Giving is a huge part of the Comms Unplugged ethos – whether it’s your time, your cash, your expertise or your support. It’s one of the five steps to wellbeing that underpin everything we’re trying to do.
In 2019 we created the CU in the field scholarship scheme, crowd-sourcing funds to support people who may not otherwise be able to attend our rather different and special learning and wellbeing experience.
For the first time at Comms Unplugged 2025 in Scotland we have a fantastic scholarship sponsor supporting our event, and they’re funding up to three scholarship places. The fab folk at 3×1 are keen to make the unplugged experience as accessible as possible and they’ll be helping us go through the applications.
Comms Unplugged has always been a level playing field – everyone’s welcome whatever stage they’re at in their #comms career or their background. But we know that sometimes accessing the right learning opportunities – at the right price – can be a challenge. While Comms Unplugged is great value we recognise that some people may face barriers to joining us in the field – it might be about finances, lack of confidence, feeling out of the loop or other situations. So the scholarship gives support to comms professionals in one of these groups:
- Member of a protected group under the Equality Act 2010
- New comms professionals (in the first 2 years of their comms career)
- Returners to comms (maybe after a career break, maternity leave or other reason)
- Members of small teams (of 3 or under who have limited funding or chances to get to development)
- Comms professionals made redundant from a comms role in the last year
- Applicants from island or rural communities
Applying for a scholarship place
To apply for a scholarship place at Comms Unplugged please fill in our CU in the field form. You can apply for yourself or nominate someone else – you’ll need to get their permission if it’s someone else. Please give as much detail as you can to help us understand your circumstances, or those of the person nominated, and why you feel you/they would benefit from attending Comms Unplugged this year.
Terms and conditions for 2025
- We welcome applicants from members of a protected group, those with less than two years comms career experience, people recently returned from a six-month or more career break, those in a team of three people or fewer, anyone made redundant from a comms role in the last year or those from island or rural communities.
- In 2025 there are three scholarship places available.
- Applications for 2025 scholarship places are open now and will be assessed by the Comms Unplugged team and our sponsors 3×1. We’re looking for heart, enthusiasm and curiosity about being unplugged and the benefits it can bring.
- Applications close on 22 August and successful applicants will be notified by 26 August 2025.
- The #CUinthefield scholarship covers the ticket price and may also be able to contribute to other costs such as travel or equipment (eg sleeping bag) up to a value of £100.
- If you are nominating someone else please make sure you get their permission to do so.
- We will not publicise who has received a #CUinthefield Scholarship without their express permission. Receipt of the scholarship ticket is not conditional on this permission.
- Previous recipients of the #CUinthefield scholarship will not be eligible to apply again. Previous unsuccessful applicants will be eligible to apply.
- Places are not transferable to someone else and there will be a reserve list in case a successful applicant cannot take up their place. We will offer a reserve place no later than 3 weeks before the event. If the reserve place is offered to someone who has subsequently bought a ticket, the cost of the ticket cannot be refunded and the scholarship ticket will be offered to someone else or held over.
- We may ask you or the person you’ve nominated for additional information about the application if we feel it’s needed.
