MS: Busting the Myths
Several scholarships are available to assist those with MS:
Mastering Mountains Scholarship
A grant created by the Mastering Mountains Charitable Trust and MSNZ with the aim of:
‘assisting people who have been diagnosed as having Multiple Sclerosis, to overcome a specific obstacle so that they can achieve a specific outdoor pursuit’.
With this scholarship, we hope to help people with MS pursue adventures that encourage a healthy lifestyle and change the perceptions of MS. The Mastering Mountains Charitable Trust was established in 2015, and exists to enrich the lives of people affected by MS, by helping them get outdoors. Getting outdoors has an incredible therapeutic quality. MS can hinder people from the fullest experience of this, and the Mastering Mountains Grant hopes to overcome this obstacle.
Applicants are required to state:
Application Deadlines: There are two funding rounds open each year
Application Form:
Application Guidelines: Mastering Mountains Grant Guidelines 2017
The Dorothy L Newman Scholarship assists people who have been diagnosed as having MS and as a result are unable to continue in their present employment, who need to change their employment and undergo a course of retraining in order to do so.
Applications are open solely to people with MS needing to retrain for paid employment.
Applicants will be required to explain in a statement in their application the reasons why they chose their course of study, how they intend to use their qualification on successful completion of their course and the likelihood of employment following the course.
Applications for the Dorothy Newman Scholarship are open 1 September and close 31st October annually.
Application Deadline: 31st October annually
Application Form:
Application Guidelines: Dorothy Newman Scholarship Guidelines 2017 PDF
Past Recipients: Dorothy L Newman Scholarships awarded 2015
Esme Tombleson was the co-founder of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of New Zealand in 1961 and from 1975 was President for many years. She was also founder and president for many years of the Gisborne branch and on the International Federation of the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s executive. In 1987 she received the rarely awarded gold medal for distinguished services to Multiple Sclerosis.
In honour of her work, the MS Society of NZ offers the Esme Tombleson Award annually to people in New Zealand for the ‘Person with MS of the Year’ and ‘Caregiver of the Year’, which are announced at the MS Society AGM. The nominations for this award are organised through the Regional Societies and co-ordinated through MSNZ every September.
Application Deadline: 30th September annually
Person with MS of the Year
Application Form:
Application Criteria: PwMS of the Year 2017 Criteria PDF
Application Deadline: 30th September annually
Past Recipients: Esme Tombleson Person with MS of the Year 2015
Carer of the Year
Application Form:
Application Deadline: PwMS of the Year 2017 Criteria PDF
Aspire is a low impact discovery course which is suitable for people ages 27+ with a mild physical impairment. Participants will experience activities like sailing, rock climbing, kayaking and high ropes, but Aspire is designed to exclude high impact activities such as running or carrying a heavy tramping pack. Past participants include people with arthritis, early onset multiple sclerosis, joint replacements, back injuries and amputations.
Participants need to be able to take part in a full day of activities with rest breaks, comfortably walk a minimum of 2kms over uneven terrain and get up and down 5 flights of stairs. You will also need to be able to sit without back support, for example in a kayak, and be comfortable in and around the water.
When you have lead a very active life and suddenly lose some of your physical strength it is a great loss of confidence, but the Aspire course gives you the tools to take charge of your life again and know that anything may be possible. Annette, Aspire alumna
Successful scholarship applicants will receive 80% funding towards their Aspire course fee. That means that you only pay $500 towards this experience of a lifetime. You are encouraged to fundraise towards the remaining course cost.
T&Cs
To apply visit the Outward Bound website
Activate is an opportunity to show yourself what you are truly capable of achieving. Break your preconceptions of your physical limitations and test your boundaries.
During your 8 day course you’ll build the confidence to challenge yourself, a philosophy you can then transfer into everyday life. Return home with the courage and determination to achieve whatever goals you set for yourself.
You’ll complete the course with a group of up to 11 peers who also have physical disabilities. You’ll be accompanied by 3 support workers throughout as well as 3 Outward Bound instructors to guide your adventure.
Who takes part in Activate?
Activate is an adapted course to enable those aged 18+ with a physical disability to experience the challenge and adventure of an Outward Bound course. Past participants have included those with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, arthritis and amputees.
“I have taken away a stronger belief in my abilities and greater determination to achieve in my chosen career.” Samuel Tate
Is funding support available?
Funding is available for Work and Income clients and through other possible channels.
Contact Outward Bound Activate 0800 688 927 for further information and assistance.