New 16-19 Bursary Fund

16-19 Bursary Fund Homepage on the Young Persons Learning Agency website

From September 2011, young people who need some financial support to help them stay in education or training after 16 can apply to their school, college or training provider for the new 16-19 Bursary Fund. In order to be eligible to receive a bursary the young person must be aged under 19 on 31st August in the academic year in which they start their programme of study.

Those students most in need will be identified as:

• Priority Group One: students will receive a guaranteed bursary of up to £1200 a year. This includes young people in care, care leavers, young people receiving income support and disabled young people receiving both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance. Young people eligible for income support will include some teenage parents, and young people estranged from their families.
• Priority Group Two: students who have received Free School Meals (FSM) during year 11 - 2010/11 (based on FSM data Year 11 May census) will be eligible to claim for support from this fund. The amount awarded to this group is dependent on the number of students applying and the amount of funds available.

Payments to the above two groups will be paid on a weekly basis in arrears.

Other students facing financial difficulties may also be able to claim funding, to help towards the cost of equipment, kit and other course related costs. Two further groups of students have been identified based on household income:

• Priority Group Three: Household Income above £16,191 but below £20,817.
• Priority Group Four: Household Income above £20,818 but below £25,521.

Payments to all groups identified above are dependent on the student meeting the attendance and behaviour standards as per guidelines.

Other students who can demonstrate financial hardship may also be able to claim funding, to help towards the cost of equipment, kit and other course related costs.

If you already receive EMA then your payments will continue if you fall into one of the two groups below;

1. If you successfully applied for EMA in 2009/10 you'll continue to receive the same level of weekly payments while you study in 2011/12.
2. If you first applied successfully for the maximum EMA payment of £30 per week in 2010/11, you'll receive £20 a week while you study in 2011/12.

Returning students who qualify will be notified by post with regards to their EMA entitlement by CAPITA.

Please note students who received EMA at £30 in 2010/11 but would qualify in Priority One as above will be transferred to the new bursary scheme. You will need to provide proof as listed on the attached table.

If you require more information about the new bursary scheme please refer to the Young Persons Learning Agency website