Literary festival’s bursary scheme receives a

Bridport Literary Festival’s first student bursary scheme for a threeyear undergraduate degree course in any subject has been boosted by a private trust fund.

Two bursaries of £3,000 a year are now available for two local students who are in Year 13 or just finishing a gap year and planning to go to university in the autumn.

Festival chairman Deirdre Coates said: “Initially we had planned to award £1,000 a year to two students and had ring-fenced £18,000, thus allowing six students to benefit.

“We were amazed and delighted when a very generous local couple, who manage a private trust, decided to make this £1,000 into £3,000 for each of the successful candidates for each year of their degree.

“This is enough to make a significant difference to university expenses, a factor which has been deterring many