Help for 16-19s

The Discretionary Bursary Fund is provided by the government to help those having the greatest difficulty meeting some of the costs of learning on a further education course.

We are currently waiting to hear what funds will be made available to us for the Sept2012-June 2013 academic year and hope that eligibility and guidance should be available from May 2012.

For those who may be needing help for the current year (2011-12) the following applies.

16-19 Bursary Fund

This new award, provided by the government to help support young people through education, has two elements:

1. Young people in care, care leavers, young people receiving income support and disabled young people receiving both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance are eligible to receive a guaranteed bursary of £1,200 a year (pro-rata for less than a year)
2. Discretionary awards to young people facing financial barriers to participation

If you are under 19 at the start of your course and are on benefits or have a household income of £16,190 or less (increased by £1,500 per dependant child), pick up a16-19 Bursary Application form from any Warwickshire College Student Services or email pshepherd@warkscol.ac.uk requesting this form.

Applications for essential costs, i.e. equipment, fees and transport are considered a priority and will be processed at or after enrolment. Bus pass applications will be processed before enrolment on a separate Bus Pass Bursary Application Form.  

We can help with:

• 75% of the cost of essential equipment and material fees
• 50% of the cost of a bus pass (paid termly)
• 75% for compulsory trip costs (to a maximum of £255)

General bursaries, for more than these essential costs, will be considered from October subject to available funds when essential costs have been spent.  Bursaries will be paid half-termly subject to attendance.

EMA recipients can apply for essential costs but will not receive a bursary.

You can apply for help with a bus pass now.  Other bursary applications will be dealt with at enrolment. Please bring the fully completed application form and relevant evidence of household income together with your enrolment form (from your tutor) and information about essential equipment costs (also from your tutor). You should bring at least 25% of the cost of the course and/or equipment with you to enrolment.

Download the 16-19 Bursary Guidelines

EMA

From September 2011 only the following students will receive EMA:

1. All students who first successfully applied for EMA in 2009/10 will continue to receive payments at the same level until the end of the 2011/12 academic year.
2. Young people in their second year of post-16 study who received the maximum weekly EMA payment of £30 will be eligible for £20 for each week they are in education or training until the end of the 2011/12 academic year.

This allows young people to claim the money even if they change institution or course. These payments will continue to be administered at a national level.