FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
If you are facing financial hardship, please speak to our Student Money and Rights Adviser. They can offer advice on support that may be available to you as a student of Buxton and Leek College. This support may be limited to students studying certain subjects, living in certain areas, or of a specific age group. If you qualify in some way, you may be eligible for:
- A bursary – which you wouldn’t have to pay back
- A loan – which you would have to pay back
- A charitable trust to purchase goods on your behalf
BURSARY FUNDING
THE 16 – 19 VULNERABLE BURSARY FUND
The 16 – 19 Vulnerable Bursary is an element of the 16-19 Bursary Fund for Students that are most in need and unlikely to be receiving financial assistance from parents or carers.
Students who are not eligible for this part of the fund should check their eligibility for the 16-19 Bursary Fund instead.
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
-
- To apply you will need to:
- Download the PDF/ Word copy of our application form below and complete it in full (online or printed)
- Sign your application form-if the PDF copy will not allow you to do this, you will need to provide a separate document i.e. photograph/ scan of your signature which we can then add to your application form
- Provide evidence to show your household income is below £25,000.00 (please refer to the checklist found within the application form for further detail)
-
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FUND APPLICATION FORM 2020/21
- Financial Support Fund (PDF)
- Financial Support Fund (Word)
-
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 – ensure applications and evidence are supplied on one email where possible.
- Please only post back applications if you cannot complete an online form- currently due to the campus being closed there are no guarantees this wiull be processed until the campus reopens.
- A: The Financial Support Fund Team
- CL/208
- Clarendon House
- Buxton and Leek College
- Devonshire Road
- Buxton
- SK17 6RY
- 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.
- Following this all future correspondence will be sent to your Unimail Account.
- 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.
THE 16 – 19 BURSARY FUND
The 16 – 19 Bursary fund is a discretionary and limited source of financial help for students who are experiencing hardship.
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, 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 are now deactivated and returning students will not be able to use these until they have reapplied and been awarded a Bursary for 2020/21.
FAQ- ALL YOUR GENERAL BURSARY ENQUIRIES ANSWERED (INCLUDING HOW CORONAVIRUS MAY AFFECT OUR BURSARY FUNDS)
The application form for Financial Support in 2020/21, is now available to download from our webpages. Both new and returning students will need to complete a ‘Financial Support Fund‘ application form (a Universal application for all the Bursaries we administer at Buxton and Leek College), in order to receive financial support towards additional course costs.
In order to apply, you will need to download the application form found on the link above and return it to E: financialsupportfund@blc.ac.uk – unfortunately, we will not be able to accept paper applications whilst the campus is closed.
FAQs regarding the Financial Support Fund and how it is affected by Covid 19
The Financial Support Fund would like to thankyou all for your patience during this time.
We would also like to update you all regarding the Fund and what that means for you whilst you study from home.
Please be aware that any updates will be sent to your Unimail account.
In the event applications are received with missing evidence, your application will be subject to the 6 week timeframe each time we ask for additional evidence – it is therefore important you include all the requested evidence straightaway.
I can’t apply online/ I need to bring some paper copies of evidence to you, what do I do? Unfortunately we cannot post any applications out to you at this time.
No this will not affect how much funding you get, our team do not process any applications until students are enrolled and attending their courses (September). As the processing period can take up to 6 weeks during busy periods, we will try and reimburse students back to the half term in which they applied to the fund (funds allowing).
We will not close the 16-19 Bursary Fund until the last day of term, however funding will be awarded on a first come first serve basis and once all monies have been allocated then students who applied beyond this period will be added to a waiting list for any unspent monies that return to the fund. We would recommend you apply as soon as you can to avoid this from happening.
No correspondence will be sent out until students have enrolled and been attending their course for a minimum of two weeks. Once you enrol a Unimail account will be generated on our system. Students will then be granted access to their Unimail accounts at Induction. Once this has happened you will be able to login and see any correspondence we have sent you regarding your award. We cannot send correspondence to personal email addresses due to GDPR. Follow these instructions to access your unimail (7th September onwards) If you require us to post correspondence regarding the fund, we will not be able to do this in the interim until Covid guidance becomes clear- please let us know this is required in the supporting section of your application form
Enrolling on a college course can be expensive; therefore before a student starts a course consideration should be given to costs such as course fees, travel costs, meals, equipment, uniform and childcare. Students will be expected to contribute towards the cost of some of these items even if they are made an award. What students are awarded will be dependent on the funds available, in some instances the panel may ask you to decide where you would like funding prioritised to ensure we cover the essential costs only.
If you are 16-19 years of age and studying an FE programme then there is no bursaries available through the College that will cover living costs, we would recommend speaking with our Student Money and Rights Adviser who can advise on other support that may be available.
There is no entitlement to an award. Each application will be assessed and, if funds are available, the award will be allocated subject to meeting minimum college standards. There are several funds available to help different groups of students and the rules for each are different. Therefore please be aware that you might get a different level of support to other students who are on the same course and appear to have the same financial need as yourself.
For further updates regarding current coronavirus concerns please visit W: www.blc.ac.uk/about-blc/essential-student-support/
This can happen from time to time when incorrect bank details have been given or an account does not accept BACS. Please ensure you check your account between the Friday and Monday when you were due to be paid. In the event the Bursary is not in your account, then contact us straight away. We will need to check your details match our system, and if they do we, will then instruct our Finance department to investigate further. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause as in some instances this can take between 3-5 additional working days.
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: (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 and: 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 and: 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 and: 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 and: If you are a College student studying at Buxton and Leek College you may be eligible for Free College Meals. If eligible, an allowance will be provided for the days that you are in college and on placement. This allowance can be redeemed in the Balcony Cafe and the Dome cafe at Buxton and the Gallery at Leek. Do you have Children and want to study at College? For the points above, the following detail applies: You will need to book an appointment with the Student Money and Rights adviser and have a copy of your childs birth certificate/ child benefit claim to hand. You must be using an OFSTED registered provider which may be a Nursery, pre-school setting or childminder. If you need support looking for the right childcare for your son or daughter, we have a list of Registered Childcare Providers *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 You can apply before enrolment or during the academic year. Your children must be pre school age (between 6 months to 4 years) and have a household income below £25,000.00, exceptional circumstances will also be considered however there are no guarantees. You can apply before enrolment or during the academic year. Important Information: The College can only pay a contribution towards the cost of childcare during the weeks and sessions when you are timetabled to be at College and during the College term-time. The College does not pay for Christmas, Easter or Summer Holidays. Costs incurred above the support granted are the responsibility of the parent to fund. For the points above, the following detail applies: You must be using an OFSTED registered provider which may be a Nursery, pre-school setting or childminder. If you need support looking for the right childcare for your son or daughter, we have a list of Registered Childcare Providers *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 This funding can not be used in conjunction with the childcare funding provided by Universal Credit, further information regarding this can be found here. Eligible students may receive a % towards their monthly childcare costs, if you require further information please speak with our Student Money and Rights Team. Once a student has been awarded Bursary Funding towards their childcare costs, we will send a confirmation email with our terms and conditions to you. Until you have received this email we cannot confirm if the student is eligible or pay any contributions to outstanding invoices. All childcare payments are processed by close of business on a Wednesday. Any invoices received on a Thursday or Friday will be processed the following week.You will always receive a confirmation email confirming if the student has met our 85% threshold, what the amount will be, and the exact payment date. This can happen from time to time when incorrect bank details have been given or an account does not accept BACS. Please ensure you check your account between the Friday and Monday when you were due to be paid. In the event the Bursary is not in your account, then contact us straight away. We will need to check your details match our system, and if they do we, will then instruct our Finance department to investigate further. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause as in some instances this can take between 3-5 additional working days. Please contact our Student Money and Rights Team if you have any queries on: T: 01298 330 414 or 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 in August and you will need to provide a brand new childcare quotation from your chosen provider. If you are currently pregnant and need help towards the cost of your baby, you may be entitled to the Sure Start Maternity Grant, which is a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of having a child. You will usually qualify for the grant if both of the following apply: You may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit. You (and your partner if you live with them) will usually need to either: The most you can get back each month is: You can claim Universal Credit online You can get up to £500 every 3 months (£2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. If you’ve already registered, you can sign in to your childcare account. If you get Tax-Free Childcare, the government will pay £2 for every £8 you pay your childcare provider. This is paid via an online childcare account that you set up for your child. You can get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as 30 hours free childcare if you’re eligible for both. Your eligibility depends on: You may be able to get up to 30 hours free childcare (1,140 hours per year, which you can choose how you take) if your child is 2 or 3 – 4 years old. If you’ve already registered, you can sign in to your childcare account. The childcare: You may have to pay for extra costs like meals, nappies or trips. Please contact our Student Money and Rights Adviser for further information The Learner Support Fund is a discretionary and limited source of financial help for students who are aged 19 and over and are experiencing hardship. 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 Learner Support Fund, please click here to find out what funding may be available to you if you are looking at or doing an apprenticeship. Please note if you are aged 19-25 and in receipt of an EHCP or you are aged 19 years old and continuing on a study programme you began aged 16-18, you need to apply to the 16-19 Bursary Fund, further details regarding this fund can be found here. 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 Learner Support Fund, please click here to find out what funding may be available to you if you are looking at or doing an apprenticeship. The Learner Support Fund will help students towards the essential costs of your course including: (Applicants will need to include photocopies -online or paper copies only – 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 and 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 and *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 Advanced Learner Loan Bursary is a discretionary and limited source of financial help for students who are aged 19 and over and are experiencing hardship. 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. The application form for Financial Support in 2020/21, is now available to download from our webpages. Both new and returning students will need to complete a ‘Financial Support Fund‘ application form (a Universal application for all the Bursaries we administer at Buxton and Leek College), in order to receive financial support towards additional course costs. In order to apply, you will need to download the application form found on the link above and return it to E: financialsupportfund@blc.ac.uk – unfortunately, we will not be able to accept paper applications whilst the campus is closed. FAQs regarding the Financial Support Fund and how it is affected by Covid 19 The Financial Support Fund would like to thankyou all for your patience during this time. We would also like to update you all regarding the Fund and what that means for you whilst you study from home. Please be aware that any updates will be sent to your Unimail account. In the event applications are received with missing evidence, your application will be subject to the 6 week timeframe each time we ask for additional evidence – it is therefore important you include all the requested evidence straightaway.
No this will not affect how much funding you get, our team do not process any applications until students are enrolled and attending their courses (September). As the processing period can take up to 6 weeks during busy periods, we will try and reimburse students back to the half term in which they applied to the fund (funds allowing). We will not close the ALL Bursary Fund until the last day of term, however funding will be awarded on a first come first serve basis and once all monies have been allocated then students who applied beyond this period will be added to a waiting list for any unspent monies that return to the fund. We would recommend you apply as soon as you can to avoid this from happening. No correspondence will be sent out until students have enrolled and been attending their course for a minimum of two weeks. Once you enrol a Unimail account will be generated on our system. Students will then be granted access to their Unimail accounts at Induction. Once this has happened you will be able to login and see any correspondence we have sent you regarding your award. We cannot send correspondence to personal email addresses due to GDPR. Follow these instructions to access your unimail (7th September onwards) If you require us to post correspondence regarding the fund, we will not be able to do this in the interim until Covid guidance becomes clear- please let us know this is required in the supporting section of your application form Enrolling on a college course can be expensive; therefore before a student starts a course consideration should be given to costs such as course fees, travel costs, meals, equipment, uniform and childcare. Students will be expected to contribute towards the cost of some of these items even if they are made an award. What students are awarded will be dependent on the funds available, in some instances the panel may ask you to decide where you would like funding prioritised to ensure we cover the essential costs only.
If you are 19+ years of age and studying an FE programme then there is no bursaries available through the College that will cover living costs, we would recommend speaking with our Student Money and Rights Adviser who can advise on other support that may be available. There is no entitlement to an award. Each application will be assessed and, if funds are available, the award will be allocated subject to meeting minimum college standards. There are several funds available to help different groups of students and the rules for each are different. Therefore please be aware that you might get a different level of support to other students who are on the same course and appear to have the same financial need as yourself. For further updates regarding current coronavirus concerns please visit W: www.blc.ac.uk/about-blc/essential-student-support/ [/su_expand] This can happen from time to time when incorrect bank details have been given or an account does not accept BACS. Please ensure you check your account between the Friday and Monday when you were due to be paid. In the event the Bursary is not in your account, then contact us straight away. We will need to check your details match our system, and if they do we, will then instruct our Finance department to investigate further. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause as in some instances this can take between 3-5 additional working days. 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. 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: (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 and: 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 and: *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 If you meet certain criteria relating to your age and/or benefits you may already receive, you may not be charged your tuition fees if – this is known as fee remission. Find out if you may be eligible by visiting the will I have to pay for my course webpages. Buxton & Leek College is part of the University of Derby. Eligible students who choose to continue their studies by moving into higher education at the University of Derby will receive a £1,000.00 Financial Boost (£900 as a cash award plus a £100 study resource card for Blackwell’s Bookshop). For further information on the Buxton and Leek College Bursary and other Financial Support available to University of Derby students click here.
This will depend on the course you take and how much the tuition fees are. You don’t have to borrow the full cost of your course as you can part-fund some of it yourself. For more information visit www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan/overview If you feel that you need extra financial support, and are not sure where to start, make an appointment with our Student Adviser for further guidance. Alternatively, visit turn2us for information about applying to charities. Local Charities: binghamtrust.org.uk – Financial support for people who live in Buxton studying in Further Education.
WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED WHEN I SUBMIT MY FORM?
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FUND APPLICATION FORM 2020/21
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY COMPLETED FORM AND EVIDENCE?
FREE COLLEGE MEALS
TO BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR FREE COLLEGE MEALS, STUDENTS MUST:
YOU OR YOUR PARENTS MUST BE IN RECEIPT OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS:
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FUND APPLICATION FORM 2020/21
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY COMPLETED FORM AND EVIDENCE?
CHILDCARE FUNDING
SURE START MATERNITY GRANT
UNIVERSAL CREDIT CHILDCARE FUNDING
HOW MUCH YOU’LL GET
TAX FREE CHILDCARE
15/30 HOURS FREE CHILDCARE
LEARNER SUPPORT FUND FOR STUDENTS 19+
TO BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE FUND, STUDENTS MUST:
WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED WHEN I SUBMIT MY FORM?
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FUND APPLICATION FORM 2020/21
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY COMPLETED FORM AND EVIDENCE?
ADVANCED LEARNING LOAN BURSARY
FAQ- ALL YOUR GENERAL BURSARY ENQUIRIES ANSWERED (INCLUDING HOW CORONAVIRUS MAY AFFECT OUR BURSARY FUNDS)
TO BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE FUND, STUDENTS MUST:
WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED WHEN I SUBMIT MY FORM?
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FUND APPLICATION FORM 2020/21
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY COMPLETED FORM AND EVIDENCE?
FEE REMISSION THROUGH THE SKILLS FUNDING AGENCY (SFA)
£1,000 BURSARY FOR YOUR DEGREE AT UNIVERSITY OF DERBY
ADVANCED LEARNER LOANS FOR THOSE AGED 19+
TO BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE A.L.L LOAN, YOU MUST:
HOW MUCH WILL I RECEIVE?
WHEN WILL I HAVE TO REPAY THE LOAN?
WHEN CAN I APPLY FOR A LOAN?
CHARITABLE FUNDING
Fairfield School Foundation – Financial support for people living in the Fairfield area of Buxton.
gingerbread.org.uk – is a charity for single parents where you can find expert advice and practical support.
INFORMATION FOR CARELEAVERS
INFORMATION FOR CARE LEAVERS
How can we assist?
It is really important to let the college know you are looked after or a care leaver to make sure you get the right support and information. Colleges have to keep this information confidential (so your friends and college tutors won’t know if you don’t want them to) and it should mean that you get much more support. For example, we can offer a young person an appointment with a Student Adviser over the Summer prior to you starting your course, to make sure you are aware of any funding available.
If you don’t mention you are looked after or a care leaver this may have an impact on your ability to access your study. If this relates to you, please contact our Student Money and Rights Adviser for further information.
Ongoing financial advice available
Once you start at College, our Student Adviser can arrange to meet with you each term to offer support, advice and information. You may also be eligible for support towards the costs of your study.
Other useful links
Become Charity (formerly known as The Who Cares Trust) – a champion for children and young people in the UK living in care. They believe that every child in care should receive the support, encouragement and opportunities they need to enjoy their life and to achieve.
Coram Voice – enables and equips children and young people to hold to account the services that are responsible for their care. The service uphold the rights of children and young people to actively participate in shaping their own lives.
FACING HOMELESSNESS
HOMELESSNESS
Your local council has a duty to help you with your housing situation if you are classed as eligible, homeless, in priority need, have a local connection and they do not find you intentionally homeless What is Priority need? Priority need is targeted at young people aged 16 or 17. What is a local connection? You must have been living in the area for the past 6 months, (or 3 out of the past 5 years), have close family in the area or work in the area. (Please note that College is not classed as a local connection). What does Intentionally homeless mean? If you have chosen to leave home or if you have done something deliberately (for eg: not paid your rent, even though you could afford it) which has caused you to be homeless, it could be classed as “intentional”. If you think your situation may be classed as intentional, please seek further advice noting the detail below: If you are not eligible for assistance or are not homeless, your local council has a duty to give you general housing information and advice. Contact details for your local council are available by contacting our Student Money and Rights Adviser for further information You may choose to look at renting private accommodation, either by yourself or with others in a shared house. This can be done through an estate agent, on websites or through local adverts. You may need an adult who can be your “financial guarantor” to pay up for any damage, if you can’t pay the rent. Your landlord may also ask you to pay a bond (deposit) and your first months rent before you move in. How will I pay my rent? Whether you are housed by your Local Council or you rent privately you will be asked to sign a tenancy agreement, which is a legal document, so once you have signed up, you will be required by law to pay your rent. Your landlord can evict you or take you to court if you do not pay your rent. Some students may be eligible to receive Housing Benefit to help with rent costs. Seek more advice by contacting our Student Money and Rights Adviser for further information How will I pay my bills and living costs? If you live independently, you will need to budget for all your living costs, which include going out, shopping and bills (gas, electricity, water, phone, TV licence) out of your wage, or any other income you may have. Some students may be eligible for income support to assist with these costs. Seek more advice by contacting our Student Money and Rights Adviser for further information.
PRIVATE RENTED ACCOMMODATION
MONEY MANAGEMENT
MANAGING YOUR FINANCES
You may have thoughts such as:
- ‘I am finding it difficult to manage my money.’
- ‘I am worrying about my current debt, or running up debt.’
- ‘How do I keep better track of my financial comings and goings?’
Be reassured that you can take control of your money, with the first steps in doing so being to simply recognise it.
We can assist you by suggesting ways in which you can reduce your spend, make the most of your income, and work with you to take back control of your finances
WELFARE & BENEFITS
Many full-time students are not entitled to claim benefits.
Students who are lone parents or are in receipt of disability benefits however, may be entitled to receive certain benefits as a full-time student.
Please contact Citizens Advice if you would like to discuss your entitlement. Citizens Advice Bureau offer appointments through Student Wellbeing at the Buxton campus throughout term time.
Other useful links
www.hmrc.gov.uk/home – for general information about tax and benefits.
www.entitledto.co.uk – for information on benefits and what you may be entitled to.
www.gov.uk – for guidance on employment, debt, benefits and tax.
TAX REFUNDS
Tax can be a complicated subject. If you think you may be due a tax refund or paying too much tax, find out everything else you need to know about tax and what that means for students.
If you require further detail or support please contact our Student Money and Rights Adviser
THINKING AHEAD
Many people experience challenges with money at some point during their lives and at Buxton & Leek College, we recognise that some students may have experiences like these during their course of study.
We therefore encourage all to take time to plan ahead, and think, ‘what do I need to spend my money on?’.
TEN TOP TIPS THAT MAY ASSIST YOU TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR MONEY:
- Use a student bank account
- Spend some time planning expenses
- Prepare a budget sheet and list essential spend
- Keep a record of what you spend – be aware of your spending patterns
- Avoid credit cards and store cards – interest soon adds up and can be very expensive
- Consider standing orders or direct debits for priority bills
- Read the small print in mobile phone contracts. They can be expensive when free offers end
- Plan for extra expenses at the start of the year like for example birthdays
- If you need to borrow, use only interest free overdraft facilities
- Avoid using cashpoint machines that charge for use
OUR Student Money and rights adviser
Our Student Money and Rights Adviser Eleanor Ives is here to assist you with any questions you may have, or with any difficulties you may encounter.
Appointments are available in person or via telephone, please contact us for further details.
CONTACT DETAILS
CONTACT US
Opening times: 9.00am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday
Student Money and Rights Team
Clarendon House
1 Devonshire Road
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 6RY
Helpline: 01298 330 817 (Mon – Fri 1pm – 2pm)
E: studentmoneyadviceblc@derby.ac.uk
