BURSARY FUND / DISCRETIONARY LEARNER SUPPORT FUND / 24+ LOAN BURSARY GUIDANCE NOTES 2014-2015 Bursary Fund pages 2-4 (For Learners aged 16-18 on 31/08/14) Discretionary Learner Support Fund pages 5-7 (For Learners aged 19 and over on 31/08/14) 24+ Loans Bursary page 8 Page 1
BURSARY FUND (FOR LEARNERS AGED 16, 17 & 18 ON 31/8/14) You must: Am I eligible to apply to the Bursary Fund? 1. Satisfy the criteria set out in the EFA 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide for 2014-2015 (available via EFA website here) 2. Meet the income criteria as stated in these guidance notes. 3. Meet the residency criteria set out in the EFA funding guidance 2014-2015 4. Be enrolled on a course at SGS College and meet the attendance requirements stated on the award letter. Information on the 16-18 Bursary Fund The 16-18 Bursary Fund has two elements (A or B) detailed below: A. Young people in the defined vulnerable groups (see below) are eligible for a bursary of 1200 if their course lasts for 30 weeks or more or pro rata if under 30 weeks. The defined vulnerable groups are: Young people in care, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Young care leavers. Young people getting Income Support or the equivalent Universal Credit (UC) in their own right. Young people getting both Disability Living Allowance (or the new Personal Independence Payments) and Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit as a replacement for ESA in their own right. B. The bursary fund is a fund students can apply to for help towards course related costs such as books, material fees, travel, kits etc. If an application is made, funds are available and you meet the funding criteria then you will be sent an award letter showing details of your award. The table below gives details of awards available to students, dependant on household income, from the Bursary Fund. For students aged 16-18 years on 31/08/2014 Criteria for funding assistance from the Bursary Fund Bursary A (Vulnerable Young Person bursary) You would need to supply either a letter from the local authority confirming that you are in care/care leaver; a recent income support letter dated within three months of the enrolment date; or confirmation of being in receipt of DLA/PIP and ESA/UC Bursary B Parental/Guardian income of 22,000.00 or less, for tax year 2013-2014, or at the point you enrol your parent(s) / guardian(s) are in receipt of either Job seekers, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council tax redemption, ESA, Universal Credits Income Funding Bursary A Bursary B Income 22,000 or less or in receipt of a Means Tested Benefit (MTB) and living outside a 2 mile radius on a full time course. Income 22,000 or less or in receipt of a MTB and living inside a 2 mile radius on a full time course. Income 22,000 or less or in receipt of a MTB and living outside a 2 mile radius on a part time course. Income 22,000 or less or in receipt of a MTB and living inside a 2 mile radius on a part time course *proportional based on length of course Page 2 1200 bursary award Material fees paid & bursary award. 1200 bursary award Material fees paid & bursary award Pro rata* of 1200 bursary Pro rata* of 1200 bursary Material fees paid & bursary award Material fees paid & bursary award
Page 3 How can I apply? Application forms are available from Learner Services (Filton Campus and Stroud Campus). You can call Learner Services on 0117 9092382 for Bristol Campuses or 01453 761185 for Stroud Campus and a form will be sent to you. You can email welfare@sgscol.ac.uk for Bristol Campuses or learnerservicesstroud@sgscol.ac.uk for Stroud Campus (including your name and address). What funding can I apply for? During your course at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College there may be costs that you incur whilst you attend. These can include material fees, travel costs, books, trips, kits and uniforms. The following is a guide of possible funding or other options available. Material Fees, Kits & Uniforms, DBS, Course related trips etc. These fees can vary, some courses do not have material fees. If your course has these fees you can apply to the Bursary Fund for financial help and, if you meet the criteria you will be sent an award letter notifying you of your award. Travel Discounted bus tickets may be available depending on which campus you are studying. Please check when you enrol about available options. Childcare Funding/Schemes If you are aged under 20 you can apply to Care to Learn. For more details please visit www.gov.uk. There are childcare schemes available through Working Tax Credits. Please contact your nearest office to check criteria for funding before your course begins. Residential Support Scheme (Accommodation funding) If you are moving to the area to enrol on a course you might be able to get help towards your accommodation costs (this does not include students living in Wales and Scotland). Please visit www.gov.uk/residential-support-scheme. Guidelines for completing the Bursary Fund application form Part 1 - Personal Details Complete section with details about yourself stating your age on the 31/08/14 and details about your status in the UK. If you are moving to the local area to attend your course then please enter your home address for us to return any documents and funding award notices. Part 2-1200 Bursary Please complete the three questions about the 1200 bursary as you might meet the criteria for this fund. For more details on the scheme please visit www.gov.uk and search for 1200 bursary. Definitions ESA (Employment Support Allowance), UC (Universal Credit), DLA (Disability Living Allowance) and PIP (Personnel Independence Payments). Part 3 Course details Details about the course/courses which you are applying for. If you are applying for full time GCSEs or A level programme please enter either GCSEs or A levels into Course title 1 section. In exceptional circumstances you can apply for help towards more than one set of material fees. Please speak to a member of the Welfare Team to discuss criteria and additional funding.
Part 4 - Qualifications achieved It is important that all previous qualifications are entered in this section. For example if you have 5 GCSEs between A* to C then enter 5 into the number achieved column and list the subjects you achieved these grades in. If you are awaiting GCSE results or if you have not achieved any previous qualifications please mark the relevant box. Part 5 - Household details Information on who you live with and their relationship to you. If you are studying away from home please include details of who you normally live with in home address in section 1. Part 6 Income details If you or your parent(s)/guardian(s) are in receipt of Means Tested Benefits (MTB) please indicate which benefit you receive and provide recent documentary evidence of one benefit as listed in Part 6. If you are not in receipt of a MTB please complete Income section and include copies of income for tax year 2013/2014 from your parent(s)/guardian(s) for whom you live with. Part 7 Bank details Details of the learner s bank account are required so any bursary awards are paid direct to the student where applicable. The Educational Funding Agency (EFA) in the funding guide state EFA would not expect the money to be paid into another person s account, except in exceptional circumstances where a student is unable to administer their own account. If the student is in one of the vulnerable groups and cannot manage their own funds, the institution will need to consider who is going to manage the bursary on the student s behalf. Part 8 New free college meal scheme The government is introducing for September 2014 free meals providing the criteria set out in the Further education free meals guide is met. The criteria can be found on page 4 of the EFA FSM Guidance. Please complete the tick boxes if you meet the criteria listed at the start of Part 8, and you will be notified if you are entitled to free college meals up to a value of 2.41 per day where you are timetabled to be in College. Part 9 Student declaration Please complete the student declaration and date section, otherwise the application will be returned. If incorrect information is supplied, or you do not complete your course then SGS College has the right to reclaim any funds or equipment you have been awarded. Part 10 Comments Please use this section if you would like to add any further information with your application. This is the end of the guidance notes for students aged 16-18 on 31/8/2014 Please return your application to one of the addresses on page 8. Page 4
DISCRETIONARY LEARNER SUPPORT FUND (FOR LEARNERS AGED 19 AND OVER ON 31/8/13) Am I eligible to apply to the DLSF? You must: 1. Satisfy the criteria set out in the SFA Funding Rules 2014 to 2015 (available via the SFA website here) 2. Meet the income criteria as stated in the table below from the DLSF guidance notes. 3. Meet the residency criteria set out in the SFA Funding Rules 2014-2015. 4. Be enrolled on a course at SGS College and meet the attendance required on the award letter. 5. Priority for funding will be given to learners studying at a level they have not achieved before i.e. first full level 2 qualification or showing progression. You are not eligible if you are: 1. Aged 24 or over and studying for a level 3 or 4 course as part of the 24+ loan scheme. 2. Qualified to Level 4 or above. In some cases exceptional circumstances can be applied and you would need to speak to the welfare team. 3. In prison or a young offender institution, or has been released on temporary license (RoTL), e.g. on day release. 4. Carrying out a higher education course, waged Apprenticeship or provision with learning aims that are identified as fully funded from other sources. For students aged 19 and over at the start of the academic year and meeting the funding guidelines. Criteria for funding assistance from the DLSF is 22,000.00 for tax year 2013-2014 or in receipt of certain Means Tested Benefits (MTB). TABLE 1 In receipt of certain MTB or income 22,000.00 or less for tax year 2013-2014 Income over 22,000.00 19+ Bursary award Yes No award TABLE 2 In receipt of certain MTB or income 22,000.00 or less for tax year 2013-2014 Income over 22,000.00 Course fees An award of up to 75% towards course fees (Tuition and exam fees) No award Page 5 How can I apply? Application forms are available from Learner Services (Filton Campus and Stroud Campus). You can call Learner Services on 0117 9092382 for Bristol Campuses or 01453 761185 for Stroud Campus and a form will be sent to you. You can email welfare@sgscol.ac.uk for Bristol Campuses or learnerservicesstroud@sgscol.ac.uk for Stroud Campus (including your name and address). What funding can I apply for? During your course at SGS College there may be costs that you incur while you attend. These can include material fees, travel costs, course fees, books, trips, kits & uniforms and course costs for materials. The following is a guide of possible funding for each cost and how you can apply or find out more details.
Course fees Course fees costs include tuition fees and exam fees. You may be entitled to a fee waiver if you meet the following criteria. If you are in receipt of Income Support, Council Tax benefit, Housing Benefit, Universal Credit or ESA (contribution based) and are out of work when you enroll on the course. If you are aged 19 to 23 on 31/8/14 and you are enrolling on your first full level 2 or 3 qualification. If you are in receipt of JSA or ESA in the work related activity group. An application to the DLSF can be made for help towards the tuition fee or the exam fee. Material Fees, Kits & Uniforms, DBS, some trips, books etc. These fees can vary, some courses do not have a fee charge. If your course has, you can apply to the Bursary Fund for financial help and, if meeting the criteria, you will be sent an award letter notifying you of your award. Travel Information about travel and bus/train discounted tickets can be found here. Childcare Childcare funding is limited and you will need to contact the Welfare Team in Learner Services to discuss possible funding and meeting the criteria. There is a separate funding application form to complete and once you have spoken to the Welfare Team an application form will be sent if meeting the criteria and funds available. Residential Support Scheme (Accommodation funding) If you are moving to the area to enrol on a course you might be able to get help towards your accommodation costs (this does not include students living in Wales and Scotland). Please speak to the accommodation officer based in Learner Services at the Filton Campus. Part 1 - Personal Details Page 6 Guidelines for completing the DLSF application form Complete section with details about yourself stating your age on the 31/08/14 and details about your status in the UK. If you are moving to the local area to attend your course then please enter your home address for us to return any documents and funding award notices. Part 2-1200 Bursary Please ignore this section if you are aged 19 and over on the 31/8/14 and go to part 3. Part 3 Course details Details about the course/courses which you are applying for. If you are applying for full time GCSEs or A level programme please enter either GCSEs or A levels into Course title 1 section. You can apply for help towards two sets of fees for example kits, uniforms or material fees and in exceptional circumstances additional funding may be available. Please speak to a member of the Welfare Team to discuss criteria and additional funding. Part 4 - Qualifications achieved It is important that all previous qualifications are entered in this section. For example if you have 5 GCSEs between A* to C then enter 5 into the number achieved column and list the subjects you achieved these grades in. If you are awaiting GCSE results or if you have not achieved any previous qualifications please mark the relevant box.
Part 5 - Household details Information on who you live with and their relationship to you. If you are studying away from home please include details of who you normally live with as address entered in home address in section 1. Part 6 Income details If you or your partner (living in the same household) are in receipt of Means Tested Benefits (MTB) please indicate which benefit you receive and provide recent documentary evidence of one benefit as listed in Part 6. If you are not in receipt of a MTB please complete Income section and include copies of your P60 for tax year 2013/2014 for you and your partner (if living in the same household). Part 7 Bank details Details of the student s bank account are required so any bursary awards are paid direct to the student where applicable. The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) advises that payments are made to the student and not a third party unless exceptional circumstances. Please speak to the welfare team about payments being made to a third party. Part 8 New free college meal scheme The government is introducing for September 2014 free meals providing the criteria set out in the Further education free meals guide is met. The criteria can be found on page 4 of the EFA FSM Guidance Please complete the tick boxes if you meet the criteria listed at the start of Part 8, and you will be notified if you are entitled to free college meals up to a value of 2.41 per day. Part 9 Student declaration Please complete the student declaration and date, otherwise the application will be returned. If incorrect information is supplied or you do not complete your course then SGS College has the right to reclaim any funds or equipment you have been awarded. Part 10 Comments Please use this section if you would like to add any further information with your application. This is the end of the guidance notes for students aged 19+ on 31/8/2014 Please return your application to one of the addresses listed on the next page. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 7
24+ LOANS (AGED 24 AND OVER ON A LEVEL 3 OR 4 COURSE) 24+ LOANS BURSARY (Students aged 24 or over on first day of their course and studying level 3 or higher) This is a new scheme to run alongside the 24 + loans for level 3 or 4 courses. Applications can be made by completing the funding form following the 19+ Discretionary Learner Support Fund guidelines starting on page 5 (funding awards will be different to those available through the DLS Fund). We will process the application using the income banding from page 5 of this guidance and notify students of the awards. Please note that funds are very limited and it is possible only small awards may be available and the 24+ Bursary is unable to pay any course/tuition fees. This is the end of the guidance notes for students applying for a 24+ loan on 31/8/2014 Please return your application to one of the addresses below. What happens to your application next? 1. Once the application is received at SGS College it is date marked and any original documents are returned. Applications are processed on a first come first serve basis. If you would like an acknowledgement of the application being received, please enclose an SAE. 2. If the application is complete it will be processed within 4 weeks and you will be notified of the outcome. On the funding award letter sent to you it will state funding awarded and what happens next. 3. If the application is incomplete, it will be returned with a request for the missing information. Please note, if you need to resubmit your application for this reason, it will be processed on the date the complete form is received. 4. If your application is declined, you will be notified of the reason. If you wish to make an appeal you can do so within 14 days of the decision, outlining your reasons for the appeal in writing to the Bursary Panel, via the Head of Learner Services at the address below. N.B All information regarding financial support was accurate at the time we published this brochure, however government changes to policy are ongoing and may result in changes. Please return your application when fully completed to: Bristol Campuses: - Welfare Team, Learner Services, SGS College, Filton Campus, Filton, Bristol. BS34 7AT. Stroud Campus: - Student Finance & Welfare Officer, SGS College, Stratford Road, Stroud, Gloucestershire. GL5 4AH. Page 8