Learner Support Fund

Financial Help For Students Aged 16 – 19

Further Education Courses 2016/17

If you are aged 16 – 18 on 31 August 2016, this information is for you.

If you are 19 or over on 31 August 2016, please request the separate information pack.

This information does not apply to apprentices, nor Higher Education students.

NB The college receives limited funds for bursaries (except for Vulnerable Student Bursaries), so once the funds are exhausted, there will be no further bursaries issued.

You are advised to apply for financial help by 3rd October2016, or 2 weeks after the start of your course if beginning later in the year.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a bursary, students must

have been ordinarily resident in the British Isles or European Union for the last three yearsor havetheir passport endorsed to show they have the right of abode in the UK/

have ‘settled status’ in the UK

be on a further education course at this college and

be aged 16 and under 19 on 31 August 2016[Where a young person turns 19 during their programme of study, they can continue to be supported until the end of the academic year in which they turn 19, or the end of the programme of study, whichever is sooner.]

INTRODUCTION

There are 6 kinds of financial support available to 16 – 19 year old students from September 2016 to June 2017. The first 5 listed are government funded.

1Vulnerable StudentBursary (for students aged 16 - 19fromdefined groups)

These bursaries are worth £1,200 per college year for students(pro rata if course less than 30 weeks per year).They are for16 – 19 year olds in care, care leavers, orstudents on income support (Universal Credit in future) in their own rightand alsofor disabled young people receiving both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance (Personal Independence Payments in future) at the same timein their own right.

Please see Section 1 below and ring 01305 215165 for the separate application form.

216 – 19 Bursary Fund 2016 – 16 (all students aged 16+ at college)

The 16–19 Bursary Fund is a government fund to help learners whose studies may be affected by financial hardship. It is available at Kingston Maurward to students on low household incomes, of up to £20,000 per year.See Section 2.4.1belowfor full detailsof income thresholds.

NBAt Kingston Maurward, there are no direct cash 16 – 19 Bursary payments. All bursary awards are in kind (eg college bus transport) and relate to the college course (see Section 2 below). 16 – 19 Bursaries cannot help you withyour general living expenses.

3 Free College Meals

See Section 3, below, for information, including the choice of documents you would need to photocopy and present to show you are eligible. [ESF students aged 16 – 19 are also entitled if they meet the eligibility criteria.]

4Residential Bursary Fund (College Accommodation)

College residential accommodation is an alternative to college transport for students who live too far away to commute into college. The cost is £104.50 per week for 33 weeks in 2016/17. All students pay a returnable £300 deposit against damage, notsupported through the bursary award. NB The cost for meals is charged separately from accommodation @ £35 per week (breakfast and one other meal per day, Monday to Friday) because food is not eligible for residential bursary support. For support with college free meals, see Section 3, below.

Please ring 01305 215165 for the separate application form.

5Childcare

There is a childcare scheme for students under 20 years. See

6 Other Financial Help: Trusts and Charities

We have a list of trusts and charities which you can contact to seek other sources of financial help in addition to the government funded options.

Please see further information in Section 5 below and the separate list (enclosed).

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FINANCIAL HELP (16 – 19 STUDENTS)

1 VULNERABLE STUDENT BURSARY– Policy Statement

Bursaries worth £1,200 areavailable(pro rata if course less than 30 weeks per year/ part-time) for 16 to 19 year olds, from September 2016 if they are in one of the following vulnerable groups

• Young people in Careor Care leavers
• Young people on income support (or Universal Credit)in their own right
• Disabled young people receiving both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance (or Personal independence Payments)at the same time, in their own right.

College policy is that we do not normally issue cash payments for vulnerable student bursariesuntil other essentials are already covered, so we start by offering course related assistance in kind. This is likely to include college bus transport or college residential accommodation/meals, plus essential kit and clothing for your course. We can also arrange for college meals and fund college trips.

Where cash payments are made, these will be direct to a bank account in the recipient’s own name and made approximately monthly, although calculated weekly. To receive the weekly payments, a student must have no unauthorised absences and maintain good conduct and progress. Please ring 01305 215165 for the separate application form.

216 – 19 BURSARY FUND2016/17 – Policy Statement

2.1Who can receivebursary support?

Bursaries are for studentsaged over 16on a college course where the net household income (after tax etc deductions, but including certain benefits – see application form) is £20,000 per annum or lower. If your combined net household incomeis above£20,000 per annum theBursary Panel will not be able to help.

If you are aged under19 on 31 August2016,and living in the family home or in a shared household you will be required to declare details of parental or other supporting household income.

2.2What is thebursary award for?

The award helps to cover costs incurred as a result of attending your course. For 16 – 19 year olds, these include:

• College bustravel (see 2.2.1 below)
• Kit andclothing essential for the course (see 2.2.3 below)

[See also Free Meals provision in Section 3and Child Care in Section 5]

2.2.1Collegeor service bus transport

Support for college transport = maximum 90% – see grid 2.4.1 below

Travel costswill be awardedas a subsidy towards total travel fees chargedeach term for the transport provided by the College.Applications for transport cost assistanceshould be submittedby 3rd October, if starting in September 2016, for the whole college year.Students starting a course later in the year should also apply within 2 weeks of the start date for their course. Students only need to apply for support towards transportonce ineach college year. Late applications may not be successful if funds are already exhausted, although some funds will be reserved for students whose courses start later in the college year.

Service bus costs will be refunded on the same basis(for eligible students), on presentation of tickets purchased(either weekly or monthly).

2.2.2Essential kitand clothing bursary

This bursary is available only to students with a net household income no higher than £12,000 per annum. Refunds are capped (see grid 2.4.2 below) and will be dependentupon production of your receipts and your course tutor’s report on your attendance and progress as at the autumn half term break. You need to buy the items yourself and will receive a refund later. Your course tutor provides a list of the essential kit/clothing, with guide prices, for your course.

2.2.3Exclusions

16 – 19 Bursarycannot supportexam fees; general clothing; college trips; meals; stationery.

2.2.4Hardship – Kingston Maurward Foundation (charity)

KMC Governors have a small charitable fund which can help students in severe need, normally already on 90% bursary award because of low income, with some college costs. Please contact Student Support. [We can also provide students with vouchers for Dorchester Food Bank.]

2.3What are the conditionsfor a 16 – 19 bursary award?

2.3.1Where the application form is incomplete or further information (eg photocopied evidence) is needed, a decision could be delayed. Please note: you are liable for all costs until and unless your bursary award is formally approved to you in writing.

2.3.2You will need to inform us of any changes in your financial circumstances which could affect the award.

2.3.3All receipts(photocopies recommended so that you keep the originals) will need to be produced before any refund, at latest by 1 November 2016, for students starting in September. Late applications for refundsmay be declined if funds are exhausted.

2.3.4All awards are dependent on you achieving and maintaining satisfactory attendance and progress in all your classes. Your coursemanager will be asked to approve your continuing bursary award in November and March.

2.3.5Bursary funds may be withdrawn, on the course manager’s advice, if disciplinary action is taken against the student.

2.3.6If false or incomplete information is submitted, or if applicants do not disclose any part of their income that is relevant, the matter may be referred to the Department for Education or the police. The student could face prosecution and KMC will seek to recover any payments the student is not eligible for.

2.4How much can I apply for?

Each application is assessed on its own merits in accordance with the eligibility guidelines above. The final decision will be at the discretion of the BursaryFund Panel. The amount that you receive also depends on your net household income, which includes any applicable benefits. The following threshold tables provide a guide tothe level of your bursary.

2.4.1 College Bus transport

2.4.2 Essential kit and clothing

This bursary is available to students whose net household income is no higher than £12,000 per annum. There is a cap on refunds for kit depending on student curriculum area, as follows:-

Your course tutor will give you a list of the essential kit/clothing, with guide prices, that is required for your course. Initial refunds will be made by December 2016.

3FREE MEALS

Foreligible students, a free meal will be provided by the college on each day (not weekends) the student is scheduled a college attendance (including off site trips, and also course work placement days in term timewithin the college year)

3.1 College check for Free Meals eligibility

To receive free meals, the studentmust be in receipt of, or have parents who are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:

• Income Support

• income-based Jobseekers Allowance

• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

• support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• the guarantee element of State Pension Credit

• Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs

• 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

If your application is refused, you will receive information about why it has been refused together with information on how you can appeal if you disagree.

4RESIDENTIAL BURSARY FUND (College Accommodation)

Please ring 01305 215165 for the separate application form.

5CHILDCARE

There is a childcare scheme for students under 20 years. See

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6 TRUSTS & CHARITIES

We have a separate list of trusts and charities which you can contact to seek other sources of financial help. Most information is available on the Dorset for You website, If you enter, on the front page screen, Trust Funds in the ‘enter keyword’ search box, you will find on the Trust Funds page some of the funds available, ie those administered by DCC.

The final entry in the list is the ‘2010 Other sources of financial help booklet’. Download this booklet and you have access to lots of useful information (not just from Dorset). You need to use the contents page – it starts with higher education funds, but Sections 6 – 8 could be of most interest to students – Section 8 has information about local charities and trusts.

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7APPLICATION PROCESS

7.1How do I apply?

Applications should be submitted by3rd October at latest (or within 2 weeks of the start date for your course if you begin college later in the year).

Application forms are available from the Student Support Team in 121 office in the Higher Dairy Courtyard (or can be printed from the KMC website). Completed forms should be returned to Janet Miller, Student Support Administrator, at the address on the last page of this document, together with the following PHOTOCOPIED (not originals please in case lost in the post) evidence, as appropriate (see list on application form) to include:

Current payslips to show your own or your family’s earnings

Letters/documents which show current benefit payments if you or your family are in receipt of income-related benefits

Evidence of other family income

Photocopied receipts for items purchased (once they are available/by 1 November)

7.2What happens then?

7.2.1Your application will be considered by the Bursary Fund Panel and you will be informed of the decision within seven days of the panel meeting.

7.2.2Applications for refunds of costs foressential kit and clothing,from the16 – 19 bursary, will require the return of the course manager’shalf term report on attendance and progress and the first decisions are likely to be made at the mid-November bursary panel meeting.

7.2.3If you are made a bursary award, you will receive an offer letter (2 copies). You will need to confirm for us that the information you have given us is accurate, to the best of your knowledge, and you will need to accept the conditions stated in the award letter. You need to sign/date one copy and return it to us before your bursary award can be confirmed. You can keep the other copy on record.

7.2.4If your application is refused, you will receive information about why it has been refused together with information on how you can appeal if you disagree.

8Appeals procedure

If you wish to appeal against the panel decision, you will need to write to:

Chris Pedder, Deputy Principal Finance & Corporate Services, Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8PY.

9How can I get more information?

9.1Government information

There is government information about the latest financial provision for students, as follows

16 – 19 Bursary

9.2Kingston Maurward College information

9.2.1Application forms for the KMC Special Bursary and for 16 – 19 Bursary/Free Meals canbe sent to you from the Student Support team or can be printed from the KMC College website Money Matters section on

9.2.2For further information about the Kingston Maurward bursary provision, please contact the 121Student Support team in person, by email or telephone as follows:

Telephone: 01305 215165

Email:(term time) or (mid-July to August)

The main 121 office is within the student common room in the courtyard classroom area.

9.2.3The team are:

Student Services Co-ordinatorAngela Taylor01305 215058

Student Support AdviserVicky McDonnell01305 215165

Student Support AdministratorJanet Miller01305 215165

9.2.4Please return your completed application forms to:

Janet Miller

Student Support Administrator

Kingston Maurward College

Dorchester

DT2 8BR

If you have not had a reply back from the college within 2 weeks of application please contact us on 01305 215165