Funding education, training and work

If money is tight, you may feel that you have no other option but to leave school at 16 and find work.

You might also be eager to leave college and enter the workplace.

Whatever you decide, gaining qualifications and training is very important to your future.

Whether you decide to stay in education, opt for a job with training, or try an apprenticeship scheme, it's vital that you carry on learning.

Apprenticeships

Apprentices work for an employer, earn a wage of at least £2.50 an hour (often much more) and learn and gain nationally recognised qualifications. Contact your local Connexions centre, Thames Valley Learning and Skills Council (LSC) on 0845 0194154 or phone 08000 150 600 for a free information pack.

You can find a regularly updated list of apprenticeships available locally on the Oxfordshire Connexions website.

• Key Link: Apprenticeships

Benefits

If you live at home and are in full-time education or doing approved, unwaged training, then your parents/carers can continue to get the benefits they claim on your behalf or that help to pay for your keep, until you finish the course or training. Child Benefit can be paid up to the age of 20. Contact Connexions about benefits you may be able to claim in your own right.

• Key Link: Beginner's Guide to Benefits

Care Leaver

Care leavers are entitled to help with education or training costs until you are 24 if you go into higher education, including accommodation during vacations.

• Key Link: Looked after

Care to Learn

Parents under 20 in learning or training (but not in higher education) can get up to £160 per child per week towards childcare and travel costs.

• Key Link: Care to Learn

Experience: I am going to be much happier following a dream

I thought as I did not receive benefits I would not be entitled to any help with child-care, therefore I put rejoining education to the back of my mind. On my first visit [to Connexions] I was advised about ‘care to learn’ and access courses and how to go about applying for each of these... before deciding to go back to college I thought that my life had been planned out for me whether I liked it or not; I had a child at the age of 18, therefore I will return to a boring low paid job just to get by, and did not believe that I would ever be able to do something better with my life. Now I feel excited about where my life is going to take me. I am looking forward to starting college and believe I am going to be much happier following a dream. - Lauren, Young Mum

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

EMA closed to new applicants from January 2011. Learner support funds will be available through schools, colleges and training providers to help students who most need it to continue in learning. If you currently get EMA you will continue to receive it for the rest of this academic year, but you will not receive it next academic year.

• More information about this (link to Direct Gov)

Discretionary Support Funds

Money to help school/college students aged 16+ in financial difficulties continue their studies. Ask at your school or college

• Key Link: Young Peoples Learning Agency

Studying Away from Home

If the course you want to do is available only at a college too far away from home for you to reasonably commute, you
may get help paying for accommodation. Contact the college where you want to study.

• Key Link: Studying away from home

Time Off for Study or Training

16 and 17 year olds in work can get paid time off to study or train for level 2 qualifications unless they are full-time
students or already qualified to level 2. Payment is at the appropriate hourly rate. Study/training can be at work,
college, home or an approved learning provider.

• Key Link: Skills for Work

Don't give up, always ask

If you're worried about funding for education, talk to someone! Talk to a Connexions Advisor, the College you are applying to, ask around and look online. There are a variety of small grants available to help you gain the qualifications you want.

• Key Link: Money to Learn

Find it

Looking for somewhere you can get information, advice and guidance around careers, choices, study, jobs and education? You can talk to Connexions Adviser at school or in your local community. Find out more about Connexions Access.

Links

These websites will help you find information advice and guidance around careers and choices online:

• Direct Gov
  Information about getting funding to learn
• Student Loans Company
  Student Loans information, applications, more
• Connexions Direct Advisers
  National helpline and web-chat available from 8am-2am every day of the week, including weekends

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