TESTIMONIALS
“I am very grateful for the financial help the Dick Bequest Trust has provided me over the last few years. I had always wanted to continue studying, but being a single mother with two children at university I thought this would remain an unrealised dream. However, with the support of the Dick Bequest Trust I have been able to complete a Masters’ degree and now the Trust is providing the financial reassurance I needed for me to complete my EdD. Thank you.”
Teacher – Aberdeenshire
“I am deeply grateful for your generous support in funding my postgraduate studies. As a dedicated teacher, this opportunity means more than words can express. With your assistance, I can further my education, enhance my teaching skills, and continue to make a meaningful impact on my students’ lives. This funding will empower me to explore new methodologies, contribute to educational research, and bring innovative strategies back to my classroom. I am committed to using this opportunity to inspire and nurture future generations. Thank you for believing in my potential and investing in my growth. Your generosity is truly appreciated. With heartfelt gratitude,”
Teacher – Aberdeenshire
“Thanks to the Dick Bequest Trust, I have been able to significantly expand the range of opportunities available to pupils at my school. Over my thirty-four years of service, the Trust’s support has been instrumental in my professional development. Their funding has facilitated my attainment of external certifications with organizations, a feat that would have been unattainable through standard teacher resources. Consequently, I am now trained to deliver several national awards. Generations of local pupils have benefited from these outdoor learning awards and experiences, enriching classroom education, shaping career paths, and fostering personal growth.”
Teacher – Aberdeenshire
“Grants from the Dick Bequest have allowed me to undertake further studies at university level enabling me to gain registration in new subjects. This registration has in turn allowed the school to reintroduce subjects we had been unable to offer, with many pupils now undertaking studies in school, college and university in subjects that are very hard to recruit for in Scotland in general, and in this area in particular. Councils normally do not have Continuing Professional Development budgets to fund these studies, which are required by the General Teaching Council for Scotland before a teacher can teach the subject. Without support from the Bequest these subjects would not be on offer in our school and many pupils’ educational and career pathways could have been adversely impacted.”
A teacher within the area of benefit
“The financial support provided by the Dick Bequest Fund was instrumental in enabling me to pursue an MSc in Digital Education at a time when no other sources of funding were available. Without this support, continuing my professional development at this level would not have been possible. The MSc not only deepened my understanding of educational technologies but also influenced my teaching practice more broadly. It encouraged critical engagement with the digital curriculum and prompted new approaches to teaching that extended beyond the use of technology itself—fostering more inclusive, reflective, and learner-centred practices. Importantly, the course directly enabled me to secure a promotion to a Principal Teacher role, advancing my career but also benefitting marginalised learners by providing opportunities for them to engage with education in meaningful ways.”
Teacher – Aberdeenshire
“I am incredibly grateful for the funding of the Trust. I was able to access a masters in education university course. This invaluable experience was thoroughly enjoyable. I met a lot of like minded people and was able to engage in discussion and reading around current issues in education, as well as preparing myself for a career in Guidance. Since doing the course, I have been able to advance my career and have had several opportunities to work as a Guidance teacher. Without the fund, I never would have been able to afford this course. I will be forever grateful for the doors the trust has unlocked for me.”
Teacher- Aberdeenshire
“I have benefitted greatly from a number of grants from the Dick Bequest during my teaching career. The courses have helped me develop my teaching skills and knowledge and my pupils’ learning experiences have certainly improved. I have had the opportunity to study foreign languages, Open University psychology and education CPD units and even a practical PE course. The Dick Bequest allows you to pursue your own professional interests when it is the right time for you. The application process is straightforward and the Administrator, Susan, is always on hand to answer any queries.”
Aberdeenshire Primary Teacher
” I am greatful for funding from the Trust to complete training in Outdoor Learning. This has allowed me to develop my confidence and ability to teach in Outdoor Settings. Outdoor Learning helps children to learn to risk take, aid wellbeing and build skills for life. Thankyou to the Trust for giving me this opportunity to enrich learning experiences for the children I teach”.
Teacher – Morayshire
“I completed a distance-learning Postgraduate Diploma over several years using grants from the Bequest to help me with the module fees for several units. This helped me to develop leader skills in an educational context and helped me support pupils and colleagues in management posts.”
From a teacher within the area of benefit
“My sincere and heartfelt thanks go to the Trustees of the Dick Bequest for their significant funding award supporting my Doctorate in Education. Their invaluable contribution directly facilitates my investigation into innovative educational environments – namely Agile Learning Spaces and Smart Classrooms – exploring their application and benefits for schools here in Aberdeenshire. I am hopeful this research will contribute positively to the educational landscape the Bequest has long supported.”
Teacher – Aberdeenshire
“I’m hugely appreciative of Dick Bequest Trust Fund who have unwaveringly supported me throughout my studies which are now into a fifth academic year due to many delays and the Covid pandemic.
As an Honours Graduate working in a Leadership role within Education, their financial support has proved invaluable and has even covered me in travelling to and from Aberdeen for study weekends from a very rural area.
Due to having acquired funding for my initial Honours Degree, plus a further Post Graduate qualification; I would not have been eligible to access other funding streams.
Education is a highly challenging environment to work in at the moment, with many disenchanted professionals; however study and retraining give us the opportunity to find a new lease of life in our careers. We can actually use the skills we acquired as teachers and managers to progress into other professional avenues with the right support.
I can only thank the trustees for their ongoing support and encourage other teachers to take up this fantastic opportunity.”
Teacher – Morayshire