ACC Travel Award Scheme

 
The overall purpose of this scheme is to award sums of money for travel to conferences, meetings, etc. to assist members who would otherwise have difficulties in accessing sufficient funds. 

Senior and Junior members of the profession are eligible for awards, however, a specific aim within this scheme is to encourage Junior members to attend and present work at meetings abroad. Overseas members are also eligible to seek awards, with applications being considered on an individual basis.

A sum of up to £3000 per annum has been allocated. It is anticipated that approximately 10 awards will be made available each year. Awards will normally only be considered up to the value of £400, but in exceptional circumstances higher awards may be given. 

Normally, only awards of up to 50% of the cost of attending any conference, meeting, etc., will be considered. The total cost will be based on anticipated travel expenses, registration fees and essential accommodation and other charges, taking advantage of reduced fares where available. 

Awards will not normally be given to UK members to attend ACC organised events, BSHG organised events or events organised by other constituent groups of the BSHG, within the UK. Applications from UK members to attend other events within the UK will be given a low priority. 

Awards will be decided by the ACC Council based on the recommendations of an appointed panel of 3 ACC members.

The ACC will consider requests for funding which are also been considered by the parallel scheme administered by the BHSG. Such a parallel application and its outcome (if known) must be declared.

Awards will only be made to fully paid-up Ordinary, Associate or Overseas ACC members.

Retrospective awards will not be made.

The editors of the ACC Section of the BSHG Newsletter may ask successful applicants to produce a brief report of any conference/meeting attended. If requested, production of such a report will be a condition of the award.

The ACC Council will not enter into any correspondence regarding the reasons for individual failed applications.

The following priorities and considerations will be used by the panel to rank applications:

- Priority will be given to those submitting a spoken or poster presentation.
- The panel will consider the scientific merit of any proposed presentation and the appropriateness of the conference, meeting, etc.
- The panel will take previous awards to the applicant from ACC funds into account when deciding priorities.
- The distribution of awards between junior and senior members of the ACC will reflect the specific aim of encouraging junior members to present their work at foreign meetings.
- The panel will expect evidence of support from the applicant's Department/Institution. Preferably, this will include evidence of matching financial support or likely support, although the panel will respond sympathetically to meritorious applications where local funding is unavailable.
- The likelihood of funding from elsewhere.
- Where a parallel application has been made for BSHG support for the same event, the panel may discuss awards with that group to ensure appropriate priorities are set, including the option of part-funding from each source. 

There is no application form. Applications should consist of:

1. A brief covering letter, including the amount of support requested.
2. Details of Conference fees, likely travel costs and a summary of essential accommodation and other items.
3. A summary of any agreed financial support or likely support from elsewhere, including details of any applications submitted or yet to be submitted. If local funding has been unsuccessful or is not being sought, an appropriate statement should be included.
4. A brief CV, including details of grading of current post and an e-mail contact address.
5. Details of the meeting. Copies of the programme/announcement or a web-site address will suffice.
6. An abstract of the submitted spoken/poster presentation. If the abstract has not yet been submitted, a similar style one-page summary should be submitted.
7. A brief letter of support from the applicant's Head of Department/Institution. 

Applications (hard-copy or electronic) should be sent to:

John Wolstenholme,
Cytogenetics Department,
Institute of Human Genetics,
Central Parkway,
Newcastle Upon Tyne,
NE1 3BZ.

Tel:      Email: .nhs.uk

Applications must be received by the Monday two weeks prior to the ACC Council Meeting at which awards will be decided. Late applications will not be considered. The outcome of applications will be made known immediately following the Council Meeting. Details of successful applications will be published in the ACC Section of the BSHG Newsletter. The Section editors will contact successful applicants regarding production a short report of the conference/meeting, for inclusion in the Newsletter.

Expenses will be reimbursed, by the ACC Treasurer, as a single payment by cheque, following receipt of a completed ACC Claim form and relevant receipts. Photocopies of receipts are acceptable if the originals need to be sent elsewhere. Payment prior to the conference/meeting, can only be made if sufficient receipts are available for a single and final payment. Overseas members should note that payment can only be made in £sterling.