If you are aged 16, 17 or 18 and about to leave or have already left compulsory education, you can apply for an EMA. You must also be thinking about starting either a full-time further education course, entry to employment programme or a course that leads to an Apprenticeship. These learning programmes must be in England.

It is a weekly allowance that is paid in term time only for a maximum of 35 weeks in an academic year. The amount you will get depends on which area you live in and on how much your parents earn.

You do not get your allowance if you have not met the conditions set in a learning agreement: likely to be 100% attendance, good behaviour and satisfactory work.

Students need to re-register with EMA on a yearly basis in order to be sent out new Contract Part 1 and 2. Please do not assume that your payment will automatically restart at the beginning of each new academic year.

If you are eligible, or are in receipt of EMA, you cannot receive travel funding from ATM. For more information and to apply, go to this web site:

www.direct.gov.uk/ema or ring 0808 10 16 219.

 

 

The Adult Learning Grant is a means tested grant. It provides a weekly payment during term time to adults aged 19 or over studying full-time for a first Level 2 (five GCSEs or equivalent) or Level 3 qualification (two A Levels or equivalent).

You can get up to £30 per week during term time. A financial assessment will be made based on your income. If you have a live-in partner, their income will be part of the assessment. If you live at your parents’ home, their income is disregarded. Payment is then paid directly into your bank account upon the confirmation of your 100% attendance.

If you are 18, you can apply one month before your 19th birthday.

 

ELIGIBILITY & HOW TO APPLY

To find out if you are eligible and for an application form, please contact the ALG team on 0845 4560027 / 0845 4560028 / 0800 100 900 or via the web: www.adultlearninggrant.co.uk

 

 

WHAT IS IT?
A Career Development Loan is a deferred repayment loan from a bank to help you pay for vocational learning or education costs.

• You can borrow between £300 and £8,000 to help you fund up to two years of learning.
• The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) pays the interest on your loan while you are learning and for up to one month after you have finished.
• You then repay the loan to the bank over the agreed period at a fixed rate of interest.
• CDLs are available through three high street banks: Barclays, The Co-operative Bank and The Royal Bank of Scotland. You do not have to be an existing account holder but the bank may require you to open an account with them.

 

WHO CAN APPLY?
You can apply if you are:

• aged 18 or over;
• ordinarily resident in Great Britain;
• once you have finished your course you must intend to work in the UK or EU.
• are unable to pay for the course yourself

Your course must be vocational (which ATM courses are) and lasts a minimum of two years.

 

WANT TO KNOW MORE?
For more information and an application pack, visit one of the three banks listed above, or your local job centre.

Also check out this website:
www.direct.gov.uk/cdl
Alternatively call the Career Development Loan information line on:
Free phone 0800 585 505.

N.B If you are thinking of going on to university, you should think carefully about taking out a CDL as you will probably be needing a student loan in the future

 

 

The Fame Academy Bursary was set up after the success of BBC's Fame Academy programme. The money raised on the programme is now used to fund young musicians, from a range of genres, to help them pursue their careers in music.

There are two areas where you can apply for a bursary:

EDUCATION BURSARY

This is for aspiring musicians aged 16 to 30 who are studying music. There are six bursaries up for grabs which are worth up to £20,000 each. You will have to demonstrate a passion for your music as well as come up with innovative and unique ways of using the money to help your career. The scheme is open to players of all styles of music. You need to be aged between 16 and 30 on the opening day of applications (March 1st 2007). Closing date is 1 June 2007.

URBAN BURSARY

The BBC works with a team of talent scouts and the urban music industry to find the best local talent and provide them with funding, training and contacts as part of the Fame Academy Urban Music Scheme. Entry is by nomination only.

For more information and to apply visit the Fame Academy Bursary website.

If you're under 20 and have one or more children, Care to Learn can help with the cost of your child car and travel costs while you are learning. For further information and eligibility criteria either:

• Phone 0845 600 2809
• or visit; www.direct.gov.uk/caretolearn