-off payment of up to £750 will be awarded to successful applicants towards costs associated with the activity being considered. In exceptional circumstances the amount of the award may be increased subject to the discretion of the trustees.

9. The sum awarded will usually be credited to a bank account held in the name of the applicant within six weeks of being notified of a successful application.

Should you have any questions about applying for the Plymouth Astor Trust Scholarships Bursary, please contact plymouthastorscholarship@plymouth.ac.uk.