We are pleased to be able to offer a Bursary Discretionary Fund for learners aged 16-19 (or 19 to 24 with EHCP) with funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund available to support 16 to 19 year olds who are financially disadvantaged and need support to overcome specific financial barriers to participation so they can remain in education.
To qualify for the 16-19 bursary learners must meet the eligibility criteria set out below for each type of bursary funding and as well as having an actual financial need (that is, their financial needs have not already been met and/or they have relevant costs).
There are two types of 16 to 19 bursaries:
- Bursaries for defined vulnerable groups of up to £1,200 a year to students on a study programme of 30 weeks or more (pro-rata for study programme of less than 30 weeks)
- Discretionary bursaries which institutions award to meet individual needs, for example, help with the cost of transport, meals, books, equipment and other course-related costs.
What is a vulnerable group?
The defined vulnerable groups are learners who are:
- in care
- care leavers
- receiving Income Support, or Universal Credit because they are financially supporting themselves and / or 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.
Evidence of eligibility for vulnerable group bursary
Learners must provide evidence of eligibility to the vulnerable group bursary
- For learners who are in care or a care leaver, written confirmation letter of their current or previous looked after status from the relevant local authority
- For learners in receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit, a copy of their Income Support or Universal Credit award notice.
- For learners receiving Universal Credit / Employment and Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payments, a copy of their claim from DWP.
Who is eligible for discretionary bursary?
- Learners must be at least 16 but under 19 at 31 August of the application year to be eligible for help from bursary fund. Learners aged 19 or over are only eligible to receive a discretionary bursary if they are continuing on a study programme they began aged 16-18 (19+ continuers) or have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
- Learners who are economically and/or socially disadvantaged and at risk of not taking up or continuing in their education. This group includes learners with physical or other disabilities, medical conditions and/or learning difficulties
- Learners must be participating in provision that is publicly funded, or be an unpaid training course
- Learners must meet the residency criteria for post-16 provision
- Good attendance and attitude to learning must be maintained.
Who is not eligible for discretionary bursary?
- Learners aged 19 or over are not eligible for discretionary bursary
- Learners aged under 19 enrolled on higher education qualification are not eligible for support
- Learners on apprenticeship programmes, or any waged training are not eligible for the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund.
- Learners who do not meet the residency criteria.
Evidence of eligibility for discretionary bursary
- Evidence of assessment of financial needs such as evidence used to determine household income i.e. P60s, self-employments accounts, wage slips, a letter from DWP, copies of online statement of Universal Credit
- A copy of the learner’s individual assessment of actual financial needs
- Receipts of purchases made, for example, bus pass, lunch receipts or book receipts.
How will Buckinghamshire Adult Learning assess applications and allocate the 16-19 Bursary Fund
The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund is a limited fund and Buckinghamshire Adult Learning will prioritise allocation. There will be three priority groups, categorised as high, medium and low. although a learner may qualify for a bursary all applicant must understand that there is a possibility of no award or a limited award dependent on funds available. Learners who are eligible for any level of funding should complete an application form and send it to Buckinghamshire Adult Learning, Gallery Suite, County Hall, Aylesbury, HP20 1UU.
All decisions on which students receive discretionary bursary and how much is received is based on each student’s individual circumstances and their actual financial needs. Decisions on how much is awarded are based on household income, cost of travel and the requirements of their study programme. The following criterion is used to gauge how much is given to students in order to support their individual need and case:
- High Priority group: now defined as the vulnerable group (see above) – can be awarded up to a maximum of £1,200 per annum
- Medium priority group: can be awarded up to a maximum of £800 per annum
- Living in a household with gross annual income of less than £20,000 a year
- Living in a household where the parent / guardian are in receipt of Universal Credit
- Low priority group: can be awarded up to a maximum of £400 per annum
- Living in a household with gross annual income of less than £25,000 a year
- Living in a household where the parent / guardian are in receipt of Universal Credit
Payments
Bursary payments are made on a termly basis (i.e. three times a year) in equal instalments of the awarded amount except in the instance where the claim is the receipts of the purchase of meals, bus pass/travel tickets, books or equipment and/or any other approved programme related expenditures in which case the claim will be processed within four weeks. If programme attendance drops below 85%, future bursary payments will be reviewed and most likely to cease.
16-19 Bursary Discretionary Fund Application Form
