MONEY WHILE YOU LEARN 2018/19

Transcription

1 MONEY WHILE YOU LEARN 2018/19 BE PART OF IT A guide to the funds available to help further education students study at City College Plymouth

2 If you would find it easier to read this guide in a larger type or a different format, please call Fraudulent Claims The College must protect itself against the possibility of fraudulent claims. We ask for detailed information and may invite applicants for interview so we can distribute the funds fairly. If a claim is considered fraudulent, we will ask for any money given to you to be repaid in full. If you fail to repay your grant we may take court action. You will not be allowed to collect any course certificates until all costs have been paid. The College reserves the right to notify the police and/or any other relevant agencies with regard to our suspicion of fraudulent actions. Disclaimer Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that this guide is correct at the time of going to press, due to circumstances beyond our control changes may occur and funding eligibility, availability and criteria etc may change. The College will use its reasonable endeavours to notify you of any such changes, wherever possible. No responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of the information contained in this guide can be accepted by the College / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk

3 Contents What Help Can I Get? Student Funding for year olds...4 What is Student Funding? What financial support could I receive? Who can apply? How do I apply? Vulnerable Bursary Student Funding for 19+ year olds What is Student Funding? What financial support could I receive? Who can apply? How do I apply? Tuition fees Advanced Learner Loan Travel Support...8 Replacement bus passes Free College bus service Cycling to College Driving to College Childcare Support...10 Care to Learn Childcare support 20+ What help is available? How will I know my application is successful? Other Support Available...12 Residential support (lodgings) Who is eligible? How do I apply? Course related costs Additional funding/emergencies FREE Breakfast Club FREE College Meal Scheme IT Grant University Visits Terms and Conditions...16 Attendance Withdrawals Appeals Further student funding conditions / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk 1

4 What Help Can I Get? Finance is an important factor when deciding to come to College. However, you don t have to let a lack of money prevent you from attending your chosen course here at City College! There are various funds which may help you with some of the costs, especially if you have a low income or are entitled to help from state benefits. Before you start your study programme you will need to consider how you will afford some of the following: examination or ancillary course costs (material fees) travel costs to and from the College the cost of special equipment and materials the cost of uniform the cost of childcare meeting your day-to-day costs of living / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk

5 As a City College student you may be entitled to: FREE breakfast club FREE College meals* FREE bus pass* travel support** fee concessions**. For students aged *16-18 or **19+ as of 31 August 2018 who meet the eligibility criteria for 2018/19 Student Funding only / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk 3

6 Student Funding for Year Olds What is Student Funding? This fund provides financial or in-kind help with a number of course-related costs to eligible students aged 16-18, those aged 19 and returning to the second year of their course/study programme or those aged 19+ with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). This fund is cash limited and operated on a first-come, first-served basis for September and January applicants. What financial support could I receive? I am aged 19 (as of 31 August 2018) and returning to complete the 2nd year of a level 3 course I live with my parent(s)/ guardian(s) who have a household income of 21,000 or less I may be able to receive help with: College Meal Scheme travel course-related costs I am aged (as of 31 August 2018) I am in care, a care leaver, receive Income Support or Universal Credit (in my own right) or receive both ESA/UC and DLA/PIP (in my own right) I may be able to receive a 1,200 bursary and free College meals / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk

7 Who can apply? Eligible students must: be enrolled on a full or part-time study programme funded by the Government be aged as of 31 August 2018 be aged 19 and returning to the second year of their course/study programme be aged 19+ and have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) have good attendance fulfil normal UK residency rules have a household income of less than 21,000. Students on an Apprenticeship will not be eligible. How do I apply? Complete the Student Funding 2018/19 application form. Enclose the required evidence as indicated on the application form (please only send photocopies). If requesting a bus pass, please provide a passport style photo with your application Send the completed form and full evidence to the Student Funding team, whose address can be found on the reverse of the application form. Application forms will be returned if supporting evidence is not provided Vulnerable Bursary Eligible students are entitled to up to 1,200 per academic year (pro-rata depending on how long your study programme is). The bursary can be used to help support travel, equipment, uniform and other course-related costs. The remainder will be paid in monthly instalments, subject to your attendance. You must be fully enrolled and actively attending your study programme and have submitted a 2018/19 Student Funding application form (along with evidence as detailed in the application form), before you can receive any payments. Monthly payments will be made into your bank account, subject to attendance. Students receiving the Vulnerable Bursary will also be eligible for the free College Meal Scheme. If you are eligible for the Vulnerable Bursary and require a bus pass, the FULL cost of the bus pass will be deducted from your total bursary / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk 5

8 Student Funding for 19+ Year Olds Any student aged 19 and returning to the second year of their course/study programme or aged 19+ with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) should refer to page 4, Student Funding for year olds and disregard this page. What is Student Funding? This fund provides financial or in-kind help to eligible students aged 19+ (as of 31 August 2018) with a number of course-related costs. You may also be eligible for help if you are receiving the Advanced Learner Loan. This fund is cash limited and operated on a first-come, first-served basis for September and January applicants. What financial support could I receive? I am aged 19 or over and studying a level 1 or 2 course I have a household income of 25,000 or less I may be able to receive help with: course-related costs travel childcare meals. I am aged 19 or over and studying a level 3 course I am aged 19 or over and studying a level 3 or above further education course AND am in receipt of the Advanced Learner Loan* I have a household income of 25,000 or less I may be able to receive help with: course-related costs IT Grant travel childcare meals university visits. I am aged 20 or over and studying a level 1,2 or 3 course I have a household income between 25,000 and 30,000 I may be able to receive help with: childcare only. * Please note that if you are eligible for the Advanced Learner Loan but are paying for your fees then you are not eligible for this fund. Who can apply? Eligible students must: be enrolled on a full or part-time course funded by the Government be aged 19 or over as of 31 August 2018 be aged 19 or over and be fully approved for the maximum Advanced Learner Loan have good attendance fulfil normal UK residency rules have a household income of less than 25,000 have a household income between 25,000 and 30,000 (childcare support only). How do I apply? Complete the Student Funding 2018/19 application form. Enclose the required evidence as indicated on the application form - please only send photocopies. Send the completed form and full evidence to the Student Funding team, whose address can be found on the reverse of the application form. Application forms will be returned if supporting evidence is not provided / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk

9 Tuition fees Students aged 19+ will need to consider the following: is the course free? do I have to pay? do I need to take out a loan? If you are studying adult numeracy/literacy or GCSE Maths/English and you do not have a grade A-C (9-4) in these subjects then the course is free. If you are studying a level 2 course or below and in receipt of certain benefits (see College website for full details) then you can apply for a fee waiver. NEW! The Government are trialling a new one-year scheme to offer FREE entry level, level 1 and level 2 courses for those who are employed and earning less than 15,700 annual gross salary (evidence of earnings will be required and the scheme is aimed at those who are employed, not selfemployed). If you are aged and the course is your first full level 2 or level 3 qualification then you may qualify for a fee waiver. If you are studying a course at level 3 and above you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help pay your tuition fees (unless you are aged and studying your first full level 3 qualification in which case you may qualify for a fee waiver as above). Advanced Learner Loan A loan to cover tuition fees if aged 19+ and studying further education at level 3 or above. Key facts You will only be able to apply for a loan to meet the upfront costs of your qualification, which will be paid directly to the College. The loan is not means tested or credit checked so if you meet the criteria you will be able to apply for a loan whether you are employed or unemployed. You don t have to pay anything upfront for your course fees. You don t have to pay anything back until you are earning over 25,000 (certain criteria apply). How do I apply? Once you have been formally offered your place on a College course you will receive a learning and funding information letter - with this you can then apply online at If you are receiving the Advanced Learner Loan you can also apply for financial support for course-related costs, travel, meals, IT grant, university visits and childcare via a Student Funding application form. You do not have to pay this back and it is not added to your loan. The Student Funding team is available to help with the online application form if required. Please call into the Student Funding office between 9.00am and 4.00pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9.00am to 3.30pm on a Friday. Alternatively, call to make an appointment or studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk. You will need to bring your national insurance number and a valid passport, if you have one. We are able to offer an evening appointment to anyone who works during the day but this will need to be booked beforehand / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk 7

10 Travel Support Assistance will be given to full-time students who live more than three miles from the College site they attend. Support will be available either in the form of a FREE bus pass or a contribution towards travel costs if you live in an area where there is no suitable bus service. You must be fully enrolled at the College before you can collect your bus pass. You can collect your pass from the Student Funding office at Kings Road. If you study at Achievement Training, you can collect it from the reception areas. Any travel costs incurred before the pass is collected will be your responsibility. Bus passes will be issued in conjunction with the main bus provider for your area (based on your home address). Bus companies are Plymouth Citybus and Stagecoach South West. To ensure your bus pass will be available from the time you are fully enrolled, your application, with evidence, should reach the Student Funding team no later than Wednesday 8 August If you apply after this date you will need to make your own way to College at your own expense, until the application is processed, you are enrolled and the bus pass is collected. This can take up to ten working days. Should you live in an area where there is no suitable bus service (mainly Gunnislake, Bere Alston, Newton Abbot, St Germans, Calstock and Exeter areas) we may be able to issue monthly travel payments, subject to attendance, to help cover travel costs. These will be a contribution to your travel costs and will be issued up to the equivalent cost of a bus pass for that area. For full-time students whose household income is over 21,000, you could still receive a bus pass from the College Transport Fund, at the subsidised cost of 300 or 510 for the year. You can apply via our Online Store at onlinestore.cityplym.ac.uk. If you have an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP), please contact your Local Authority to discuss specialist travel support. Stagecoach South West bus passes will be issued on a termly basis subject to you remaining on your study programme. Passes in conjunction with Plymouth Citybus will be electronically activated termly, subject to you remaining on your study programme. Please contact the Student Funding team to ensure that we can provide you with a bus pass. If we are unable to support your request, you may be able to apply to your Local Authority for support. If you leave or complete your study programme during the academic year, the entitlement to travel support will end and if a bus pass was provided, it will be blocked. No refunds will be given for passes that are only used for part of the year. Please note that you will not be able to change bus company once your pass is issued / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk

11 Replacement bus passes There is a 5 administration charge for lost, damaged or stolen bus passes. Replacement Plymouth Citybus bus passes can be obtained directly from the Plymouth Citybus Travel Centre located at 32 Royal Parade, Plymouth. For replacement Stagecoach South West bus passes, please contact the Student Funding team. Free College bus service The College provides a free bus service, in conjunction with Stagecoach, for travel between Kings Road, Plymouth rail station and the City Centre - service 36. You will need to produce your 2018/19 College student ID card when boarding these services. If the card is not presented, you will be charged the normal applicable rate for the journey. City College students can travel, free of charge, on the number 36 service without their student ID card throughout September. Number 36 - shuttle bus This free shuttle service links the City Centre with Kings Road. The service runs at various times of the day and is available term-time only. Travel Support students Students aged over 19 years (excluding those with an EHCP or those returning on the second year of a level 3 course) will be allocated a contribution towards travel costs. Travel support can only be backdated to the day their application is received by the Student Funding Office. This will be based on actual attendance and paid monthly into their bank account. Cycling to College The College provides free secure bicycle lockers (these will be issued on a strict firstcome, first-served basis) and shower facilities. There is also a drying room available in room KW027. Please contact the Estates office on for more information. Sustainable Travel Grant If you live less than three miles from the College and you cycle or walk and have a household income of less than 21,000, then you may be able to receive support from the College s Sustainable Travel Grant. This is personalised support depending on individual needs but could be in the form of clothing, waterproofs, umbrellas etc. Please contact the Student Centre on for further information. Driving to College There is a student car park with limited parking spaces available. Disabled parking spaces are located at various points around the College (for blue badge holders) and there are some designated areas for motorcycle/moped parking. To park your car onsite, students must either purchase a parking permit ( 10 per term) or pay and display on a daily basis (50p for four hours, 1 all day) until 5.00pm. You can purchase your car permit from the car park management company (TPS) on a termly basis via and will need to include your student ID number on the application. Please note: a permit does not guarantee you a parking space. Charges apply for all parking spaces, including disabled spaces. If using the space by the College nursery when dropping off or collecting your child, this will be free. Failure to have a permit or pay and display ticket on clear view will result in fines being imposed by the parking company - this will also include if you park in the staff parking areas with a student permit. The College takes no responsibility regarding the parking charges/fines imposed by the parking company. The College encourages car sharing where possible and has a green travel policy which aims to reduce the environmental impact of student and staff transport / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk 9

12 Childcare Support Students aged Care to Learn (C-2-L) If you are a young parent, Care to Learn can help pay for your childcare and any additional travel costs whilst you are studying. In order to apply, you must be: under 20 years old on the start date of your course or study programme living in England (normal residency rules apply) the main carer for your child/ren using an Ofsted registered childcare provider (this can be a child-minder, nursery or preschool). To apply for Care to Learn: you must register with the Student Bursary Support System and complete the online application form you will need to know your childcare provider details including name, address and Ofsted registration number (available from your childcare provider), details of the College (please contact the Student Funding team for this), details of any additional travel costs you may wish to claim and details of your support worker (if applicable) the Student Bursary Support Service will make contact with your chosen childcare provider and the College and ask them to provide further details to confirm the course or study programme details and the childcare requirements. Your application will not be processed until all parties have completed their part of the application process you will receive support of up to 160 per week towards costs (based on your College timetable).this is paid directly to your childcare provider. This will include any additional award for travel costs that may be applicable. If eligible, travel costs will be paid direct to College and then payment sent to the student. You can contact the College for an appointment if you need help with the online application form - please studentfunding@ cityplym.ac.uk or call for dates and times. Alternatively, you can contact the Student Bursary Support helpline on for help and advice. Childcare support 20+ Students aged 20* or over (as of 31 August 2018) may be entitled to assistance with childcare costs. You will have to complete both the Student Funding 2018/19 and the 20+ Childcare 2018/19** application forms and also fulfil the following criteria: have a household income below 30,000 be using an Ofsted registered provider be the main carer for the child/ren (e.g. partner is unable to care for them). * If you are aged under 20 at the start date of your course you can apply for help with childcare costs through the Care to Learn (C-2-L) scheme - please see above. ** You will need to complete a childcare application form for each childcare provider. The form will also need to be completed by the childcare provider. Please provide a copy of your child s birth certificate or recent Child Tax Credit notice with the form / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk

13 For childcare costs to be fully backdated you MUST apply within 28 days of your course starting. Childcare application forms received after this time will only be backdated to the Monday of the week the application form was received by the Student Funding team. What help is available? Childcare costs will be covered for the time spent in timetabled classes at the College only. Term-time only costs will be covered; the College will not pay for any of the holiday periods eg Christmas, Easter, half terms. Full-time students can receive up to 160 per week. Part-time students can receive up to 80 per week. One day s additional placement will also be covered if compulsory for your course. If your child qualifies at any point during the academic year for the Early Years Funding (EYF) or ME2 funding, this cost will be deducted and the College will only cover any remaining cost (during term time only). Payment is made monthly, direct to your childcare provider - once you are enrolled and subject to attendance. If attendance is below 90%, your childcare payments will be stopped and you will be liable for all remaining amounts. How will I know my application is successful? You will hear from the Student Funding team within six weeks of your childcare application form being received. If you do not hear from us within that time, do contact us as we might not have received your childcare application form. Once your childcare application has been processed, a payment schedule will be sent to you and your childcare provider to sign. Payment will not be released until the signed copy is received by the Student Funding team. By signing the form, you both agree that the details are accurate. You and your provider only have 28 days to query the costs/days being paid (from the date the form was signed). The only exceptions being due to a timetable change/change in nursery fees when we are informed in advance. Until the offer letter is sent to you and your provider confirming your entitlement to childcare assistance, the College does not have any obligation to pay any childcare fees. You therefore need to consider how you will pay childcare costs if your application is unsuccessful. If there are any changes in your childcare needs (i.e. timetable changes, fee amount changes), please inform the Student Funding team in advance. If this information is not passed to the Student Funding team, any additional costs may not be covered / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk 11

14 Other Support Available Residential support (lodgings) Annual support of up to 3,458 (dependant on household income) towards the cost of your accommodation will be made direct to your landlord each term - subject to your attendance. You will be liable for costs outside of term-time. Your grant may not be able to cover the full rental costs, so you will be liable for any outstanding amount. Please note that your study programme must be Government funded and be at least 15 hours per week, and at least ten weeks in duration. Who is eligible? You will qualify for residential support if you: are attending a course where the same or similar study programme which delivers an equivalent qualification is not available locally are aged 16 or over as of 31 August 2018 are undertaking your first full level 2 or level 3 qualification have a daily travel journey of over 15 miles, or a daily return journey of more than two hours on public transport have a household income below 30, / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk

15 are ordinarily resident in England, and have been for the three years preceding the start of your course. How do I apply? Contact the Student Funding team for a Residential Support application form. Should you need assistance completing the form please let us know and we can make an appointment to go through this with you. Once you have completed the relevant sections, you will need to bring your application form to the Student Funding team, along with a copy of your tenancy agreement, for the application to be assessed. Household income evidence is required - please refer to the guidance notes in the application form for more details, or you can contact the Student Funding team for help and advice. Fully completed forms, with all the supporting evidence attached, will normally be processed within six weeks of receipt. You must be fully enrolled and actively attending your study programme before any payments can be released to your landlord or letting agency. If you change accommodation at any point during the year, please inform the Student Funding team immediately to ensure your entitlement is not affected. Course related costs Support may be available to help students pay for compulsory course-related materials (books, uniform, trips, etc). Eligibility will depend on the particular course you will be attending. Please note that if you are aged then you will be required to pay the first 100 for any course related costs - Student Funding can support any remaining costs if applicable. You may need to purchase items before you start the course and the grant is not guaranteed. Not all students will be eligible for this support / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk 13

16 FREE Breakfast Club Other Support Available The College runs a Breakfast Club for all students aged 16 and over. On presentation of your 2018/19 College ID card, a free healthy breakfast will be available for you on your normal College days in the food outlets and at Picquet Barracks. The Club is open Monday to Friday, term-time only starting Monday 10 September Please look out for the posters around College to confirm times and venues for breakfast. Additional funding/emergencies Any student with exceptional hardship or emergency needs can apply for financial assistance to enable you to remain at the College. This is normally a one-off support payment or very short-term support. It cannot be used to substitute state benefits or living costs. FREE College meal scheme - students Eligible students will be able to access a FREE hot, healthy meal whilst at College. You must be fully enrolled, have started your course/study programme and submitted a Student Funding application form along with household income evidence before you can receive free meals. Students aged 14-16, apprentices and those over 19 years of age are not eligible (unless aged 19 or over and have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or a 19 year old returning on the second year of a level 3 course). A meal will be available on each timetabled College day only. If you undertake a work placement, work experience or attend a College trip - other meal support can be provided. Those eligible to claim a free meal - please present your 2018/19 Student ID card at the till points at one of the many food outlets at Kings Road or Picquet Barracks. If you study at Achievement Training you will still be able to access the College Meal Scheme - you will receive a monthly payment into your bank account, based on your attendance. Please keep your student ID card safe as you will not be able to claim your free meal without it / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk

17 College meal support students Students aged over 19 years of age (excluding students aged 19 or over and have an EHCP or a 19 year old returning on the second year of a level 3 course), will receive payments backdated to the day their application is received by the Student Funding Office. This will be based on actual attendance and paid retrospectively into their bank account half termly. IT Grant students studying a level 3 course and in receipt of the Advanced Learner Loan Students aged over 19 years of age and studying a level 3 course (excluding students aged 19 or over and have an EHCP or a 19 year old returning on the second year of a level 3 course and in receipt of the Advanced Learner Loan) may receive an IT Grant. This grant can be used to help students pay for IT related materials (contribution towards a laptop, hard drive, printer, printer ink, storage etc). Eligibility will depend on the particular course you will be attending. University Visits students studying a level 3 course and in receipt of the Advanced Learner Loan Students aged over 19 years of age and studying a level 3 course (excluding students aged 19 or over and have an EHCP or a 19 year old returning on the second year of a level 3 course and in receipt of the Advanced Learner Loan) may receive support for university visits/interviews. This support will not be paid until the spring term and is not a guaranteed grant. Students may need to provide evidence of their trip / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk 15

18 Terms and Conditions Attendance To receive financial support from any of the national schemes or any other funds from the College, you must attend 100% of your classes. For the Vulnerable Bursary, travel, child care and Care to Learn funds/schemes this will be checked on a monthly basis. 19+ meal payments will be made on a halftermly based on attendance. The Residential Support Scheme and bus passes are activated on a termly basis. Failure to achieve 100% attendance will lead to the non-payment of assistance for the following week/month/halfterm/term. Withdrawals If you withdraw from your course you will not receive further financial assistance. You may also have to repay any financial assistance you have been awarded and pay any outstanding fees. Appeals If your assistance is stopped or withdrawn due to poor attendance then you have the right to appeal. You should appeal to the Student Funding Officer in writing, explaining the circumstance as to why payment/s should be reinstated and providing as much information as possible. If you believe your Student Funding application has not been assessed correctly, you do not receive a grant or you are not happy with the level of support allocated, you can appeal. Appeals should be made in writing and addressed to: Appeals, Student Funding Team, City College Plymouth, Kings Road, Devonport, Plymouth, PL1 5QG. If, for any reason, you are not happy with the outcome of the appeal, please let us know by writing to: Student Services Manager, City College Plymouth, Kings Road, Devonport, Plymouth, PL1 5QG. You can only appeal once regarding a specific situation. If your appeal is declined, you are unable to re-appeal for the same reason again, unless you can provide new additional information to support your case. The appeal decision is final / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk

19 If you are unhappy with the decision of the Student Services Manager you can make use of the College s formal complaints procedure. Further Student Funding conditions If you enrol and your Student Funding application is unsuccessful, you will have to pay your course-related costs in full. If you withdraw from your course/study programme, you will have to pay for this in full and your bus pass will be de-activated with immediate effect. There will be no refund for any bus pass payment. You must supply all necessary evidence with your application. Your application cannot be assessed without it. Student funding is only available for one course per academic year. If you are on a two year study programme, you will need to make a new application for help each academic year. You will not receive funding if you have outstanding debts to the College or your household income is above the rates stated. All Student Funding schemes are closely monitored and reviewed accordingly, therefore, all schemes may be subject to change at any point throughout the academic year. All guidance and eligibility criteria mentioned in this guide are correct at the time of print, but the Student Funding team reserve the right to amend any of this information during the academic year following government changes to eligibility criteria / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk 17

20 The Student Funding Team The Student Funding team will ensure that you get the best help and advice with your application for financial support. If you need help, or would like to speak to someone on an individual basis, please do not hesitate to come to one of our drop-in sessions throughout term-time, or you can arrange a private appointment if you would prefer. The team is also available throughout all holiday breaks (except Christmas). Student Funding Team City College Plymouth Kings Road Devonport Plymouth PL1 5QG / studentfunding@cityplym.ac.uk cityplym.ac.uk City College Plymouth 2018 To find out what s happening at City College, download our app, like us on facebook.com/cityplym and follow us on twitter.com/cityplym.