Finance &
Funding

Key info on the bursaries
and loans available to students
Details of the bursaries and loans that are available to college students are below. These include: University Centre Bursary, 16-19 Bursary Fund, Adult 19+ Learner Support Fund (LSF), Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund, Percival Whitley Educational Trust Fund and College Meal Deal.

University Centre Bursary

The University Centre Bursary Scheme is worth £500 for new Level 4 students.

For more information about the Scheme please get in touch via email: [email protected]

16-19 Bursary Fund

Where learners aged 16-18 are experiencing financial difficulty meeting the costs associated with learning they may apply for financial support from the college. There are two funds available.

16 – 19 Weekly Bursary (Priority category)

This is a weekly paid Bursary of up to £1,200 per year including any course equipment to assist vulnerable learners. Young learners in the following groups may apply for a weekly bursary.

Young learners who are aged 16 to 18

  • in care
  • care leavers
  • receive Income Support or Universal Credit because they are financially supporting themselves (see evidence required on application form as 2 forms of proof now needed)
  • Receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence payments in their own right as well as Employment & Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right.

 The £1200 bursary will be divided into the number of weeks your course lasts & paid on a weekly basis (in arrears) as long as you adhere to college attendance & behavioural standards.

16 – 19 Enhanced Learner Support Fund (16 to 19 monthly paid Bursary)

This is discretionary support available to young learners facing genuine financial barriers to staying in education or training. Help is available with the costs of travel which is paid monthly, food credits on your college ID badge, and essential course costs which is a one off payment.

If you meet any of the following categories may apply for help from this fund:

Young learners who are:

  • Aged 16 to 18 years at the start of the course (a separate fund is available for adult learners aged 19+)
  • Enrolled on a course funded by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA).
  • Living in a household where the joint income is not above £28,000.
  • Must not be studying an apprenticeship.

Care to Learn

Young learners aged under 20 years old at the start of their course can apply for help with the costs of childcare; applying direct to care to learn.  Contact Learner Services for details. See www.gov.uk/care-to-learn

Application

Travel and equipment payments are made on a monthly basis on the last working day of the month starting in October, based on a satisfactory attendance of over 90%.

If you wish to apply for financial support you should: Check you meet the eligibility criteria Listed above or contact Learner Services for advice.

Complete the 16 to 19 Enhanced Learner Support Fund Form; please complete all sections as indicated to avoid any delay in processing this form. Please see the attached guidance notes to assist with completion of the form. If you are unable to print the form you can collect a copy from Learner Services

Please provide all the appropriate evidence as requested, stapled to the form. You may send photo copies. To apply for a bursary please download and complete the form below and submit it in person or by post to the Support Fund Administrator, Learner Services, Calderdale College, Francis Street, Halifax, HX1 3UZ.

16-19 Tuition Fund

The Education and Skills Funding Agency 16 -19 Tuition Fund is a fund that has been allocated to colleges for use in the 2021/22 academic year in addition to the main college funding. This funding is being provided to support small group tuition for 16 – 19 aged students in Vocational courses, English and maths where learning has been disrupted and skills gaps identified as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

 Students aged 16-19 who have yet to achieve a grade 4 or 5 in English and/or mathematics are eligible for support through the fund. Students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) – including those aged 19 – 24 who require additional tuition to help them catch up with their studies – will also be supported by this provision.

Calderdale College has designed a process to direct this funding where it will have the most impact by identifying student starting points and a clear of assessment of need.

Examples of support on offer will include:

  • Vocational skills building to address identified technical knowledge and skills gaps
  • Vocational academic skills building
  • Contextualised exam preparation

The College will timetable sessions in addition to the planned programme of study hours already timetabled for the academic year 2021/22. Sessions will comprise of no more than five students. The sessions will be delivered by Skills Coaches with the relevant skills and experience. Sessions may be delivered using a blend of online and in-college delivery and will all be subject to the College’s quality assurance processes.

Adult 19+ Learner Support Funds (LSF) 2020 - 2021

Discretionary learner support funding is made available to support adult learners aged 19+ with meeting some of the costs associate with learning.

Whilst all applications will be considered individually, support is not guaranteed.  Any award of funding is for 1st August 2020 to 31st July 2021 only.  If your course continues beyond this date, you will need to submit a new application for the following academic year, if you are still eligible to apply.

Information regarding the following funds is available from the Leaner Services Team:

Adult Education 19+ Learner Support Fund (Discretionary) – A fund provided by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) to help learners experiencing financial difficulties.

Advanced Learner Loans Bursary Fund – A fund provided by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) to help learners in receipt of a Learning Loan experiencing financial difficulties.

Percival Whitley Educational Trust Fund – A fund donated locally to support and enhance the academic and personal development of individual learners (you would apply using the LSF form) Apprentices may apply for support through this scheme only.

All funds are managed by Calderdale College.  The Learner Support Fund operates within the “Good Practice” guidelines recommended by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA).  The funds are managed and administered by Learner Services.

In order to satisfy the general eligibility for applying to the Learner Support Funds (LSF), learners must:

  • be at least 19 years old on the 31 August 2020
  • be enrolled on or intending to enrol on a course which is funded by the SFA.
  • have applied for an Advanced Learner Loan if you are aged 24+ studying Level 3 or above or aged 19-23 that has already achieved a full Level 3 qualification previously.
  • be a “home student”. (Please see Learner Services for a definition of this).
  • be in receipt of an eligible income-based benefit, or be dependent upon somebody who is.  Please see page 15  which details acceptable benefits & evidence
  • not be a paid apprentice. (You can apply for Percival Whitley Funds only)
  • not be in prison or in a young offender institution or who has been released on temporary license for example on day release

Application

If you wish to apply for financial support you should:

Check you meet the eligibility criteria listed above or contact Learner Services for advice.

Complete the 19+ Learner Support fund form, please complete all sections as indicated to avoid any delay in processing the form.

To apply for financial support please complete the 19+ LSF form.  If you are unable to print this application form please request one from Learner Services.

If you require any help with completing this form, or have any queries after reading the notes, please speak to a member of Learner Services telephone 01422 399367 or call into Learner Services on A Floor.

Provide all the appropriate evidence as requested, stapled to the form. You may send photo copies.

To apply for a bursary please download and complete the form below and submit it in person or by post to the Support Fund Administrator, Learner Services, Calderdale College, Francis Street, Halifax, HX1 3UZ.

Advanced Learning Loans

From September 2019 students aged 19 or over wanting to study eligible courses at Levels 3 to 6 can apply for a Advanced Learning Loan from Student Finance England, or self-finance their tuition fee.

The exception to this would be for those aged 19-23 before the start of the course who do not already hold a full level three qualification. In these circumstances the Skills Funding Agency will fund the first full Level 3 qualification. If you want to discuss this please speak with a Student Adviser when you enrol or call on 01422 399367

What is an Advanced Learning Loan?
A Tuition fee loan for students aged 19+ studying in Further Education at Level 3 or above that meet a certain criteria. The loan is provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC) and paid directly to Calderdale College. The loan is NOT means tested or dependent on credit checks. The loan application covers the duration of the course & covers the course fees only.

To be eligible, students must be:

  • A UK resident
  • Studying a Level 3 or above qualification that meets the loan criteria
  • Aged 19 or above on the first day of your course
  • Commencing your course on or after 1st August 2019

How do I apply for an Advanced Learning Loan?
You will need a course offer from Calderdale College, valid proof of identification and your Customer Reference Number. Once you have been offered a place on a course and accepted your offer, an information funding letter will be sent out to you with all the information, including any additional costs you need to pay to Calderdale College and how to apply. Applications can be made direct to the Student Loans Company.

Can I still get funding towards other costs?
The 19+ Learner Support fund will be available to eligible students receiving the Advanced Learning Loan for a percentage of travel, equipment, and childcare costs through this fund. In addition you can apply for other costs associated with your course if you are facing financial hardship.

Please note: Unlike the loan, the Adult Bursary Fund will be means-tested; please see the 19+ Learner Support Fund guidance notes for further details of the 2020-2021 for eligibility criteria & how to apply, or speak to a Student Adviser.

When do I need to repay the 19+ Advanced Learning Loan?
You will start making repayments the April following the completion of your course as long as you are earning at least £25,725 a year. Repayments will be a percentage of your salary, regardless of how much you owe. If you do not earn £25,725 a year you will not have to repay your loan until you do so. For full details around the interest and repayment terms and conditions please review on the www.gov.uk website; this information is also covered in your loan application.

Access to Higher Education (HE) Students
Access to HE students who take out an Advanced Learning Loan to cover tuition fees, and then go on to complete a Higher Education course on the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) approved course list will have the debt of the Advanced Learning Loan cleared by the Student Loans Company.

Where can I find out more?
Please contact a Student Adviser to discuss your circumstances if you have any queries regarding the Advanced Learning Loan, or if the course that you would like to study meets the loan eligibility requirements.

Opening Hours

Monday – Wednesday: 10am – 3:30pm

Thursday: 10am – 7pm

Friday: 10am – 3:30pm

Get in Touch

Please give us a call on 01422 399367 to discuss your query or email: [email protected]

For independent financial advice to help you make an informed decision please visit The Money Advice Service.

College Meal Deal

Free College Meals is a government initiative aimed at benefitting those students who are aged between 16 and 18 or are between 19 and 25 with learning difficulties or disabilities.

Students who don’t qualify for Free School Meals may be eligible may be eligible for the College Meal Deal.

What we provide…
The College Meal Deal, a healthy daily meal provided free of charge in the College cafeteria, part of the Francis Street Campus. There are a number of options available including; the choice of breakfast, lunch or a snack meal (when the shop is open). Vegetarian, Halal and Gluten-free options are available with special dietary needs catered for on request.

Eligible Students who study off campus will be provided with other options to ensure they have access to a meal similar to the College Meal Deal.  You will be informed of this once your application has been processed

Are you eligible?
Students over 18 or their parent/carer if under 18 must receive one of the following benefits:

  • Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based)
  • Income Support
  • Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) provided annual income, assessed by the Inland Revenue does not exceed £16,190
  • Employment Support Allowance (Income Related)
  • Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • During the initial roll out of the benefit, Universal Credit

How to apply

For further information or to apply for the College Meal Deal please contact the Advice & Guidance Team on 01422 399367 or come in and speak to an Advice & Guidance Advisor (Room A19, Calderdale College, Francis Street).

Did you know?

90% of students go on to employment or further study

OFSTED ‘Outstanding’

We were rated Outstanding for Young People and Adult Education!

Here’s what they said

“Teachers ensure that learners make good progress in developing their vocational skills and gain good levels of knowledge and understanding in practical subjects.”

Read more

“Learners gain confidence and improve the social interaction and communication skills that will support them well in their future lives.”

View our OFSTED report here.

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