What we do
The Snowdon Award Scheme has been running since 1981. We provide grants to physically disabled and sensory impaired students studying in the UK – in further or higher education or those training towards employment.
The Grants help cover the additional costs that these students incur as a result of their disability, where available statutory awards do not cover them. Costs include vital support such as personal carers, sign language interpreters, people to take notes, computers, specialist software, wheelchairs or special accommodation and equipment.
About 100 grants are awarded each year, ranging from £250 to £2,000 (£2,500 in exceptional circumstances) and the decision of who gets them is down to an independent Selection panel. The panel is made up of both disabled and non-disabled people who have knowledge and understanding of a wide range of disabilities – from sight and hearing impairments to paralysis, cerebral palsy, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, joint and bone diseases and lupus.
Besides giving financial grants, the charity also takes an active interest in individuals, offering encouragement to students during their studies and beyond.
We also take disability issues very seriously. We try to keep them on the agenda of both the Government and institutions; we collect data, respond to consultations and ask the ‘difficult questions’. See our latest Survey.
Our Students
Click here to read about some of the past and present students that the Scheme has helped.
Our history – Lord Snowdon’s vision
In 1981 Lord Snowdon saw that many physically disabled young people were being denied the chance to pursue further education or training because of extra costs incurred as a direct result of their disability. State funding at that time took little account of their needs. So during this year, the first International Year of Disabled People, he devised a scheme that would help and encourage these people to take their place on a more equal footing with their contemporaries.
The Snowdon Award Scheme was set up with £14,000 of fees he received for photographing the Royal family, accumulated in a trust fund while he was married to HRH Princess Margaret.
In the first year we were able to help six students. Now we have made a huge difference to the lives of nearly 1,600 people – awarding around £2 million in grants.