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Financial Help

Financial Help

If you’re thinking of continuing your education at Furness College, then getting your hands on some much-needed cash is going to be high on your list of priorities.

If you think you may not be able to afford to study, there are a number of ways you may be able to get help.

General advice is given below but the rules can change from year to year, so we recommend you follow the links provided below to access the most up-to-date information. Staff in Student Services are also able to discuss your individual circumstances and provide you with an application form.

New Student Bursary
The EMA is being replaced with the Student Bursary for new 16-18 year old students. This will be a weekly payment for students who have a low household income. To check if you are eligible for this bursary please ask at student services for an application form. This form will also explain what evidence will be needed as proof of household income. We would appreciate it if you could complete the form as soon as possible, however decisions on who will receive this bursary will not be made until September, at the commencement of the college term. If you are eligible your payments will be back dated to the week commencing 5th September 2011.

You can receive a student bursary if:

  • you are 16 years old and have left school, but are not 19 before the 1st September 2011,
  • your household income is at, or below, a set amount,
  • you are on a full time further education course at an FE college, school sixth form or
  • sixth form college.

Further information can be found on the designated website here.

Bus Passes
For 16 – 18 year olds
Unfortunately there are no more free bus passes for 16 – 18 year olds who live more than 3 miles from the college. Instead, the County Council will offer a reduced cost ticket of £350 for the year. This can be paid in three instalments, once each term. If you wish to apply for this you need to complete a County Council form which you should have received by post to your home address. You will need to bring this form into college to be stamped. This bus pass from the County Council will only be available on the Travellers Choice Buses which run early morning and at 4pm return, Monday to Friday term time only.

For student of any age
For any students who live in Dalton or Barrow and who will travel to college on the Route 6 bus, Stagecoach is offering a special concessionary ticket which can be purchased through the college. This will be available for any Route 6 bus, any day, including weekends and half term holidays. This ticket will be available to buy from college at £120 per term.

Adult Learning Grant (ALG) and new Adult Bursary
If you’re aged 19 or over and are continuing into the second year of a two year course, and received the Adult Learning Grant in 2010/11, then you will still receive this grant in 2011/12. If you qualify, you’ll get up to £30 a week during term time - that’s around £1,000 a year. How much you get depends on your income during the last financial year.

If you are 19 or over and are starting a new course at college then you can apply to the college for an Adult Bursary. This will be eligible to adults on very low income. To apply please ask student Services for an application form.

You can apply for this Adult Bursary if:

  • your course will lead to your first full Level 2 or first Level 3 qualification
  • you are studying full-time – at least 12 hours a week (equivalent to 450 hours of ‘guided learning’ a year, or 150 hours a term)
  • you are learning at a further education learning provider approved by the Skills Funding Agency Council
  • you are not claiming income-related benefits such as Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support (IS) or Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)

If you wish to apply for this bursary you can obtain an application form from Student Services at the college. This form will also explain what evidence will be needed as proof of household income. We would appreciate it if you could complete the form as soon as possible but we will not be able to give a final decision until September when we are in receipt of everyone’s application.

Further information can be found on the designated website here.

Learner Support Fund (LSF)
If you are having trouble meeting the costs of learning, the Learner Support Fund (LSF) may be able to help. You will need to provide details of your household income and the total household income must be approximately £16000 or less.

Who can apply for the LSF?

  • You must be aged 16 or over
  • You must be studying a full time or part time course at the college
  • You must attend at least 85% of the time, unless there are exceptional circumstances and you are making satisfactory progress

What will it pay for?

  • Financial hardship and emergencies
  • Something towards childcare costs (for Ofsted-registered childcare) where there is no entitlement to other government initiatives
  • Some travel costs
  • Some essential course-related equipment, books, materials and field trips
  • Some examination and registration fees

Contact Student Services for further advice and information

Care to Learn (C2L)
If you are a young parent and want to return to, or continue with, your learning C2L can cover the cost of your childcare and transport costs.

You can apply for C2L if you can answer yes to the following questions:

  • You will be under 20 years of age on the day your course starts
  • You are caring for your own child or children
  • You meet residency conditions
  • You are undertaking learning that receives some public funding
  • Your childcare provider is registered with Ofsted to ensure they meet certain safety and quality standards

Further information can be found on the designated website here.

or contact the Learner Support Helpline on 0800 121 8989

Benefits
If you are receiving benefits, you may be able to continue claiming while you study but you should check, prior to starting your learning with:
Jobcentre Plus www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
or your local Citizens Advice Centre www.adviceguide.org.uk

Apprenticeships
You will normally be paid a minimum of £93 per week – some companies do pay more.

University Education
There are different financial arrangements for university education. You can obtain an application pack from March onwards each year for entry to a course in the following September.

Please contact Student Services to find out more:
T: 01229 825017