Jane Wynne Willson is a humanist, writer, teacher and campaigner. In the course of her life and career she has been an active and prominent member of the humanist movement locally, nationally and internationally. Jane is a current patron of Humanists UK and has in past years served on its executive committee and sub-committees, becoming Chair of Humanists UK from 1989 to 1992. In addition, she has also served as both Chair and Vice-President of Humanists International. At a local level, Jane is a longstanding and active member of Birmingham Humanists, having served on its committee, and she previously helped found both the Bristol and Cheltenham local groups.

As a writer Jane has written prolifically on the subject of non-religious ceremonies, including mainstays of celebrancy literature such as Sharing the Future (1988), Funerals without God (1989) and New Arrivals (1991), published by Humanists UK. She was also a Director of the Rationalist Press Association.

In honour of Jane and her lifelong commitment to advancing humanism and developing humanist ceremonies, Birmingham Humanists have created the Jane Wynne Willson Celebrant Training Bursary to cover costs related to Humanist Ceremonies™ accredited training for becoming a wedding, funeral or naming celebrant. This bursary of £1,000 will be jointly funded by Birmingham Humanists and Humanists UK.

To apply, you need to have been accepted onto an accredited training course. Applicants should submit a statement of no more than 1000 words, under the title ‘Why I want to be a celebrant’, along with a completed application form and any appropriate supporting evidence. Your application should be sent by email to Birmingham Humanists at birminghamhumanists@googlemail.com.

This bursary is open to those in low socio-economic circumstances, residing in the West Midlands at the time of their application. We particularly welcome applicants who are representative of the diversity of the West Midlands region.

If no suitable applicants are found meeting the above criteria in a particular year, Birmingham Humanists and Humanists UK reserve the right to consider others outside these criteria for that year’s bursary.

You can download an application form from Bursary application form.

You’ll find guidance on making your application on the Bursary application guidance page.

The bursary will lapse if it is not taken up within two years of the award date.