2013/2014
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2013/2014
When you are planning your Further or Higher Education course, it is important to consider how you will manage your finances. During the course of your studies there will be things that you will need to pay for, such as; travel costs, field trips, uniforms, art materials, hair & beauty kits or stationery. If you need to know the essential course costs relating to your course, please ask your tutor or a member of the Learner Services Finance Team.
This booklet aims to provide background information on some of the financial help you may be eligible for either from the Institute or other sources while you are studying.
Summary
Support Funds
16 - 19 Bursary
Discretionary Learner Support Fund for 19+ Adults
Principal’s Fund
Professional and Career Development Loans
24+ Advanced Learning Loans
Childcare
Other Childcare Funding
Other Sources of Funding
Welfare Benefits
Useful Websites for Money Management
Learner Services - Contacts
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Please note: Funding may be subject to Residency Conditions. The content of this guidance is subject to change without notice. The Grimsby Institute Group accepts no responsibility for changes to the funding criteria by funding agencies.
The information contained in this publication is correct at time of going to print July 2013.
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The 16 – 19 Bursary Fund is the scheme introduced by the Government to replace the Education Maintenance
Allowance. The fund is managed by the Grimsby Institute Group and aims to provide help to young people who face the greatest barriers to participating in education.
The Bursary is available to help disadvantaged learners with the essential costs of studying including:
• Travel
• Essential course equipment
• Meals whilst at college
The Grimsby Institute Group makes every effort to ensure that funds are awarded fairly, widely and to the students in most need. No guarantee can be given that funds will be available and funding limits may apply.
Learners who are in care/have recently left care and students in receipt of Income Support or Disability Living
Allowance/Personal Independent Payments and Employment and Support Allowance, or these elements of
Universal Credit in their own right, are entitled to a guaranteed bursary of £1200 per academic year. Funds are prioritised to students who are, or whose families are, on a low income or have a specific financial difficulty, particularly those in receipt of a means tested benefit or whose household income is below £18,00 net per year.
Evidence of your income is required with the application.
In order to apply for the Bursary Fund you must be:
• Aged between 16 and 19 years on 31st August 2013
• Be enrolled on a full-time course funded by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) or funded/co-funded by the
European Social Fund or publicly funded qualification up to Level 3.
For more information on the Institutes’ 16 – 19 bursary or for an application form, contact a member of the
Learner Services Finance Team.
The Discretionary Learner Support Fund is a government fund managed by the Grimsby Institute Group to provide help to students who are, or whose families are, on a low income or have a particular financial difficulty.
The dLSF is available to help disadvantaged learners with the essential costs of studying, including:
• Essential course equipment
• Tuition and examination fees (limits apply)
• Home to Institute travel
• Childcare (see 20+ Childcare)
• NOT general living expenses
The Institute makes every effort to ensure that the funds are awarded fairly, widely and to the students in most need. No guarantee can be given that funds will be available and funding limits may apply. Funds are prioritised to those students in receipt of a means tested benefit or whose household income is below £18,000 net per year.
Evidence of your income is required with the application.

In order to apply you must be:
• Aged over 19 on 31st August 2013
• Be enrolled on a full or part time course funded by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA)
• Have considered all other forms of funding before making an application to the dLSF
For more information on the 19+ discretionary Learner Support Fund and an application form, please contact a member of the Admissions & Finance Team or call into Learner Services. You can also download an application form from: www.grimsby.ac.uk/documents/19_plus_dLSF_application_form.pdf
The Principals’ Fund is a limited fund set aside by the Grimsby Institute Group to help to alleviate unexpected financial hardship for those students who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in severe difficulty during their studies. The fund is aimed particularly at those students whose financial circumstances are exceptional and those who need financial help to meet extra costs that cannot be met from other sources of support. The fund is limited, therefore the Institute cannot guarantee to meet every application.
For more information on the Principal’s Fund and for an application form, please contact a member of the
Admissions & Finance Team in Learner Services.
As the Professional and Career Development Loan is a commercial loan product, you should make sure you have investigated all the funding options that may be open to you to ensure that you make an informed decision about whether the loan is right for you.
For further information on financial assistance to support your learning, visit: www.direct.gov.uk/adultlearning or contact National Careers Service on 0800 100 900.
Our learning provider registration number is: 1703
NB: Professional & Career Development Loans are a personal loan between you and a bank - you are responsible for making re-payments. Before taking out any loan you should always check how much the monthly repayments will be and make sure that you are confident that you will be able to make them.
These loans are to help learners aged 24 or over studying a Level 3 or Level 4 course pay for their fees.
The loans are administered by Student Finance England and do not have to be repaid until you are earning more than £21,000 per annum.
For further information, please see our “24+ Advanced Learning Loans” booklet or visit www.grimsby.ac.uk/all
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The Institute has it’s own nursery provision onsite known as Little Stars Day Nursery. It is conveniently located at the
Nuns Corner Campus of the Grimsby Institute.
Established in 1986, Little Stars has been operating at the Grimsby Institute since 1991 and has recently moved to newly refurbished premises. Little Stars highly qualified staff offer childcare arrangements from ages 3 months to school age.
For more information on our award winning facilities and how to apply for a place drop in, visit the website:
www.gifhelittlestars.co.uk or call: 01472 315530
A comprehensive list of childcare providers in the local area and advice on how to choose your childcare is available from:
Lincolnshire
Family Information Service
Tel: 0800 195 1635 http://fsd.lincolnshire.gov.uk
North East Lincolnshire
Family Information Service
Tel: 0800 183 0317 www.nelincs.gov.uk
North Yorkshire - Scarborough
Families Information Service
Tel: 0845 601 1630 http://www.nyfamilies.info
Help with the cost of childcare for certain students is available. Please contact the Learner Services Finance Team for further information on the following funds:
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Care 2 Learn is a fund designed to help young parents (mothers and fathers) continue their education and to take part in learning by helping to pay the cost of childcare and related travel costs.
You can claim C2L if you are a parent who is:
• Under 20 years of age on the day your course begins
• Caring for your own child
• Living in England (residency conditions apply)
• Attending a course which is publicly funded
• The other parent is unable to provide childcare and is not claiming the childcare element of Tax Credit
You may be entitled to receive up to £160 per child per week towards the cost of OFSTED registered childcare whilst you are studying. Care 2 Learn does not affect your own benefits or your families’ benefits or allowances.
You do not have to be on benefits in order to claim it. Find out more about the Care 2 Learn scheme on www.gov.uk or call 0800 121 8989

The Learner Support Fund is a government fund managed by the Grimsby Institute Group to provide help to students who are, or whose families are, on a low income or have a particular financial difficulty.
The LSF 20+ Childcare is available to help disadvantaged learners with the costs of childcare whilst they are studying.
The Grimsby Institute Group makes every effort to ensure that funds are awarded fairly, widely and to the students in most need. No guarantee can be given that funds will be available and funding limits may apply. Funds are prioritised to those students in receipt of a means tested benefit or whose household income is below £18,000 net per year. Evidence is required with the application. Students are expected to make full use of any Nursery
Education Grant entitlement before calling on the fund (see page 9).
In order to apply you must be:
• Aged over 20 on 31st August 2013
• Be enrolled on a full or part-time course funded by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA)
• Have considered all other forms of funding before making an application to the LSF 20+
For further information on the institute LSF 20+ Childcare Learner Support Fund and an application form, please contact a member of the Learner Services Finance team or call into Learner Services.
This fund is designed to assist learners in Higher Education with the cost of childcare during their studies.
The fund will pay towards the cost of Childcare/Nursery Provision at OFSTED registered providers only.
You may be eligible if you are:
• Studying on a full-time Higher Education course
• Have children under the age of 15 (or 17 if they have special needs)
Applications can be made online as part of your Student Finance England Application. For more information on
Student Finance pick up our ‘Higher Education Funding Facts’ booklet or contact a member of the HE Admissions
Team on 0800 328 3631.
Useful website:
Student Finance, England www.gov.uk/student-finance
Please note that you cannot be in receipt of Working Tax Credit. HE Funding can affect your entitlement to receive some welfare benefits. Please clarify your position regarding benefits with your local Department for Work &
Pensions before enrolling on a course.
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The Nursery Education Grant is an entitlement for all 3 and 4 year olds in England to a free education place for up to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks. To access your free place, complete an application form at any registered childcare provider.
Jobcentre Plus customers may be able to receive assistance with childcare costs if childcare responsibilities are a barrier preventing them from entering work or training.
For more information on help with childcare costs visit www.direct.gov.uk or contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.

There are a number of charitable trusts who offer financial assistance to students to support their studies.
Different trusts operate in different areas. The ‘Family Action Educational Grants’ Search is a free online directory of over 1,200 educational grant-making charities. For more information visit www.family-action.org.uk
Here are just some of the funds that may be available to you:
Further Education Bursary Scheme (FEBS). The Army’s FE Bursary rewards successful applicants with £1000 after completion of each year you study (up to a maximum of 4 years), plus a bonus when you complete phase 1 training. To be eligible to apply you must:
• Be aged between 16 – 32
• Want to go into Further Education or already be on a full-time course, and
• Want to make a commitment to a minimum of 4 years in the Army at the end of your course
For more information on FEBS visit www.army.mod.uk or contact your local Army Careers Office.
Undergraduate Bursary is designed for students studying on an undergraduate degree programme who wish to follow a career in the Army after completion of their degree. The Bursary comprises £1000 per year of your degree with £3000 on completion of your training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
To be eligible to apply you must:
• Have a confirmed place or be studying for a recognised degree at a UK University or College of Higher
Education
• Meet medical and nationality/residency rules
• Have applied and passed the Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB) for selection as an Army Officer.
To find out more about Undergraduate Bursaries visit www.armyjobs.mod.uk
The Trust is a charity which supports young people with work, education and training.
For more information call 0113 236 8399 or visit www.princes-trust.org.uk
The Foundation aims to overcome social injustice by providing financial bursaries and support to disadvantaged students from the Further Education sector to support them to complete their Higher Education studies and successfully move into employment.
For further details and to apply for an Award contact 0207 729 4584 or visit www.hkf.org.uk
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Studying can affect your entitlement to receive some welfare benefits. Please clarify your position regarding benefits with your local Department for Work & Pensions before enrolling on a course.
If you require evidence that you are a full time student for the purposes of Council Tax, please contact the Student
Records department.
If you are a student and you have a job, you’ll have to pay Income Tax and National Insurance if you earn over a certain amount. However, full-time students who work during college and university holidays may only be exempt from paying Income Tax on their earnings through PAYE (you will still pay National Insurance if you earn more than the weekly threshold).
Ask your employer for a P38(S) form if:
• You’re a full-time student in the UK, only working in the holidays AND
• You’re returning to full-time education after the holiday AND
• Your total income for the year is below the personal allowance
You may be able to study full-time without losing Income Support if you are:
• Disabled
• Under 21 years old and ‘estranged’ from your parents or with no one acting in place of your parents and you started your course before you were 19
• The lone parent of a child under 5 years of age for whom you are responsible and who lives in the same household as you
• A refugee learning English (young learners only)
• At serious risk of abuse or violence (young learners/relevant course only)
You may be able to study whilst receiving Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) if you are studying part-time (as evidenced by your Learning Agreement). You must continue to pass all the basic rules for JSA including being available for work and actively looking for work. Should a suitable job be offered to you, you must be able to rearrange your study around your employment or leave your course.

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit is claimed from your local District or Town Council and may be available to you if you:
• Claim Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance
• Have a disability listed in the benefit criteria
• Are on a low income
Full-time students under 19 years old may be eligible if they are not on a Higher Education course.
Contact your local District/Town Council office for advice or visit www.direct.gov.uk
NB: Studying can affect your entitlement to receive some welfare benefits. Please clarify your position regarding benefits with your local Department for Work & Pensions before enrolling on a course.
Citizens Advice Bureau Online help from Citizens Advice www.adviceguide.org.uk
Student Cash Point A website designed to help students find the funding needed to cover the costs of going to college or university. www.studentcashpoint.co.uk
Student Calculator Student online budgeting tool. www.studentcalculator.org.uk
National Debt Helpline Free confidential advice on how to deal with debt problems.
www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
Money Advice Service – Online tools to help you manage your money www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk
Grimsby Institute/University Centre Grimsby
Nuns Corner, Grimsby,
NE Lincs, DN34 5BQ
Tel: 0800 315 002
Web: www.grimsby.ac.uk
Yorkshire Coast College
Lady Edith’s Drive, Scarborough North Yorks YO12 5RN
Tel: 0800 731 7410
Web: www.yorkshirecoastcollege.ac.uk
Lincolnshire Regional College
Heath Road, Skegness, PE25 3SY
Tel: 0800 389 0097
Web: www.lincsrc.co.uk
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0800 315 002 | www.grimsby.ac.uk | @gifhe | /GrimsbyInstitute