Nick Ottmann Bursary

Nick Ottmann Bursary

Nick was a member of the St Lawrence Chobham Handbell Ringers for 15 years; he loved playing bells, and was keen to improve his skills, taking opportunities to play whenever he could. In addition to local rallies, and although he found long distance travel difficult, he attended several national rallies even when the whole Chobham team was unable to attend.

When he died in the Spring of 2023, Nick’s bequest to the society was used to set up a bursary fund to be used to support ringers with any form of ‘additional needs’ to attend any HRGB national event or international symposium. 

The fund is open to all applicants over the age of 18; successful applicants to be ineligible to reapply for 5 years.  Applications will be considered for attendance at any HRGB National event, International event or HRGB organised residential event. 

Applications to be made in writing to HRGB National Secretary (hsocello1@gmail.com) detailing the event to be attended, the additional needs experienced by the applicant and the area for which the financial support will be used. Awards will be made to cover the costs of event attendance up to a maximum of £200. 

Applications will be assessed and decisions made by a standing committee of the four HRGB officers and one SE Region NEC representative.

Applicants will need to demonstrate some form of additional needs that make attendance at an event more challenging than for the average HRGB member and that attendance may not be possible without additional financial outlay or support; for example:

• Physical disability 
• Medical infirmity – potentially but not exclusively age related 
• Learning needs – that would require additional support if at school 
• Emotional/wellbeing issues 

The intention is to make these criteria as inclusive as possible. 

The financial support may be necessary for a variety of reasons e.g. 

• An individual’s personal circumstances mean that they do not have sufficient funds to attend 
• Additional costs have to be incurred to ensure accessibility 
• Additional transport costs are necessary to attend the event 
• There is a need for a chaperone/assistant to attend the event to support the ringer