Start-up course

Anyone aged between 18-35 can apply. We also offer a small number of places for people 35 and over.  You don’t need any formal qualifications or experience. We are looking for a team of people with diverse backgrounds and skills who are motivated and are up for a challenge. Apply for the course because you want to learn from it, learn from each other and make your community a better place to be.

We welcome applications from everyone, regardless of their location. We have hosted Start-up students from many different places, even as far as California. The course lasts for 11 weeks, so you’ll need to arrange temporary accommodation in Frome or nearby.  While Edventure can assist in finding accommodation (often at a reduced rate), you’re responsible for arranging it privately.  You can speak to us about this at your interview.

Participating in Start-up offers a chance to immerse yourself in the course, your challenge, and Frome. There are many exciting and innovative community initiatives to discover – examples include the first Library of Things in the UK, the UK’s first community fridge, Green and Healthy Frome – an innovative partnership focused on community-led health and climate solutions – Sustainable Frome, The Independent Market, Independents for Frome who run our council, and many many more. Frome is renowned for the strength of its community action and will undoubtedly inspire you as to what’s possible in your career and where you live.  Take a look at what’s on.

You do not need to pay to participate in Start-up, however, Start-up is not free.  When you enroll you receive a bursary which covers the £1700 cost of your place.  This bursary is paid directly to Edventure. We also want to know that you are committed. Once you have received a conditional offer after the interview, your challenge will be to help raise funds and resources for the start-up you will be working on as a team of students. You can set your own target as to how much you think you are able to raise (dependent on circumstances, your support network etc). You will need to prepare a fundraising plan, which we will discuss at your interview.

There is a different start-up challenge for each Edventure course. Challenges always involve starting up or developing a community enterprise. Our aim is to grow the community and social enterprise sectors in Frome and Taunton and tackle local problems. Details of the upcoming challenges are shown above.

The aim of the application process is for you to see if Edventure is right for you and enable us to select a good team.  We recruit on a rolling basis, so the sooner you apply, the more likely you are to get a place. This is how it works:

1. Apply online: click here.
2. Attend an informal interview: On Zoom or in person or in Frome or Taunton
3. Receive a conditional offer: We will contact you within 2 weeks. If successful, you will be given an offer of a place, conditional on you taking part in the fundraising challenge and demonstrating that you have done your best to meet your target.
4. Confirm offer and start fundraising: Email us to accept your offer of a place. Complete your fundraising challenge before the course start date.

Our courses run for approximately 11 weeks from Mondays -Thursdays from 9.15 -2.45 pm. In addition, students need to be available for an additional 4 hours of work/study time a week and to attend the occasional evening or weekend event. For dates please check the upcoming courses section above.