Financial Supprt Terms and Cnditins and Guide fr Further Educatin Students at Brksby Meltn Cllege 2017/18 Student Services Brksby Meltn Cllege Asfrdby Rad Meltn Mwbray Leicestershire LE13 0HJ Jan Barstn 01664 850850 Ext 245 Penny Lapwrth 01664 850850 Ext 110
Cntents Intrductin 3 16-19 Guaranteed / Vulnerable Bursary 5 16-19 Discretinary Bursary 5 19+ Discretinary Bursary 6 16-19 Childcare 6 20+ Childcare 6 Residential Bursary 7 Advanced Learning Lan / Bursary 7 Imprtant Infrmatin 9 Frequently Asked Questins 10 Attendance 10 Appeals 10 Equal Opprtunities 11 Cnfidentiality 11 Data Prtectin Act 1998 11 Cntact us 12 P:/Learner Supprtfund/2017/18/frms&leaflets/A4 T&Call bursaries Page 2
Welcme t Brksby Meltn Cllege We are cmmitted t assisting students and ensuring that financial hardship is nt a barrier t stay in educatin, particularly supprting thse students wh are mst in need and ecnmically r scially disadvantaged. Staff in Student Services are here t help yu with infrmatin and advice abut financial supprt and the eligibility criteria fr varius packages. We hpe yu find this leaflet helpful. Please cntact us if yu need any additinal infrmatin, see page fr cntact details. Intrductin This guidance dcument prvides infrmatin n Financial Supprt packages funded by the gvernment. These supprt packages are administered by the Cllege t assist students wh are experiencing financial hardship, t participate and t remain in educatin, particularly thse wh are disadvantaged and in need, with curse-assciated csts such as travel and equipment. Please nte we are unable t supprt students with living csts. 1. 16-19 Vulnerable Bursary 2. 16-19 Discretinary Bursary 3. 16-20 Childcare - Care t Learner 4. 19+ Discretinary Learner Supprt including 20+ Childcare and students that have accessed the Advanced Learner Lan 5. 16 18 Residential Bursary P:/Learner Supprtfund/2017/18/frms&leaflets/A4 T&Call bursaries Page 3
SUPPORT AVAILABLE Eligibility fr supprt is means tested and available t students where the husehld incme (including benefits) is 25,000 r less. Sme 16-18 year lds may be entitled t a Vulnerable Student Bursary f 1,200. (Residential Bursaries are means tested and are available t thse with a husehld incme f less than 30,000). Supprt is usually given in the frm f a lan and will be cnverted t a grant n cmpletin f a curse. This financial supprt is twards specific and actual csts invlved in cming t Cllege, such as: Travel t and frm cllege Students travelling mre than 3 miles frm hme t cllege, are eligible fr transprt supprt fr the mst cst effective jurney. Equipment csts On sme curses students are required t purchase equipment. Eligible students will receive a cntributin twards their csts. Childcare Students aged 16 19 as at 31 st August 2017 can apply fr Care t Learn fr childcare csts. Students aged 20 and ver n the 31 st August 2017 can apply fr childcare csts thrugh the bursary fund. Lunch An allwance may be available t students aged 16-18 whse husehld incme, which includes benefits is belw 16,190 per year. Residential Funds are available fr students aged 16 18 whse husehld incme, which includes benefits, is belw 30,994 per year. Supprt is subject t students meeting the cllege s expected attendance levels and prgressin n their curse. Travel passes will be cancelled and any equipment prvided may need t be returned. P:/Learner Supprtfund/2017/18/frms&leaflets/A4 T&Call bursaries Page 4
16 19 Vulnerable Student Bursary (VSB) Vulnerable students aged 16-18 will be eligible t receive a Vulnerable Student Bursary f 1,200. The Vulnerable Learners Bursary, it is nt incme assessed and guarantees a bursary f up t 1,200 per academic year. Wh is eligible t apply fr 16-18 Vulnerable Bursary? Yu must be aged between 16 and 18 n 31st August 2017 Yu must be enrlled n an ESFA funded prgramme Yu must fall int ne f the fllwing criteria: 1. Smene wh is in care 2. Care leaver (smene wh has been in care but isn t any lnger) 3. Be claiming Incme Supprt/Universal Credit in yur wn right 4. Be in receipt f bth Emplyment Supprt Allwance (r Universal Credit) and Disability Living Allwance. The 1,200 supprt package will be tailred t meet the needs f the individual student and may invlve help with transprt, kit and ther csts. 16-19 Discretinary Bursary This fund is t assist thse wh face genuine financial barriers t staying n in educatin and will help with csts such as equipment, transprt and lunch allwance. Wh is eligible t apply fr the 16 19 Discretinary Bursary? Yu must be aged between 16 and 18 n 31 August 2017 Yu must be n enrlled n a full-time r part-time ESFA funded prgramme Have been rdinarily resident in the UK, EU r EEA cntinuusly fr the last three years befre the start f the learning prgramme Have hme student status r have been granted full refugee r asylum seeker status Have a husehld incme, including benefits f less than 25,000. P:/Learner Supprtfund/2017/18/frms&leaflets/A4 T&Call bursaries Page 5
19+ Discretinary Bursary This fund is t assist thse wh face genuine financial barriers t staying n in educatin and will help with csts such as equipment, transprt and childcare. Wh is eligible t apply fr the 19+ Discretinary Yu must be aged 19+ n 31 st August 2017 Yu must be n enrlled n a full-time r part-time ESFA funded prgramme Have been rdinarily resident in the UK, EU r EEA cntinuusly fr the last three years befre the start f the learning prgramme Have a husehld incme, including benefits f less than 25,000 befre tax. Childcare 16 19 Years CARE TO LEARN - Students aged between 16 and 19 as at 31 st August 2017 studying n a curse that is EFA funded can apply fr childcare csts thrugh Care t Learn. Applicatins can be cmpleted nline at www.direct.gv.uk/care-t-learn/hw-t-claim, Student Services staff are happy t assist with applicatins. Childcare 20 Years + Students aged 20 and ver n the 31 st August 2017 can apply fr childcare csts thrugh the 19+ Bursary Fund if they are nt eligible fr Care t Learn. The fund award may nt cver 100% f yur childcare csts. Awards are paid int the student s bank accunt; students will then have the respnsibility f paying the childcare prvider. Please nte that BMC pay mnthly awards in arrears, but yu may be expected t pay yur prvider in advance. Assistance with childcare is available fr the time spent in timetabled classes at cllege. Supprt may als be available t assist with childcare prvider retainer fees charged fr half terms, Christmas and Easter breaks. Yu must cmplete and submit the separate Applicatin fr Assistance with Childcare Csts 2017/18 tgether with yur bursary applicatin frm. P:/Learner Supprtfund/2017/18/frms&leaflets/A4 T&Call bursaries Page 6
Residential Bursary Fund The Residential Bursary Fund is designed t help students aged 16 18 (as at 31 st August 2017), frm a lw incme family meet accmmdatin csts incurred as a result f studying at Brksby Meltn Cllege. Wh is eligible t apply fr the Residential Bursary? T be eligible yu must: Be an enrlled student n a full-time r part-time gvernment funded curse Be aged 16-18 n 31 st August 2017 Have hme student status r have been granted full refugee r asylum seeker status Have been rdinarily resident in the UK, EU r EEA cntinuusly fr the last three years befre the start f the learning prgramme The award is based n an incme-assessment which uses the fllwing threshlds: Up t 21,000 - maximum award 3,458 21,000-25,704 - maximum award 2,305 25,705-30,993 - maximum award 1,152 30,995 and ver - nil Be studying yur first full level 2 r first full level 3 Attend a study prgramme utside f reasnable daily travelling distance frm the educatin prvider (BMC) because the level 2 r level 3 qualificatin that is part f their study prgramme is nt available lcally t their hme address. Yu may nt receive funding if: Yu have utstanding debts t the cllege Yur husehld incme which includes benefits is abve 30,994.00 per year befre tax Yur daily return jurney takes tw hurs r less n public transprt Yu live a distance f under 15 miles away frm the educatinal prvider Yu have already received financial assistance thrugh alternative funds eg New Deal, charitable trusts etc. Advanced Learner LOAN Lans are available t pay tuitin fees fr thse wh wish t return t educatin. These lans help t pay the fees charged by clleges and training rganisatin. Mst learners aged 19 and ver, studying at Level 3 and Level 4, will qualify fr these lans frm the UK gvernment, it s easy t apply, yur husehld incme isn t taken int accunt and there s n credit check. Yu wn t have t pay anything back until yur incme is ver 21,000 a year. Wh is eligible fr an Advanced Learning Lan? T be eligible fr ne f these lans yu must: be aged 19 r ver at the start f yur curse (there is n upper age limit). P:/Learner Supprtfund/2017/18/frms&leaflets/A4 T&Call bursaries Page 7
be undertaking an eligible curse at an apprved cllege r training rganisatin in England. See belw fr mre details n which type f curses are eligible. Yur cllege r training rganisatin will be able t cnfirm exactly which curses are eligible and if they re an apprved rganisatin. be living in the UK n the first day f yur curse have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands r the Isle f Man fr 3 years immediately befre starting yur curse. be a UK natinal r have settled status (this means there s n restrictins n hw lng yu can stay). Yu may als be eligible if yu: are an EU natinal r a family member f ne are a refugee have humanitarian prtectin (as a result f a failed applicatin fr asylum) are a migrant wrker are the child f a Swiss natinal are the child f a Turkish wrker. Des getting a lan depend n my incme r credit histry? N. Getting a lan desn t depend n yur incme and credit checks aren t carried ut. Repayments are based n yur incme and wn t begin until yur incme is ver 404 a week, 1,750 a mnth r 21,000 a year. Hw d I apply fr a lan? Once yu ve identified the qualificatin yu d like t study yu shuld cntact the cllege r training rganisatin wh can prvide it. That cllege r training rganisatin will cnfirm whether there are places available n the curse and give yu a Learning and Funding Infrmatin Letter. Yu ll need the infrmatin set ut in this letter t cmplete an applicatin and submit this t Student Finance England. Can I apply nline? Yes, applying nline fr yur Further Educatin Lan is quick and easy. Yu can register and apply nline nw at gv.uk/advancedlearninglans Students wh have applied and had an Advanced Learner Lan apprved can apply t the 19+ Discretinary Bursary fund fr financial supprt. This fund is t assist thse wh face genuine financial barriers t staying n in educatin and will help with csts such as equipment, transprt and childcare. P:/Learner Supprtfund/2017/18/frms&leaflets/A4 T&Call bursaries Page 8
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING BURSARY APPLICATIONS APPLICATIONS Schls, Clleges and Training Prviders have funding frm the Gvernment, t assist students with curse related csts, these funds are restricted. Students wh may be eligible fr supprt are nt autmatically entitled t it. Funds are aimed at thse mst in need f financial assistance. Funds are limited yu shuld apply as sn as pssible. Funds are nly available t assist with csts relating t yur curse r attendance at cllege. There is a maximum amunt f mney available per student, which we are unable t exceed. Due t the limited funds available, travel and curse equipment csts will be given pririty. Yu must supply all necessary evidence with yur applicatin. Yur evidence must be phtcpied, we d nt accept riginals. Yur applicatin will nt be assessed withut it. Failure t submit the crrect evidence will delay yur applicatin being prcessed. Fully cmpleted frms with all supprting evidence attached will be prcessed within 28 days f receipt, but in peak times (Autumn Term) this may take lnger. Yu may be cntacted t discuss yur particular needs. If yu enrl n yur curse and yur applicatin fr financial assistance is unsuccessful yu will be respnsible fr paying fr these csts yurself. If yu are successful and then withdraw r are withdrawn frm yur curse(s) yu will be required t re-pay all r sme f the funds awarded t yu. Yur attendance is mnitred and bursary payments will reflect absences accrdingly. All awards are based n yur attending 100% f yur classes (including additinal Learning supprt and Tutrials) and cmpleting yur curse. Attendance checks will be carried ut thrughut the year. BMC reserves the right t withdraw bursary funding at any time and will nt be held respnsible fr any utstanding csts. Funding is available per academic year. If yu are n a tw year curse yu will need t make a new applicatin each year. Yu must infrm Student Services in writing, f any change t yur persnal r family circumstances. Yu may be cmmitting a criminal ffence if yu fail t disclse any infrmatin that may affect yur applicatin. Successful Applicatins Once yur applicatin has been assessed and yur applicatin is successful, yu will receive an award ntificatin letter which will indicate hw yur award will be paid. Wherever pssible, payments are made via the BACS banking system. P:/Learner Supprtfund/2017/18/frms&leaflets/A4 T&Call bursaries Page 9
Unsuccessful Applicatins N guarantee can be given that yu will be successful in yur applicatin fr financial assistance. If yu are unsuccessful, yu will be ntified in writing. If yur applicatin is unsuccessful yu will then be respnsible fr all the csts assciated with yur chsen curse(s). When can I apply fr financial supprt? Applicatins can be submitted as sn as ALL relevant evidence required (as indicated n the applicatin frm) can be prvided. Is there a deadline? There is n deadline fr submitting an applicatin frm, hwever we recmmend submitting yur fully cmpleted applicatin with ALL evidence as sn as pssible as funds are limited. Hw d I apply? Cmplete and submit an applicatin frm with ALL PHOTOCOPIED EVIDENCE, returning it t: Meltn Campus Asfrdby Rad Meltn Mwbray LE13 0HJ What happens next? Applicatins submitted with ALL relevant infrmatin and evidence will be assessed. Yu will receive an award ntificatin letter which will indicate hw yur award will be paid. Hw and when will I receive my payment(s)? First bursary payments will be paid arund Octber half term. Attendance at Brksby Meltn Cllege is mnitred; awards may be adjusted t reflect nn- attendance. Yu have the right t appeal fr any f the fllwing reasns, if; Yur applicatin is unsuccessful Yur assistance is stpped r withdrawn due t pr attendance Yu believe yur applicatin has nt been assessed crrectly Yu d nt receive an award r yu are nt happy with the level f supprt allcated t yu. Yur appeal must be made in writing within 2 weeks frm the date f the decisin and sent t: Lrraine Cx Advice and Guidance Manager Brksby Meltn Cllege Brksby Meltn Mwbray LE14 2LJ All appeals will be reviewed within 10 wrking days f receiving the appeal letter frm yu. Yu will then be sent a decisin in writing within 5 wrking days f the appeal hearing. The decisin f the appeal hearing is final. P:/Learner Supprtfund/2017/18/frms&leaflets/A4 T&Call bursaries Page 10
The Bursary Fund Panel will: Take psitive actin t ensure that all full and part time hme students can apply fr financial supprt, thus widening participatin and prviding learning pprtunities fr underrepresented grups. Ensure that n applicant t the Bursary Fund receives less favurable treatment which cannt be justified in relatin t individual financial / persnal circumstances. Ensure that all Bursary Fund literature, marketing and publicity material are free frm steretypes, discriminatry assumptins, images and language. Mnitr and review the effectiveness f the supprt n a regular basis. Applicatins are nly seen by the staff invlved in the delivery f the Bursary. Frm time t time it may be necessary fr additinal supprting infrmatin t be sught frm ther Cllege staff in rder fr a decisin t be made. Brksby Meltn Cllege is a data cntrller in terms f the 1998 legislatin. Student Financial Supprt staff fllw Cllege Plicy in matters f Data Prtectin. The data requested n this frm and any ther supprting infrmatin is cvered under the ntificatin prvided by the Cllege under the Data Prtectin Act. Persnal Data will be used slely fr the purpses related t yur applicatin fr financial supprt. The data yu prvide will nt be passed t any ther third party withut yur prir cnsent, except where the Cllege is required t d s by law. Any frmal enquires cncerning the use f data nted here shuld be addressed t the Data Prtectin Officer. If yu have any queries with regard t the applicatin frm, please cntact Student Services:- Meltn Campus Penny Lapwrth Student Welfare Advisr Asfrdby Rad MELTON MOWBRAY LE13 0HJ 01664 855242 Brksby Campus Jan Barstn Student Welfare Advisr Brksby Meltn Mwbray LE14 2LJ 01664 855296 E-mail: StudentServicesStaff@Brksbymeltn.ac.uk Or Just pp int Student Services n either campus Disclaimer Whilst every effrt has been made t ensure that this leaflet is crrect at the time f print, due t circumstances beynd ur cntrl, funding eligibility, availability and criteria etc may change. Brksby Meltn Cllege will endeavur t ntify yu f any such changes wherever pssible. P:/Learner Supprtfund/2017/18/frms&leaflets/A4 T&Call bursaries Page 11