Money Matters - Other Sources of Help
If you are considering a returning to education or training and not eligible for any other source of financial help you may wish to find out about the following:
Charities & Trusts:
There are many different organisations that are able to help students. They all have different eligibility criteria and offer different amounts - normally quite small. To find out if you are eligible :
- Funderfinder - A computer program that will search for any source of funding based on the criteria that you put in the search. Available at selected Nextstep centres.
Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS):
EGAS offers an advisory service to adults on grants, loans, benefits and bursaries.
501 - 505 Kingston Road
Dalston
London
E8 4AU
T: 020 7254 6251
Lines open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am - 12pm and 2pm - 4pm
New Deal Programmes
For people who have been unemployed, and claiming JSA, for
over 6months
(NOTE: not for students wishing to enter higher
education)
New Deal is a government initiative created to help people find lasting, worthwhile work. It is for people who are not working. It has been created to help unemployed people into work by closing the gap between the skills employers want and the skills people can offer. It's a real opportunity to get people off benefits and into work.
If you take part in one of the full-time education or training options you will receive the following help:
- all of your course fees will be paid for
- you will get help with the cost of books, travel or equipment
- you will receive individual support in finding full-time work
The various programmes include:
- New Deal for young people (people aged 18 - 24)
- New Deal for people aged 25+ who have been unemployed for two or more years started in June 1998
- New Deal for Lone Parents
- New Deal 50 Plus
- New Deal for Partners
- New Deal for Disabled People
These programmes are vocationally orientated and are generally to a NVQ 1 or 2 level only.
For more information ask your New Deal Personal Adviser at your local Job Centre or visit the New Deal website: www.newdeal.gov.uk
Work Based Training for Adults
For adults who have been unemployed for 6months or
more
(NOTE: not for students wishing to enter higher
education)
Work Based Learning for Adults is a positive way to train or gain valuable work experienced that is directly related to the job you want to do & aims to:
- help unemployed people move into sustained employment;
- help long term unemployed people to gain the occupational skills needed to fill recognised local skill shortages and;
- enable long term unemployed people to make a success of self-employment;
Basic Employability Training is available for people who need extra help before they start job related training.
If you are aged 25 or over and have been out of work for six months or more you may be eligible. If you are aged 18-24 and have a disability and are receiving benefits other than Jobseekers Allowance you may be eligible to join WBLA.
On joining WBLA you will agreed a training plan to meet your specific needs. Your plan might involve job specific training, work towards a National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) or Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ) in Scotland or actual work experience it could be a mixture of all these.
If you are unable to train full-time because of personal circumstances, you may be able to train part-time. While you are training you will receive an allowance, equivalent to any benefit you are entitled to, plus £10 per week, and perhaps help with your expenses such as travel and childcare.
If you're offered a job before you complete your training, you can take the job and may be able to complete your agreed Training Plan.
For more details contact your local Job Centre or visit: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

