Charities

A list of organisations that help with fees and funding.

Family Action

Family Action lists welfare and educational grants.

You will need to answer questions about your situation and the course that you want to study.

An automatic search will then match your responses to trusts.

If you need to apply in writing - your letter you should include:

details of the type of funding required
personal circumstances
relevant supporting evidence

The trust funds may ask you to complete their application form.

Scholarship-Search

Scholarship-Search is a search engine run by hotcourses for university scholarships, with some pre-university level available.
£250 million worth of funds is available every year.

To apply

Search their online database. You will need to answer questions about the course you want to study.

Educational Grants Directory

This publication has over 1,000 sources of funding for students in need.

To apply

Student Services have copies of the directory. You will need to call into Student Services, or make an appointment with an adviser, who can go through the process with you.

You will need to apply to organisations in writing, detailing funding required, personal circumstances, academic background and any relevant supporting evidence. The trust may ask you to complete their application form.

The Prince’s Trust

Grants from £50 to £500 to help you get into education, training or employment.

You can apply if:

you are aged 16-25, unemployed and need money and support to get a job or start in education and training
you are aged 14-25, in education, training, volunteering or unable to work and need money and support to get a job or education and training

Development awards cannot be used:

to pay for NVQ, level 4, HNC, HND, degree, postgraduate courses or equivalent
for a gap year
by a group or organisation

To apply

Applications can be made via Connexions or Student Services or online at The Prince's Trust website.

Completed applications are submitted to the Prince’s Trust board for consideration.

Lawrence Atwell’s Charity

Grants for young people, aged 16 to 26 from low income families, to help them get the job they want. Grants are offered towards:

vocational training below degree level
'first step' qualifications that help people to become qualified for work
the costs of finding a job (i.e. the costs of attending an interview or buying tools to get started)

Priority applications are from individuals with disabilities (including mental health issues), lone parents, people with no or few qualifications or with limited or no support from their families.