Funding, Bursaries & Loans

Students most in need may be eligible to receive a bursary of  up-to £1,200 a year depending on financial need.

The defined vulnerable groups are students who are:

aged 16 – 18 years of age and

• in care
• care leavers
• receiving Income Support, or Universal Credit because they are financially supporting themselves or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them such as a child or partner
• receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right

Students who meet the criteria of the Vulnerable Bursary will not automatically be entitled to an award, an assessment of their course and financial need will be carried out by the Financial Support Fund Panel and if a financial need can be evidenced, then an award of up-to £1200.00 for the year may be made.

WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED WHEN I SUBMIT MY FORM?

(Applicants will need to include photocopies only – online or paper copies – of the following evidence)

All students must provide one recent full months bank statement for all accounts held including any Savers or ISA accounts they have as well as:

For students in Care/ Care Leavers

• written confirmation of your current or previous looked-after status from the relevant local authority – this is the local authority that looks after you or provides your leaving care services. The evidence could be a letter or an email but must be clearly from the local authority

For students in receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit in their own name

• a copy of your Income Support or UC award notice. This must clearly state that the claim is in your (the student’s name) and confirm they are entitled to the benefits in their own right. The evidence must not state any conditions that prevent you from participating in further education or training.
• for students in receipt of UC, institutions must also see a tenancy agreement in the your name, a child benefit receipt, children’s birth certificates, utility bills and so on

For students in receipt of Universal Credit or ESA and Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments

• for students receiving UC/ESA and Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payments, a copy of your UC claim from DWP. Evidence of receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment must also be provided

• The Financial Support Fund application form is  available to download from Monday 10 August 2020. Please start collating your evidence now to ensure your application is processed within the 6 week timeframe.

• HOW DO I SUBMIT MY COMPLETED FORM AND EVIDENCE?

• Once your form is completed, you can submit this along with photocopies of  required supporting evidence to:
• E: Financialsupportfund@blc.ac.uk (whilst the campus is closed due to Covid 19)

• When you have submitted your application (with supporting evidence) you will receive an acknowledgement email detailing your receipt number and informing you of when you should hear about a decision from the Financial Support Funding Panel.
• Your application will then be considered by the Financial Support Funding Panel who will send you an email informing you of their decision.
• Awards will, in most circumstances, be paid in instalments and will be dependent on attendance and behaviour.
• Your application and the information you provide will be stored confidentially and securely, and will only be used for the purpose of assessing your eligibility for the Bursary Fund.

You can your check your eligibility in the guidance below.

We recommend collating any required evidence as soon as possible (online or paper photocopies will suffice).

Processing can take up to 6 weeks from receipt of a complete application during busy periods – please do not hand in an application without all the required evidence as the timeframe for processing will be extended.

If you have any further queries or would like an application form sending out to you, please contact our Student Money and Rights adviser on: E: Studentmoneyadviceblc@derby.ac.uk.

Please be aware that if you received support from either fund in Academic Year 19/20 you will need to reapply from August 2020.

All SMART cards for use in our onsite cafeterias will be deactivated at the close of business on Friday 26 June 2020. 

FAQ- ALL YOUR GENERAL BURSARY ENQUIRIES ANSWERED (INCLUDING HOW CORONAVIRUS MAY AFFECT OUR BURSARY FUNDS)

The bursary fund provides support towards the additional course costs of attending College, including travel, equipment, meals and other costs i.e. DBS.

TO BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE FUND, STUDENTS MUST:

• be enrolled on a Government funded course of further education at the College
• be aged 16-19 on 31 August 2020
• be aged 19-25 and in receipt of an EHCP
• be aged 19 and continuing on a study programme they began aged 16-18
• be a ‘Home’ student – that is someone whose home has been in the UK for three years before the start of the course, and who has no restrictions on remaining in the UK. There may be exceptions to this, and clarification may need to be obtained from our Student Money and Rights Adviser
• have a household income of less than £25,000 per annum

Bursary payments issued will be dependent on 85% attendance and behaviour monitoring.

Students on apprenticeship programmes, or any waged training, are unfortunately not eligible for the 16 – 19 Bursary Fund, please click here to find out what funding may be available to you if you are looking at or doing an apprenticeship.

The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund will help students towards the essential costs of their course including:

• Travel
• Books / equipment
• Uniform
• Childcare (students aged 20 years or over) if aged under 19, please scroll down for information on the Care to Learn scheme
• Other extras i.e. DBS Check, Essential Field Trips

WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED WHEN I SUBMIT MY FORM?

(Applicants will need to include photocopies only – online or paper copies – of the following evidence)

Students aged 16-17 living at home with Parent(s)/ Guardian(s)

• One recent full months bank statement from Parent(s)/ Guardian(s) for every account held including ISA/ Savings Accounts
• All pages of Parent(s)/ Guardian(s) Full Tax Credit Award or Universal Credit Notification 2020/2021
• Proof of income for Parent(s)/ Guardian(s) i.e. Payslips/ copy of Benefit Award letters

Students aged 16 or above who are living on their own or in the care of their Local Authority

• One recent full months bank statement for every account held by the student including ISA/ Savings Accounts
• Proof of income from employment or benefits i.e. a recent payslip

Students aged 18 or above who are living at home with parent(s)/ guardian(s) or living on their own

• One recent full months bank statement for every account held by the student including ISA/ Savings Accounts
• Proof of income from employment or benefits i.e. a recent payslip

Students aged 16 or above who are living with a partner

• One recent full months bank statement for every account held by the student and their partner including ISA/ Savings Accounts
• Proof of income from employment or benefits for the student and their partner i.e. a recent payslip

• The Financial Support Fund application form is  available to download from Monday 10 August 2020. Please start collating your evidence now to ensure your application is processed within the 6 week timeframe.

• HOW DO I SUBMIT MY COMPLETED FORM AND EVIDENCE?

• Once your form is completed, you can submit this along with photocopies of  required supporting evidence to:
• E: Financialsupportfund@blc.ac.uk (whilst the campus is closed due to Covid 19)

• When you have submitted your application (with supporting evidence) you will receive an acknowledgement email detailing your receipt number and informing you of when you should hear about a decision from the Financial Support Funding Panel.
• Your application will then be considered by the Financial Support Funding Panel who will send you an email informing you of their decision.
• Awards will, in most circumstances, be paid in instalments and will be dependent on attendance and behaviour.
• Your application and the information you provide will be stored confidentially and securely, and will only be used for the purpose of assessing your eligibility for the Bursary Fund.

TO BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR FREE COLLEGE MEALS, STUDENTS MUST:

• be aged between 16 and 18 years old (as at 31 August 2020); if you turn 19 during the academic year you remain eligible until the end of the academic year or your course of study finishes, whichever is sooner.
• be aged between 19 and 25 and are eligible for a Learning Difficulty Assessment (LDA) or an Educational Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan).

YOU OR YOUR PARENTS MUST BE IN RECEIPT OF ONE 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 Guaranteed element of the 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 someone stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 pa
  

• No extra forms are needed to be completed if applying for the 16-19 Bursary Form at the same time, just tick the relevant box on the Financial Support Application Form 2020/21. For further information or advice, please speak with our Student Money and Rights adviser.

• HOW DO I SUBMIT MY COMPLETED FORM AND EVIDENCE?

• Once your form is completed, you can submit this along with photocopies of  required supporting evidence to:
• E: Financialsupportfund@blc.ac.uk (whilst the campus is closed due to Covid 19)

• When you have submitted your application (with supporting evidence) you will receive an acknowledgement email detailing your receipt number and informing you of when you should hear about a decision from the Financial Support Funding Panel.
• Your application will then be considered by the Financial Support Funding Panel who will send you an email informing you of their decision.
• Awards will, in most circumstances, be paid in instalments and will be dependent on attendance and behaviour.
• Your application and the information you provide will be stored confidentially and securely, and will only be used for the purpose of assessing your eligibility for the Bursary Fund.

You can your check your eligibility in the guidance below.

We recommend collating any required evidence as soon as possible (online or paper photocopies will suffice).

Processing can take up to 6 weeks from receipt of a complete application during busy periods – please do not hand in an application without all the required evidence as the timeframe for processing will be extended.

If you have any further queries or would like an application form sending out to you, please contact our Student Money and Rights adviser on: E: Studentmoneyadviceblc@derby.ac.uk.

Please be aware that if you received support from the fund in Academic Year 19/20 you will need to reapply from August 2020. 

FAQ- ALL YOUR GENERAL BURSARY ENQUIRIES ANSWERED (INCLUDING HOW CORONAVIRUS MAY AFFECT OUR BURSARY FUNDS)

The bursary fund provides support towards the additional course costs of attending College, including travel, equipment, field trips and additional courses.

It may be possible for the College to make a contribution towards childcare costs for students who are in receipt of a state benefit. However, please note that there is no guarantee that this will be possible, or what percentage of the overall cost the College will be able to meet.

Students on apprenticeship programmes, or any waged training, are unfortunately not eligible for the Advanced Learner Loan Bursary, please click here to find out what funding may be available to you if you are looking at or doing an apprenticeship.

TO BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE FUND, STUDENTS MUST:

• • be in receipt of an Advanced Learning Loan for tuition fees.
  • be enrolled on a Government funded course of Further Education at Buxton and Leek College inclusive of Access students studying at the University of Derby.
  • be aged 19 years or over on 31 August 2020.
  • be a ‘Home’ student – that is someone whose home has been in the UK for three years before the commencement of the course, and who has no restrictions on remaining in the UK. There may be exceptions to this, and clarification can be obtained from Student Wellbeing.
  • have a household income of less than £25,000 per annum

Bursary payments issued will be dependent on 85% attendance and behaviour monitoring.

The Advanced Learner Loan Bursary will help students towards the essential costs of your course including:

• Travel
• Books / equipment
• Uniform
• Fees
• Childcare (students aged 20 years or over) if aged under 19, please refer to the Care to Learn scheme
• Other extras i.e. DBS Check, Essential Field Trips

WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED WHEN I SUBMIT MY FORM?

(Applicants will need to include photocopies only – paper or online- of the following evidence)

Students aged 18 or above who are living at home with parent(s)/ guardian(s) or living on their own

• One recent full months bank statement for every account held by the student including ISA/ Savings Accounts
• Proof of income from employment or benefits i.e. a recent payslip
• If you require assistance towards childcare costs; provide evidence of costs (i.e. quotes or invoices for one week, for the days you are on your course

Students aged 18 or above who are living with a partner

• One recent full months bank statement for every account held by the student and their partner including ISA/ Savings Accounts
• Proof of income from employment or benefits for the student and their partner i.e. a recent payslip
• If you require assistance towards childcare costs; provide evidence of costs (i.e. quotes or invoices for one week, for the days you are on your course

*Please also note 2 – 4 year olds may be entitled to 15/30 hours of free nursery education – this entitlement must be used before making a claim for assistance with childcare

• • The Financial Support Fund application form is  available to download from Monday 10 August 2020. Please start collating your evidence now to ensure your application is processed within the 6 week timeframe.

  • HOW DO I SUBMIT MY COMPLETED FORM AND EVIDENCE?

  • Once your form is completed, you can submit this along with photocopies of  required supporting evidence to:
  • E: Financialsupportfund@blc.ac.uk (whilst the campus is closed due to Covid 19)
  • When you have submitted your application (with supporting evidence) you will receive an acknowledgement email detailing your receipt number and informing you of when you should hear about a decision from the Financial Support Funding Panel.
  • Your application will then be considered by the Financial Support Funding Panel who will send you an email informing you of their decision.
  • Awards will, in most circumstances, be paid in instalments and will be dependent on attendance and behaviour.
  • Your application and the information you provide will be stored confidentially and securely, and will only be used for the purpose of assessing your eligibility for the Bursary Fund.