Financial support can be provided to students of families who are on low income to help with extra costs of staying on in education. If you need any further information consult your Personal Tutor or a member of the Student Services team or check out the hyperlinks below.
16-19 Bursary Fund
A new 16-19 Bursary Fund has been launched for 2011/12, this replaces both the Learner Support Fund and EMA (for students who no longer qualify). The Bursary Fund is only open to students not in receipt of EMA.
The Bursary Fund is for students aged 16-19 and is a payment of money provided to support some students in their learning.
The scheme is made up of two parts:
- A guaranteed payment of £1,200 to a small group of the most vulnerable students. These are; young people in care, care leavers, young people in receipt of Income Support and disabled young people in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance who are also in receipt of Disability Living Allowance.
- A £30 start-up payment followed by half-termly payments, in arrears awarded to students with an assessed household income of £20,000 or below.
If you think you are eligible to receive financial support through the 16-19 Bursary, applications will be available from 1 August. Application Forms can be obtained from the Student Reception or downloaded and printed here. (the Application Form will open in a new window, ready for you to print). Please return completed forms to NEW College Student Reception
The deadline for applications to be returned is 23 September. A decision will be made by 30 September and all applicants will be notified if they have been successful. If you have any questions on the 16-19 Bursary please email studentfinance@ncpontefract.ac.uk
Payments will be made by BACS direct into your bank account. Your attendance will be checked weekly with payments being made half-termly in arrears. Payments will only be made for the weeks where your attendance has been 90% or above (including unauthorised absence). You will be informed via email whether you are due to receive the half-termly payment or not. Payment will be in the region of £8 per week per student.
Key Dates
1 August: Applications available
23 September: Deadline for receipt of applications
30 September: All applications assessed (notification to follow shortly)
Queries
For any queries about the new 16-19 Bursary Fund please email studentfinance@ncpontefract.ac.uk
EMAs (Educational Maintenance Allowance)
There will be transitional arrangements for the 2011/12 academic year, for those students who applied for (EMA) in the 2009/10 or 2010/11 academic years and who received a Notice of Entitlement confirming their eligibility to receive EMA payments.
-
All students who successfully applied for EMA in 2009/10 will continue to receive payments at the level set out in their EMA Guarantee for each week they are in education or training, until the end of the 2011/12 academic year.
-
Those students who successfully applied for the maximum weekly EMA payment of £30 in 2010/11 will be eligible for £20 for each week they are in education or training, until the end of the 2011/12 academic year.
-
Those students who successfully applied for £10 or £20 weekly EMA payments in 2010/11 will not be eligible for transitional support in 2011/12. However, they may be able to apply to college for support from the 16-19 Bursary Fund.
Once you have received your Notification of Entitlement, you should get this signed at the Student Reception. This commits you to the attendance guidelines set out in this booklet and EMA payments cannot commence until both the student and college have signed this document. Every Monday your attendance will be checked for the previous week. If there is any reason why the EMA should not be paid you will be notified by email. You will not receive an email if your attendance is OK. Your payment will be received in your bank account a week in arrears on Friday (unless it was a reinstated payment).
Welfare Benefits
You may need information and advice relating to Social Security benefits during your time at college. While we certainly don't have all the answers, we usually know people who do. Students facing financial difficulties should go to Student Services for advice.
Childcare
If you are under 19 and have a dependent child you may be entitled to up to £155 per week towards childcare. Details can be obtained in Student Services or visit the website: www.direct.gov.uk