The Student Support Fund or Discretionary Learner Support fund (DLS) is paid by the Learning & Skills Council to Access to Music to provide financial help to students who might not be able to start or continue with their course because of financial difficulties.

Please note that funds are limited and we recommend you apply for an Education Maintenance Allowance (if aged 16-18) or an Adult Learning Grant (if aged 19 or over).

If you require money for a place to live then please apply to the Residential Support Scheme.

For Childcare assistance, please see the Care to Learn scheme as well as the Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work scheme.

Alternatively, a Career Development Loan may help with vocational learning and/or educational costs.

Need to talk to someone? Please call Access to Music Student Services on 0116 242 6888.

Most awards are made to help ATM students who are over the age of 19 (and not in receipt of any of the above grants) travel to their chosen centre. Many ATM students have to travel much further than if they were going to a local college.

HOW TO APPLY

Please ring Student Services for an application pack or download a copy HERE (PDF 132kb)

For students aged 16-18, travel assistance is provided through your Local Eduacation Authority (LEA) and you should contact them directly for further information on eligibility. Further information on transport policies can be found on the LA’s own website or by visiting www.direct.gov.uk.

• For students 19+ and not in eligible for any of the above listed grants.
• Awards for childcare are paid direct to Ofsted registered child minders / nurseries only.
• Payments only cover the days you attend your ATM course.
• All awards are subsidised – you will have to contribute 10% of the weekly cost.
• The maximum award per child may not exceed £160 p/wk.
• Payments commence from the receipt of application and no monies will be backdated.

HOW TO APPLY

Hardship funds provide support for students in exceptional
financial circumstances.

The funding will be used to support students who are experiencing domestic emergencies which may affect their studies.

HOW TO APPLY

All awards are made subject to your attendance. We will monitor your attendance and progress on your course. If your average attendance in a half term falls below 80% you will either not receive an award for the next term, or receive a partial award relating to the percentage you have attended.

If you stop attending altogether and withdraw from your course, you will be expected to repay part or all of the funding you have been awarded.