If you have a son or daughter heading back to college, you’ll know the start of the academic year can be expensive.

Books, equipment and other expenses add up if students are to make the most of their studies.

Committed to supporting the next generation entering agriculture, Cornish Mutual is offering the chance to win £500 towards course costs.

The Cornish Mutual Young Farmer Bursary can be used to buy equipment such as PPE, a laptop or textbooks or fund training and qualifications needed for working on farm.

Four bursaries of £500 each will be awarded to students studying a level 1-3 agriculture-based course during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Students attending Bicton, Duchy, Kingston Maurward or Bridgwater and Taunton College, Cannington Campus are eligible.

“I’m keen to apply for the Cornish Mutual Young Farmer Bursary as I want to gain my sprayer certificate and telehandler certificate before I finish college.

"These will be really useful on my CV when applying for jobs, and winning the bursary would enable me to do this,” says a second year L3 Agriculture student studying at Cannington Campus.

To apply for the bursary, Cornish Mutual is asking students to demonstrate their passion for the industry by explaining why they want to be part British agriculture.

Entries can be submitted as a 500-word essay, a 20-image photo essay or a 2-minute video or podcast.

But applications close soon - on October 15, 2021. For more information and to apply, email futurefarming@cornishmutual.co.uk.