What is the grant?

 The School Sixth Form Hardship Grant can be used for course related costs including:

• Exam fees for re-sits;
• Course trips;
• Books and equipment; and
• Support with domestic emergencies and accommodation.

The grant will be paid in 2 instalments and payments will be made directly into the students’ bank account.  The amounts available will depend on the students’ circumstances.

Am I eligble?

You must meet the following criteria to be eligible for this grant:

• Live in Westminster;
• Be aged 16 to 18 years old on 1 September 2009;
• Attend a local authority maintained sixth form school (including the academies); and
  
  Meet the residency requirements.*

You must also fall into one of the following categories:

Category A

• Not eligible for the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) on the grounds of residency and
• Have a household income that does not exceed £16,040.

Or

Category B

• Eligible for EMA and are receiving the maximum support of £30.00 per week;

and one of the following:

• Carer (own child or other person);
• Young person who is homeless;
• Young person receiving Income Support;
• Young person with learning difficulties and/or disabilities;
• Young person in care or leaving care;
• Learner who has previously been out of education, employment or training for 26 weeks or more;
• Medically ill – has an illness or diagnosis that indicates prolonged absence from school, whether at home or in hospital;
• Young person who is supervised by a Youth Offender Team; or
• Gypsy, Roma or Traveller.

* Details about grant amounts and residency requirements are included in the Application Notes at the bottom of this page.

How to apply

If you think you are eligible, you can apply by:

Downloading an application form at the bottom of this page;

Sending an email to:  studentfinance@westminster.gov.uk ;

Writing to:  Student and Pupil Support Service, Westminster City Council, 1st Floor, 215 Lisson Grove, London NW8 8LF.

Or by phoning:  020 7641 1842 / 1843

You will be sent a letter to let you know whether or not you are eligible for this grant within 10 working days of receiving your completed application form with all the relevant evidence.

If you send an email or letter please provide your full name, address and the course and school you will be attending.

Other forms of financial support

1) Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is an income assessed* weekly payment of up to £30, paid directly to young people who stay on in learning after they reach the statutory leaving age (that is, after the end of their compulsory schooling). Young people may also receive bonuses for achieving learning goals.

EMA is available to young people on full-time further education courses at a college or school; LSC-funded Entry to Employment (E2E) and courses leading to an Apprenticeship (that is, Programme-led Apprenticeships). EMA can be paid for up to three years.

More information about the EMA scheme is available from the EMA website: www.direct.gov.uk/ema

* Learners on E2E programmes are automatically entitled to £30 irrespective of household income.

2) Care to Learn (C2L)

Care to Learn (C2L) supports young parents aged up to (and including) 19 when learning starts by funding the cost of their (Ofsted-registered) childcare and associated transport costs (childcare must be registered on Ofsted’s Early Years Register and/or the Compulsory part of the Ofsted Childcare Register).

Further information for learners interested in applying for C2L can be found by telephoning the helpline on 0800 121 8989 or by accessing the following website: www.direct.gov.uk/caretolearn

3) Sixth Form College Childcare Scheme (6FCC)

Adults aged 20+ attending a school sixth form or sixth form college may be eligible to receive financial support towards the costs of their childcare and associated transport costs from the Sixth Form College Childcare Scheme, providing they have a dependent child aged under 15 (16 for children with disabilities) for whom they provide care. Support from the scheme is income assessed.  Childcare must be registered on Ofsted’s Early Years Register and/or the Compulsory part of the Ofsted Childcare Register.

Further information for learners interested in applying for the Sixth Form College Childcare Scheme can be found by telephoning the helpline on 0800 121 8989.

4) Residential Support Scheme (RSS)

The Residential Support Scheme helps learners access education that is not available within reasonable travelling distance of their home. Further details on the Scheme can be obtained by visiting the following website: www.direct.gov.uk/moneytolearn click on Extra Help then Help if you are studying away from home.

5) Career Development Loans (CDL)

A Career Development Loan (CDL) is a commercial bank loan which can help learners gain the experience, training and qualifications needed to improve job skills to launch a new career. CDLs can be used to fund a variety of courses with a wide range of organisations, so learners are able to choose the course that best suits their needs. 

A CDL can be obtained through three participating high street banks, Barclays, the Co-operative Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland. The LSC pays the interest on the loan whilst the learner is in learning and for up to one month afterwards. The learner then repays the loan to the bank over an agreed period of fixed rate interest.

Further information about Career Development Loans can be obtained from Learn Direct by calling the CDL information line on 0800 585 505 or visiting the following website: www.direct.gov.uk/cdl