Financial Support

The 16-19 Bursary was implemented to remove any barriers that a young person may face when trying to access learning at post 16, therefore the Discretionary Bursary can be accessed for many different things. In summary, it is primarily used for the following:

  • Travel
  • Food
  • Books and Equipment
  • Stationery
  • Clothing
  • Trips which are a compulsory part of the course
  • Open Day visits

There are two types of bursary that can be accessed:

Building

VULNERABLE BURSARY

Young people in the defined vulnerable groups are eligible for a bursary of up to £1,200 a year.

The defined vulnerable groups are:

  • Young people in care or care leavers (EFA class ‘care leavers’ as young people aged 18-21 who have been looked after for more than 13 weeks or since the age of 14; or young people who cease to be looked after or accommodated, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children).
  • Young people claiming Income Support or Universal Credit (in their own name).
  • Young people getting both Disability Living Allowance (and the new Personal Independence Payments) and Employment Support Allowance (ESA) (in their own name).

DISCRETIONARY BURSARY

The fund is used to assist students who may be experiencing financial hardship to complete their course and it is only able to make contributions towards your costs incurred for attending college. It is cash-limited and priority will be given to certain groups (e.g. students who are economically disadvantaged).

  • Low priority – net household income between £25,000-£30,000 per year
  • Medium priority – net household income between £20,000-£24,999 per year
  • High priority – net household income below £19,999 per year

Students who should consider applying for a Discretionary Bursary may include:

  • Students whose parents/carers are currently claiming other means-tested benefits including Income Support, Working Tax Credit/ Child Tax Credit, Income Based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), who are not entitled to free school meals.
  • Students who are young carers and are not in receipt of a carers allowance
  • Students who do not fall under the categories listed above, but consider themselves to be in financial hardship.

To be eligible you must:

  • Be an enrolled student on a full-time course
  • Provide evidence of household income below £30,000
  • Be aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31st August 2022

The 16-19 bursary does not provide childcare funding, please refer to the Care to Learn website for under 20 childcare funding.

An application form is available from Reception, Dr Rhodes or Miss Alexis.