Bursaries
The Crime Writers’ Association offers a range of bursaries for both new and existing members, to help those whose financial circumstances might prevent them from joining the CWA, renewing their membership or attending events. The bursaries are kindly provided by our members and other contributors to provide full or partial funding towards membership, CWA conference attendance or CrimeFest attendance.
Some bursaries are targeted at helping authors from specific groups. They are all awarded in strict confidence to people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford the membership or activity. Our online listing shows when a bursary has been awarded, but not its recipient.
How to apply
To apply for one of the bursaries below please email, bursaries@thecwa.co.uk. Please tell us your name, which bursary you are applying for, how you meet any specified criteria for the bursary, and what receiving it would mean to you, including some indication of the financial difficulties from which you’re suffering. Applications are considered in strict confidence by a subcommittee, and never disclosed.
Bursaries available
| Bursary | Sponsoring | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LITERARY LEGACIES LTD BURSARY | One year’s UK individual Full print membership of the CWA. | |
| 2 | J.C. BRIGGS BURSARY | One year’s UK Full membership of the CWA, print or digital. | |
| 3 | KATE NASH LITERARY AGENCY BURSARY | One year’s UK Full membership of the CWA, print or digital. | |
| 4 | LINDA STRATMANN SENIOR MEMBERSHIP BURSARY | One year’s UK Full membership of the CWA, print or digital, for members aged 70 or over. | |
| 5 | ANTONY JOHNSTON UK MEMBERSHIP BURSARY FOR YOUNG WRITERS | One year’s UK individual Full print membership of the CWA, for an individual under the age of 35. | |
| 6 | LESLEY JONES (FICTION EDITOR) UK MEMBERSHIP BURSARY FOR NEW MEMBERS | One year’s UK Full membership of the CWA, print or digital, for an individual who has just published their first novel. | |
| 7 | THE PETER JAMES UK MEMBERSHIP BURSARY | One year’s UK individual Full print membership of the CWA. | |
| 8 | BOOKOUTURE FULL OVERSEAS MEMBERSHIP BURSARY | One year’s Full Overseas (rest of world) printed membership of the CWA. Bookouture would love to see applications from writers from under-represented groups. | |
| 9 | FIFTY-SOMETHING UK MEMBERSHIP BURSARY | One year’s UK Full membership of the CWA, print or digital, for a member aged 50-59. | |
| 10 | UK FULL DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP BURSARY | One year’s Full digital membership of the CWA. | |
| 11 | CRIMEFEST BURSARY | Attendance at CrimeFest for a CWA member – cost of registration, travel and hotel up to a maximum of £500 | |
| 12 | FICTION FEEDBACK (DEA PARKIN) MEMBERSHIP BURSARY | One year’s Full membership of the CWA for an eligible self-published author, print or digital UK and digital overseas. | |
| 13 | CRIMEFEST’S SPECSAVERS BURSARY | A Full Weekend Pass to CrimeFest, a panel appearance, and one night’s accommodation at the convention hotel for a CWA member. (Travel, meals and other expenses not included.) | |
| 14 | JARED CADE UK MEMBERSHIP BURSARY | One year’s digital membership for a Full member resident in the UK. | |
| 15 | JANE CORRY CRIMEFEST CONTRIBUTION BURSARY | £50 contribution to a weekend pass to CrimeFest for an existing member of the CWA. | |
| 16 | HUMPHREY HAWKSLEY FULL MEMBERSHIP BURSARY | One year’s UK Full membership of the CWA, printed or digital. | |
| 17 | RAKE OZENNA SERIES FULL MEMBERSHIP BURSARY | One year’s UK Full membership of the CWA, printed or digital. | |
| 18 | THE FV SMITH CHILDREN’S & YA CRIME & MYSTERY BURSARY | One year’s Full digital membership fee, for writers of children’s or YA (under 18) crime or mystery. | |
| 19 | THE SAPERE BOOKS UK MEMBERSHIP BURSARY | One year’s Full membership for eligible UK authors who are independently published. Sapere Books would love to see applications from writers from under-represented groups. |
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