Guidance for Bursary/Discretionary Financial Support & 19+ Discretionary Learner Support

05 June 2023

2023/2024

Guidance Notes for;

16-18 Bursary
16-18 Discretionary Financial Support
19+ Discretionary Learner Support
Travel Bursary
Laptop Loan Bursary

Please read these guidance notes carefully before completing the online application form. If you submit incorrect or no evidence, your application will be delayed considerably. The closing date is Friday 7^th July 2023. Applications received after this date will not have their bursary in place at the beginning of the term. By submitting the application form, you have agreed to the terms and conditions as if you had signed a paper document.

The College will each year receive an annual allocation of funds to support its learners aged 16-18 and aged over 19. The funds are intended to support students who face financial barriers to participation in education.

We have five bursaries available:

16 – 18 Bursary for young people in defined vulnerable groups
16 – 18 Discretionary Financial Support
19+ Bursary – Discretionary Learner Support
Travel Bursary
Laptop Loan Bursary

1. 16 – 18 Bursary for young people in defined vulnerable groups

Eligibility:

A student must be aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31 August in the year of application.
on an ESFA funded course

and in one of the following groups:

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

Accepted Evidence:

letter from Social Worker
Universal Credit statements x 3 most recent months in student’s name
Universal Credit statements x 3 or ESA letter plus DLA or PIP Letter both in the student’s name

2. 16 – 18 Discretionary Financial Support

Eligibility:

A student must be aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31 August in the year of application
A student aged 19 or over continuing on a study programme they began aged 16 to 18 (‘19+ continuers’) or have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
on an ESFA funded course

and in one of the following groups:

those in receipt of free school meals in Year 11 in 2022 – 2023 and those whose parents/guardians are currently in receipt of a means-tested benefit (Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Tax Credit where annual gross income is less than £16,190, Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit or Universal Credit).
those whose parents/guardians are currently in receipt of a Tax Credit Award Notification showing a total *household income of £35,750 or below (or Universal Credit).
those whose financial circumstances have changed since the end of the tax year and don’t fall into one of the above groups. Financial evidence will need to be shown to demonstrate an income of less than £35,750 i.e., P60, self-employment accounts, pension.

*Household income (total combined income from, for example, taxable income including earnings, some state benefits, pensions, rental income, income from trust and tax credits)

Accepted Evidence:

Tax credit form for 2023- 2024 (CTC needs to show student in education and receiving the full year’s money not half a year)
if the Provisional Tax Credit form for 2023-2024 is presented a clause will be added that the amended tax credit form must be presented before the end of the first term for the bursary to continue the full academic year
Annual Review End of Year form for 2023 showing child tax credit amount and income
P60 or a few wage slips showing the ‘Yearly income to date’ of all employed household
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support (IS) Letter
Carers Allowance letter
Pension evidence:
- State Pension, Private Pension and Pension Credit
Bank statement showing ESA or IS or Pension with an official document to support.
Universal Credit – 3 most recent monthly award statements
Rental income
A letter from the previous school or Local Authority to confirm receipt of FSM will be needed.

3. 19+ Bursary – Discretionary Learner Support

Eligibility:

A student aged over 19 on 31 August in the year of application and funded by the EFSA**
A student aged over 19 on 31 August in the year of application and have an Advance Learner Loan

**and those whose parents/guardians or student themselves are currently in receipt of a Tax Credit Award Notification or Universal Credit showing a total *household income of £35,750 or below.

*Household income (total combined income from, for example, taxable income including earnings, some state benefits, pensions, rental income, income from trust and tax credits)

Accepted Evidence:

Tax credit form for 2023- 2024 (CTC needs to show student in education and receiving the full year’s money not half a year)
if the Provisional Tax Credit form for 2023-2024 is presented a clause will be added that the amended tax credit form must be presented before the end of the first term for the bursary to continue the full academic year
Annual Review End of Year form for 2023 showing child tax credit amount and income
P60 or a few wage slips showing ‘Yearly income to date’.
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support (IS) Letter
Carers Allowance letter
Pension evidence:
- State Pension, Private Pension and Pension Credit
Bank statement showing ESA or IS or Pension with an official document to support.
Universal Credit – 3 most recent monthly award statements
Adult Learner Loan evidence, if applicable
Rental income

If you are granted a college bursary this is a list of the possible assistance available:

Essential Uniform/Kit specified by the course leader and detailed on the college website. Please note that we will not cover the cost of any other items of uniform/kit other than that specified on the website. Therefore, we do not cover the cost of items such as, for example, trainers, and bags. All kits must be returned at the end of the course. Receipts are to be sent to bursary@bexhillcollege.ac.uk
DBS checks are required by the college course. Receipts are to be sent to bursary@bexhillcollege.ac.uk
Art/Photography/Textiles material packs, available from the Finance office. Receipts to bursary@bexhillcollege.ac.uk
Stationery e.g., USB pen, sketchbook, notebook (these items must be obtained from the college Finance Office via email bursary@bexhillcollege.ac.uk )
Travel contribution (over 3 miles and not receiving Local Authority assistance). Please note that financial assistance is subject to 100% attendance. Tickets must be presented - see below for more information***
Refectory Food Credit (subject to funds available and 100% attendance) or Free School Meals Credit. See below for more information****
Contribution to college course-related trips (completed trip forms to be handed into Student Services 5 days before the deadline)
Essential course textbooks, which must be handed in at the end of the course in excellent condition. Students should ask the Student Services Officer first before purchasing books as we have a bursary library.
Equipment or art materials obtained at the Finance Office, email bursary@bexhillcollege.ac.uk. If the items required are not available from the Finance Office students must seek permission from the Student Services Officer to purchase them elsewhere, if a refund is required. If the student fails to do so the college is under no obligation to refund the purchase.
Print credit: students are given £5 when the bursary is first agreed upon, and students can request top-ups during the year by emailing bursary@bexhillcollege.ac.uk
University Open days/University Interview travel costs (funds permitting). University email evidence and travel tickets are to be sent to bursary@bexhillcollege.ac.uk
Exam resits (for exams previously taken in this college). Please note this does not include late exam fees and is dependent upon 94% and above attendance across the year.
Possible loan of a bursary laptop or camera to be used for coursework.

***Travel

We will not fund travel for students who live within a 3-mile radius of the College unless there are exceptional or medical circumstances which will be treated on a case-by-case basis. Students should be aware that they will need to cover their own travel costs for the first month of college, as the travel assistance is paid in arrears. Students will be allocated travel assistance according to their mileage to college, £17.10 a week for 3 to 7 miles and £17.50 a week for over 7 miles. If students purchase a more expensive ticket, then they should appeal in writing via email: bursary@bexhillcollege.ac.uk

If travel assistance is agreed, students will need to present the tickets at the end of each 4-week period to Student Services, please see the table below. The travel contribution is subject to the attendance % of the previous 4-week period. The contribution will be paid by BACs payment. Payments are made to students only, not a parent/carer. It is important students have their own bank account set up for the beginning of the term. If a student has their own vehicle and intends to drive to college, they should keep all fuel receipts and send a photo of their logbook to bursary@bexhillcollege.ac.uk.

All travel tickets and receipts need to be kept, scanned or photographed and submitted to Student Portal on the Bursary link for the travel contribution to be processed.

The first travel payment will be made on 6^th September for agreed travel bursaries for two weeks only. The student will need to submit photos of the tickets purchased during this time to the Student Portal on the bursary link at the top of the home page, by 11^th September mid-day, to be processed on 14^th September. Once attendance and tickets are checked the payment will be run and received on 20^th September. This will be repeated every 4 weeks (term time only).

Tickets will need to be submitted when purchased or at the latest Monday mid-day of the week of payment. Please see the table below for dates:

Period 1	11th Sept
Period 2	9th Oct
Period 3	13th Nov
Period 4	11th Dec
Period 5	22nd Jan
Period 6	26th Feb
Period 7	25th Mar
Period 8	6th May
Period 9	10th Jun
Period 10	8^th July

****Food/Free School Meals

A Refectory Food Card is topped up regularly, subject to the attendance % of the previous 4-week period and funds available.

Any unexplained absence(s) will reduce the travel and food contribution.

Free School Meals students will receive £2.41 a day for every timetable day at college which is topped up on their Refectory Food Card every 4 weeks.

Students will receive a bursary agreement letter (sent by email) containing full details and all further communications about the bursary will be through the student’s college email account.

Childcare

Students aged 16-19 please apply to Care to Learn www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14To19/MoneyToLearn/Caretolearn/DG_066974

Students aged 20 can apply for 20+ Childcare. Please email bursary@bexhillcollege.ac.uk for the application form. There are limited funds, so students must apply before 7^th July 2023 so funds can be allocated.

4. Travel Bursary

Eligibility:

A student must be aged 16 or over
on an ESFA funded course
family *household income of £45,000 or below

*Household income (total combined income from, for example, taxable income including earnings, some state benefits, pensions, rental income, income from trust and tax credits)

Accepted Evidence:

Tax credit form for 2023- 2024 (CTC needs to show student in education and receiving the full year’s money not half a year)
if the Provisional Tax Credit form for 2023-2024 is presented a clause will be added that the amended tax credit form must be presented before the end of the first term for the bursary to continue the full academic year
Annual Review End of Year form for 2023 showing child tax credit amount and income
P60 or a few wage slips showing the ‘Yearly income to date’ of all employed household
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support (IS) Letter
Carers Allowance letter
Pension evidence:
- State Pension, Private Pension and Pension Credit
Bank statement showing ESA or IS or Pension with an official document to support.
Universal Credit – 3 most recent monthly award statements
Rental income

If granted the Travel bursary then please see above for Travel information***, no other award will be given.

If the household income is below £45,000 but above £35,750 then the student could receive up to 50% contribution towards the travel costs subject to their attendance %, whilst funds are available. Students will be contacted by college email in good time if this was to happen.

5. Laptop Loan Bursary

Eligibility:

A student must be aged 16 or over
on an ESFA funded course
family *household income of £45,000 or below

*Household income (total combined income from, for example, taxable income including earnings, some state benefits, pensions, rental income, income from trust and tax credits)

Accepted Evidence:

Tax credit form for 2023- 2024 (CTC needs to show student in education and receiving the full year’s money not half a year)
if the Provisional Tax Credit form for 2023-2024 is presented a clause will be added that the amended tax credit form must be presented before the end of the first term for the bursary to continue the full academic year
Annual Review End of Year form for 2023 showing child tax credit amount and income
P60 or a few wage slips showing the ‘Yearly income to date’ of all employed household
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support (IS) Letter
Carers Allowance letter
Pension evidence:
- State Pension, Private Pension and Pension Credit
Bank statement showing ESA or IS or Pension with an official document to support.
Universal Credit – 3 most recent monthly award statements
Rental income

If granted the Laptop Loan bursary, the student will be sent a laptop loan form to be signed by both them and a parent. The signed form should be returned to Student Services to exchange it for a college laptop and case. The laptop can be used for the academic year and will need to be returned to Student Services by the end of the summer term, or sooner if the student leaves college before completing the year. No other award will be given.

Bursary Breakdown

	16 – 18 Bursary for vulnerable students	16 – 18 Discretionary Financial Support	16 – 18 Discretionary Financial Support	19+ Discretionary Learner Support Incl. Advanced Learner Loan Students	Travel Bursary	Laptop Loan Bursary
Income limit	Social Worker letter or UC	FSM criteria	£35,750	£35,750	£45,000	£45,000
Food contribution	Up to £4 a day funds permitted	FSM £2.41 per day (Up to £4 a day funds permitted)	Up to £4 a day funds permitted	Up to £4 a day funds permitted	n/a	n/a
Travel assistance	Over 3 miles 100% contribution towards costs	Over 3 miles 100% contribution towards costs	Over 3 miles 100% contribution towards costs	Over 3 miles 100% contribution towards costs	Over 3 miles 50% contribution towards costs	n/a
Compulsory trips	100% *	100% *	100% *	100% *	n/a	n/a
Essential kit/ equipment/ books/ stationery	100% *	100% *	100% *	100% *	n/a	n/a
HE/Open days	100% *	100% *	100% *	100% *	n/a	n/a
Laptop Loan	Signed laptop loan form	Signed laptop loan form	Signed laptop loan form	Signed laptop loan form	Signed laptop loan form	Signed laptop loan form
Childcare	n/a	n/a	n/a	20+, max. 2 children £160 pw	n/a	n/a

* Must be specifically required for the course and needs to be agreed by the Bursary Officer in Student Services.

The bursary contributions are subject to 100% attendance and good behaviour and are made at the discretion of the college and are subject to change depending on demand. Awards may differ.

Applying for a Bursary

Please complete the Online Bursary Application form using the link at the bottom of this page and have your financial evidence ready to upload (as stated above).

We can accept electronic copies of documents in the following formats:

.doc .docx .pdf .jpg

You can upload one file for each requested document and each document must be no larger than 2mb. Please ensure the combined file size is less than 20mb.

Uploading Documents instructions:

Click on ‘Browse’ to find the file to be uploaded.
Find the file to upload and click on it to select it.
To select multiple items: press and hold the Command key (Mac) or Ctrl key (Windows), then click the items.
Click ‘Open’. Your file(s) will now display on the form and will be uploaded when you click 'Submit'.

Appeals

You have the right to appeal if:

You believe your application has been assessed incorrectly or if you believe it has not been processed correctly. Your appeal should be made in writing, within 2 weeks of receiving either your award/grant notice or a letter refusing support.

The above information is accurate at the time of print but may be subject to change, amended 25/05/23. For further clarification on the 16-18 Bursary fund please use the following guidance link.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/16-to-19-bursary-fund-guide-2023-to-2024-academic-year/16-to-19-bursary-fund-guide-2023-to-2024-academic-year

If you have any questions, please call 01424 214545 and choose option 3 for Bursary queries or alternatively email studentservices@bexhillcollege.ac.uk or bursary@bexhillcollege.ac.uk

Bursary/Discretionary Financial Support & 19+ Discretionary Learner Support 2023-24 Final Statement