What is Caitlin's Kickstart Award?
In 2001 Caitlin's mother Linda Hurcombe founded the Award. The aim of this unique award, a registered charity since 2001 (No. 1092350) , is to give financial help to deserving students in their first year of higher education and in any discipline. The present award is a gift of £1,000 per recipient; as of 2011,we have gifted £25,000. The Trustees are making every effort to build a permanent trust for local students to help them face the ever- increasing costs of higher education.
Every penny raised for the Award goes straight into the fund. No personal expenses are taken from the fund.
Linda Hurcombe
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Recipients of the Caitlin Kickstart Award
2001 Amy Burns, Ludlow College (Performing Arts)
2002 Laura Jane Morris, CCBC (Business Studies)
Lukas Pytel, Ludlow College(Business / Teaching)
2003 Lee Jones, Ludlow College (Music/Jazz Guitar)
2004 Christopher Evans, CCBC (Environmental Studies)
Richard Horton, Ludlow College (Architecture)
2005 Lucy Cutler, CCBC (English/ Philosophy)
Joel Stone, Ludlow College (Graphic Design)
2006 Megan Robinson CCBC
Dominic Caton, Ludlow College (Sports Medicine)
2007 Megan Pritchard, CCBC (Performing Arts)
Nicholas Collis, Ludlow (Physics/Astronomy)
2008 Amy Bywater, LudlowCollege (Sports Education)
Samantha Gregory, CCBC (Psychology)
2009 Holly Davies, Ludlow College (Law)
Adam Aspbury, Ludlow College (Physiotherapy)
Graham Clarke, CCBC (Medicine)
2010 Sam Martin, Ludlow College (Performing Arts/Dance)
Jessica Haddigan, CCBC (Primary Education)
2011 Rosie Gregory, CCBC (Maths)
Jack Rowe, CCBC ((Archaeology)
Hannah Deane, Ludlow College (Psychology)
Rebecca Warr, Ludlow College (Animation)
New Recipients for 2011
Rebecca Warr
Click to view Rebecca's animation 'My Life Story'on Youtube
Hannah Deane
"Being awarded the Kickstart Award was a huge shock to me and I am so grateful to the selection panel and Linda for choosing my puzzle entry. The award will give me a safety net for when I start at Warwick University. It will provide me with a basis to buy any books or equipment that I will need to help make my studies successful as well as any unforeseeable circumstances that may crop up. In this present financial climate as well as my family circumstances, the prospect of the amount of money I am going to need, just to attend university, placed a immense amount of pressure and sleepless nights upon me. However, some of these worries are now eased with the generous gift the Kickstart offers.
I cannot wait to start university and the brilliant opportunities that await me. Thank you so much once again to everyone involved with the award ! "
Rosie Gregory
"As you get older money seems to become all the more important, and whether you mean it to or not, begins to play a more pivotal role in your life. As a general rule the things that a more enjoyable, and the days out that are more memorable as they are a novelty, tend to have an annoying habit of being the more expensive.
Whilst my primary concern over the next few years will be my getting my degree in mathematics the money from the Caitlin’s Kickstart Award will make it easy to continue to do the thing outside of my studies that I love, and will enable me to extend my book collection further, both with academic books for my course and the fictional stories which I like to pass my time reading.
The money I have received from this generous award will also mean that I will be under less pressure to find a job whilst studying in Chester, and will enable me to continue with karate as lessons can become quite expensive."
Jack Rowe
"It’s still weird to think that what arrived at my home in an innocent enough looking envelope turned out to be one of the most important letters I’ve received this year, and it took several cups of tea and numerous bouts of dancing about the kitchen with excitement to actually calm myself down and accept the fact that I’ve won £1,000 (And even now, 3 weeks after receiving the letter, I don’t think it’s sunk in fully!).
Whilst Archaeology is something that lies very close to my heart, music is another, and I was initially fearful that I would not be able to maintain a comfortable balance between my course and my hobby of playing my violin, or mandolin, piano etc. This money will not only allow me to continue practicing music, but will further it also. 90% of my friends studying a music course in some form or another use a Macbook Pro, and they all say that despite being a lot of money, it was money well spent. Using the money won to buy myself a Macbook, I will be able to record ideas, and hopefully in time be able to record an album should I reach that stage.
So, a thank you of infinite proportions to the teachers at the Community College Bishop’s Castle for their support, to my good friend Alex Davies for recording the song I composed and entered to the competition, and of course to Linda Hurcombe and all the trustees and friends of the trust. I’ll stay in touch!"
One of the new recipients for 2010 from Clun is Jess Haddigan
"Thank you so much for the award - it really means alot to me. I can concentrate on my degree without having to worry about financial problems, which is a big help. Thank You!"
A Message from Holly Davies - one of three 2009 Award Recipients
"When I received the letter of acceptance, I was speechless and started hopping around the house. I think the neighbours probably wondered what was going on !
This money will mean I can concentrate on my studies at university and not have to worry about working every spare hour to minimise my university debt. It will also mean I will be able to carry on with my hobbies and the things I really love in life, such as my music ( from brass bands to rock bands) and my sport ( netball, hockey, swimming and many more).
This award is really more than just a kickstart. Thank you !"
A Message from Adam Aspbury - one of three 2009 Award Recipients
"When I received my letter of acceptance I was completely shocked and could not believe my luck.
This money means I am able to concentrate on studying to my full potential whilst in my first year at university and not have to worry about getting a job as soon as I get there before I have even settled in. It also means I have the opportunity to buy all the equipment needed such as the higher priced book and clothing which I need for my course.
This award means so much to me and will give me much more than a kick start towards my next step in higher education."
A Message from Graham Clarke - one of three 2009 Award Recipients
"When I was thinking about my medical degree, my main concern was the cost of all the extras associated with the course; the medical books, lab coats, stethoscopes, it all seemed like an endless expensive list. However thanks to this award I don't have to worry (as much) about my expenses, and now i can focus more on my course rather than worry about how much it's all costing.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to take part in this award."
A Message from Megan Pritchard
Award Recipient 2008
"The Caitlin Kickstart Award scheme was not only enjoyable to work towards, but in winning it has been a huge help towards my university fund; it has allowed me to buy books and food, etc without having to borrow from my parents. I could have really struggled for money, and have had extrapressure to find a job, but the grant has made things so much easier; I think the nicest thing about this award however is that I have made a real friend in Linda, who is just a remarkable woman, and so much fun !"
A Message from Samantha Gregory
2008 Award Recipient
" I am so happy to have won the award. It has made me a lot less worried than I would have been about the financial pressures of university life. I also feel that it has pushed me to want to do really well, as it basically gives me no excuse not too!! I am so glad I entered the competition as I really enjoyed creating my wheel. It bought back a lot of really nice memories from the things I’ve done."
I just want to say thank you to all those who support the award and a really big thank you to Linda. You are really making a difference. "
A Message from Nick Collis
Award Recipient for 2007
"I won the Caitlin Kickstart Award in 2007. I can't get across just how useful it was. It's a really big help in sorting out all the rigmarole that comes with going to university. Cheesy though it may sound I'd have to say the award does exactly what it says, its gives you a kickstart.
It really helps to get you set up in your path to higher learning, which in turn, I hope sets you on the path you want to follow for whole your life, I know it has for me.
A Message from Dominic Caton
Award Recipient 2006
"Dear The Caitlin Kickstart Award,
Thank you for the invitation to attend the 10th anniversary of the Caitlin Kickstart award on Saturday the 26th November. I apologise for the late notice but I will not be able to attend this event on Saturday. The Caitlin award has been a great help to me and although I decided not to peruse the physiotherapy route, it has proven to be very valuable in my carer development as a teacher and coach. I have been able to gain various coaching qualifications and certificates which have proven to be a valuable part of my CV and experience. Whilst on my Exercise and Sports Science Undergraduate degree at Exeter University I was part of the OTC (Officer Training Corps) and played for the University 1st XV rugby team. I then went on to do a PGCE in Physical Education with primary specialism at Exeter. I am now working as an Education Partnership Co-ordinator between Exeter College and Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club, helping to develop the pathways for young rugby players and encourage the promotion of sport.
I really believe that the award provides a great benefit to those who are lucky enough to receive it and I would like to thank everyone who is involved in this programme .....
Kind Regards,
Dom Caton
Chris Evans
Award Recipient 2004
Extract from the ' Shropshire Star ', 2004
A South Shropshire man, who was the lucky recipient of a £1,000 award to help him on his way to university four years ago, has just graduated.
Christopher Evans, from Newcastle-on-Clun, near Clun, applied for the ' Caitlin Kickstart Award ' in 2004 when he was a student at Bishop’s Castle Community College.
The award was set up in 2001 by Linda Hurcombe, whose student daughter Caitlin committed suicide. Mrs Hurcombe, from Clun, decided to remember her daughter by offering a yearly award of £1,000 to a student studying in South Shropshire. Mr Evans, 24, said: “ When I applied we had to write to the panel about ourselves in an imaginative way and I created a collage of childhood pictures of myself and wrote why I would benefit from the award. I was really pleased to get it to put towards my studies at Aberystwyth University. I used it to buy a laptop for my countryside management HND. I then went on to complete a Bachelor of Science qualification in the same field which I graduated from last month. I am hoping to work in conservation, perhaps becoming a biodiversity officer. I think the award is brilliant because university is so expensive and it is a great way to remember Caitlin.”
Mrs Hurcombe said she was pleased that students were doing well with the help of the award, especially as her own daughter was just about to start university.
