Malcolm Bradbury Trust: £7500 Bursary

Malcolm Bradbury – 1932-2000

Sir Malcolm Bradbury was a prolific author, television scriptwriter and critic, who combined his literary work with his career as an academic.

Born in Sheffield, the son of a railwayman, he graduated from Leicester and London Universities before embarking on a career as an academic. In 1970 he founded the University of East Anglia’s creative writing course, with Angus Wilson, which has produced talented writers such as Ian McEwan and Kazuo Ishiguro. He retired from teaching the course in 1995, to be succeeded by Andrew Motion, the former Poet Laureate.

The Bursary has three over-arching objectives:

• To provide a bursary for students from underrepresented backgrounds and living in a PE postcode at the time of application.
• For the bursary to attract local students to undertake HE study and help them with their living costs across three years of study.
• For bursary awarded students to carry out cultural work in the city to promote literature and reading.

In memory of the late author, screenwriter and academic, the Malcolm Bradbury Trust is a registered charity which seeks to advance and promote the literary arts through educational initiatives. The Trust aims to support and fund educational opportunities for new writers and creatives, meanwhile expanding the reach of their support to a diverse cohort of students and young people across the UK.

Peterborough has one of the poorest literacy rates in the UK, and our aim is to produce graduates who can return their skills and knowledge to the city and wider region through employment and cultural initiatives. More than 50% of children living in six Peterborough neighbourhoods are estimated as being in poverty according to 2021 government statistics. Education and aspiration are hugely important in tackling these social issues and bursary holders can act as advocates for learning and inspire others who have experienced similar journeys.

How can the Malcolm Bradbury Trust Bursary support you?

The Malcolm Bradbury Trust Bursary will support your living costs and give you the time to develop and promote literacy activities in the city which in turn will provide valuable work experience, such as:

• Working with schools/colleges to offer reading and writing initiatives
• Annual events such as Peterborough Celebrates where the bursary holder will act as an ambassador for UCP and the Malcolm Bradbury Trust.
• Supporting the course leader in organising and promoting the UCP Literary Festival. The festival invites published authors onto campus for free public readings. (We have previously booked Michael Rosen, Sophie Hannah, George Szirtes, Preti Taneja, Andrew Cowan and others).

How to Apply for the Bursary

If you wish to apply for this bursary, please fill out the above contact form, and a team member will contact you. An application entails writing a 600-word account of how the Bursary will benefit yourself and Peterborough. The deadline for applications is 30th September.