Kusuma Trust Gibraltar Professional Development Awards

Training and development for good

Every year, we celebrate the strong community spirit in Gibraltar by awarding grants for professional development that will benefit the people who live and work in the country.

Our Professional Development Awards programme has been running since 2010. Grants of up to £5,000 pay for professional education and training for people who want to develop their expertise in their chosen field, but can’t receive support from their employer or the government.

  • We’ve awarded around £205,000 for professional development to more than 70 people working in Gibraltar since we launched the programme in 2010.
  • In 2022, our professional development grants included funding for: Management of Childhood Diabetes and Childhood Diabetes Care, PGCert Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties, HCPC Registration – Biomedical scientist, Certificate in Cancer Genetics,  Trauma and Mental Health Practitioner, Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice,  Clubhouse  training and best practice sharing in Norway, MSc Palliative Care, and MSc Leadership in Healthcare.  
  • In 2022, we awarded over £16,000 in professional development grants.

Supporting local people making a difference

Applicants must demonstrate that receiving an award would benefit Gibraltar’s local community and economy. Recent awards have funded people to train in art therapy, palliative care, and mental health first aid, and attend an international Alzheimer’s disease conference. “As well as giving grants to causes and organisations, we want to directly support people who are making a positive difference to society and helping enhance life in Gibraltar,” says Soma, Executive Trustee of Kusuma Trust. “Our colleagues at Kusuma Trust Gibraltar interview all shortlisted candidates, giving preference to medical courses, engineering, special needs education, social work and those people who intend to support the work of local charities.”

“Not only has the Kusuma Trust helped financially, but since completing the course I have been seconded to the Department of Education where I now coordinate career pathways for young students with special educational needs and disabilities.” 

Nicola Byrne who received a Kusuma Trust Gibraltar Professional Development Award

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