There are many ways that students can get help
financially, students can get help with travel costs, childcare costs
if they have children, maintenance allowances and help if you are studying
away from home at a specialised college. Here is some of the financial
help you may be entitled to claim:

Transport costs

If you are between the ages of 16 and 18 and are attending a further education
course at a Sixth Form School, Sixth Form College or a further education
institute then you may be entitled to help with travel costs. The amount
of help will depend on where you live and what is available in that area
and you can get more information from your local education authority.

Help for young parents

If you are under the age of 20 and you have a children then you might
be able to claim for help, the “care to learn” fund can help if you are
under the age of 20 and start a course of learning at college or work
as a trainee. You must be caring for your own child and fathers can claim
if they are the main carer. You can find more information by contacting
your local education authority.

Education maintenance allowance

If you are staying on in further education then you may be entitled to
claiming the education maintenance allowance, the allowance is available
for students to help with the cost of items such as books, travel and
equipment. If your claim is successful then you may be entitled to around
£30 per week to help with costs. Application forms for the education maintenance
allowance are usually available from your college, university or learning
provider.

The learner support fund

If you are 16 years and over then you may be entitled to the learner support
fund, things the support fund covers are books, equipment, visits or field
trips, emergencies which affect living and learning or personal costs.

The learner support fund is given on a priority basis and those who are
considered high priority are those students with disabilities, learning
difficulties and students who are over the age of 19 and who are going
to be losing benefits. More information can be found about the learner
support fund through your college’s student support office.

Studying away from home

If you are studying away at a college that is not within easy travelling
distance and you have to live away from home then you might be able to
claim funding to help you. Funding of this type is divided into two areas,
the first is specialist residential colleges and the second is a residential
pilot scheme.

The specialist residential college funding is available for those who
have to attend one of 51 specialist colleges which offer courses in agriculture,
horticulture or art and design. The residential pilot scheme is available
to those who need to attend specialist courses that are beyond their local
and affordable travel to work.

You might be entitled to receiving funds if there are no other similar
provisions available locally. You can find more information on either
of the two funds by contacting your student support officer at your college.