These are for students in vulnerable groups who have a financial need. These students are defined as being eligible under one of the following criteria:

– In care

– Care leavers

– In receipt of income support or Universal Credit (through supporting themselves or a child or partner)

– In receipt of 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

Applicants in this group may receive awards up to the value of £1,200. This will take into account the costs contributed towards, travel, free meals, hardship award and course equipment and trips.

This is for students who may not qualify under the Vulnerable Group but are in need of financial support. It will take into account students from low household income families and will be offered as a targeted support according to individual needs and circumstances.

You may receive support with:

– Travel costs

– Free Meals in College

– Course Trips, University Interview or additional travel payments for Work Placements

To be considered for financial support, household income should not exceed £20,000.

Eligibility Criteria for the Bursary:

– be aged 16 and under 19 on 31 August of the academic year applying for, or be enrolled on a continuing study programme that was started when aged under 19 on 31 August in that first year of study

– have ‘home’ student status or have been granted full ‘refugee’ status

– have been ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, EU or EEA continuously for the last three years before the start of the course, with ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ status’ – which means having indefinite leave to enter or remain.

– asylum seekers who have legally been in the UK pending consideration of their claim by the Home Office for longer than 6 months or asylum seekers refused asylum but granted support under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act will also be eligible

Students aged over 19 who are continuing on the same study programme (19+ continuers) they started before they turned 19, or who have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) will be eligible for Free Meal if they meet the criteria

The student or the parent 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 guarantee element of 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

Care to Learn provides financial support for learners with children who want to continue in, or return to education. It helps with the cost of childcare and travel when you place your child with a registered Ofsted child care provider. You can receive up to £175 per week for each child if you live within a London Borough.

You can apply if you are:

– aged 20 or under at the start of your course

– main carer of the child

– living in England and meet the residency criteria

For more information and to apply online click link below.

https://www.gov.uk/care-to-learn

If you place your child with an ‘approved childcare provider’, you can apply for 15 and 30 hours free childcare support for 3 and 4 year olds and there is free early years education and childcare for 2 year olds.

Please contact your local authorities Children’s Services for further information.

If you’re aged 19 or over and facing financial hardship, you could get Learner Support through the college.

The support can help pay for things like:

– travel

– course materials and equipment

– childcare

If you are aged 16-18 and in full-time education, you can apply for the 16+ Zip Oyster Card which gives you free travel on the buses in London and 50% off the adult rate travel on tube underground, DLR and London Overground services.

To apply for the 16+ Zip Oyster Card click on this link https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/16-plus-zip-oyster-photocard 

If you are aged 19 before the start of the college academic year you can apply for the 18+ Student Oyster Card. This enables you to get a 30% discount, only on your weekly and monthly travel card/Bus Pass top ups and not your daily pay as you go top up.

To apply for the 18+ Student Oyster click on this link https://photocard.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/showLogon.do

A 16-25 Railcard is a student discount card that offers cheaper train travel for students or young adults with 1/3 off Standard Anytime, Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak Single and Return tickets, as well as Standard and First Class Advance tickets throughout Britain.

To apply for the 16-25 Railcard click on this link https://www.thetrainline.com 

This is a discount website which is free for students when you sign up using your college email account. It offers deals and discounts when you shop online and in store from many retailers. https://www.myunidays.com/GB/en-GB

A card which you can apply for to get discounts online and in store and at the same time use as proof of ID and Age that is validated by the National Union of Student (NUS). However, there is a one off charge for the year. https://www.totum.com/

Another site that connects students to major brand retailers and discount offers on a huge range of products and services. https://www.studentbeans.com/uk