Matthew Bacon Bursary Applications
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The Matthew Bacon Bursary fund was set up in memory of Major Matthew Bacon, a former Surrey ACF cadet,
who was also an officer in the Intelligence Corps. Matthew was killed whilst on tour in Iraq in 2005.
Matthew was a keen participant in many types of adventurous training, which formed an important part of his life. His parents set up a bursary in their son’s name to celebrate his life. They chose the Outward Bound activity because they knew how much adventurous training developed Matthew during the time he was a cadet.
This short video covers:
Applications for the bursary are now open. Please download the Matthew Bacon Bursary Fund 2025 application form, calling letter and information pack below.
FAQs are answered at the bottom of this page.
All applications and questions should be directed to grants@acctuk.org
2025 Application Deadline: Monday 3rd of February
To enable army cadets to complete a 14-day Summit Adventure in order to build their confidence and develop their ability to take advantage of opportunities that life offers to them.
Cadets over the age of 15
a. With low self-confidence; or,
b. Who have not achieved their potential in the ACF; or,
c. Who tend to hold back engaging in cadet activities or other opportunities.
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Download the Matthew Bacon Bursary Fund 2025 application form, calling letter and information pack above.
Send your application and questions to grants@acctuk.org
2025 Application Deadline: Monday 3rd of February
There are 5 pages to the application. We suggest giving the first 3 pages to the cadet to complete. Send the 5th page to your Commandant to complete their citation, while you complete yours. Normally we don’t expect cadets to have seen the citations. However, this is entirely your choice. We do not show cadets the applications once we have received them.
We have funding for up to 5 places in 2025.
If there are more eligible applicants, the selection panel will review and discuss to decide if other places could be made available.
Note: you can submit multiple applications. Every application you send will be put to the selection panel for consideration.
The Outward Bound Trust (an independent organisation) have fully trained staff who will be responsible for the cadet’s care while at the summit centre. This care may extend to travel from (and back to) the main transport hub to the summit centre (see next FAQ).
Travel is mostly managed by the cadet’s individual county. Some choose to deliver the cadet door-to-door, others take them to the local bus or train station where they then travel independently to the main hub. At this point they will be met by uniformed Outward Bound staff, with a nominal roll. This staff member will take the cadet from the bus to the Summit centre and will be responsible for their care until they leave. This responsibility will again extend to the return journey to the transport hub if required.
Yes, if it meets the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award residential criteria. The cadet will need to check this with their DofE Assessor.
Yes, they can take part. Cadets who cannot swim will be supported, encouraged and of course supplied with the appropriate kit (e.g. personal flotation device), enabling them to enjoy any water activities included in the summit.
Our preference is to be able to share photos from the Summit, in order to encourage new applicants. However, we will not exclude any cadet on this basis. We simply need to be aware that the cadet has not given permission for their image to be used and will ensure their privacy is respected.
Annex C includes the itinerary for the Summit adventure. Download Annex C from this page, just under the video above.
We want cadets to make a good attempt at fundraising, in order to be a stakeholder in their adventure. Fundraising is a great way to gain confidence (a key aim of the Bursary). However, if the parents wish to make a donation, in addition to the cadet’s fundraising efforts, this is of course welcomed, but not necessary.
Fundraising is a key part of the process and helps the cadet to grow in confidence. However, we welcome county and corporate donations, in addition to fundraising (e.g. topping up the fundraising amount to reach the full contribution).