18 year old in FE

bestpud

My dd has a friend who is 18 and in FE.

She has left home (neither parent will have her back), and currently rents a room in a shared house that she found through the college.

She receives EMA and the college pay her rent at the moment but can't say for defintite they will be able to help her out in her second year (so I am assuming it's through the ALF?) Her rent is £60 a week and she pays a share of bills on top (that's about right for round here, going on the ads in the local paper).

They are in college four days a week.

Is she able to get any help at all with her living costs, or is she going to need a job that will cover it all?

I'm guessing she will still receive EMA during the term time, even if she works, and is over 18 (she is a year above the others age wise iyswim)?

I've said to dd (she's just left to meet her) that Connexions may be a better place to start than JCP, which is where she was going to go.

I've also suggested the local Foyer.

Can anyone think of anything else?

BTW, she is going to find a job (and is actively looking for one now, so she can get some money saved in preparation for next year) but she is going to be stuck if she can't get extra hours during the holidays, I imagine.

Oldernotwiser

Wow, your college is really generous; that wouldn't happen anywhere I've worked!

In my experience she'd have to self fund next year as she won't, obviously, be able to claim JSA whilst at college but that's not a definitive answer. I think you're right to have suggested Connexions to her, although they may not be able to help.

In your area, what are the chances of her being able to earn the about £80 per week through part time work? What course is she on, when will she be 19 and what does she want to do afterwards?

bestpud

Yes, I was quite surprised to! And I guess that is why they are not giving any guarantees for next year.

I don't actually know when she is 19 (I will ask dd later - she kind of threw it at me as she was walking out the door, as they do!) I just know she is 18 now and left school the year before dd. I'm only guessing it is the ALF to as dd said the college pay it.

I'd have said the chances of her getting a job that pays above the NMW are slim.

The course is a National Dip in Art and Design, I imagine. Well, it must be as that is what dd is doing.

I have no idea what she wants to do afterwards but I do know she will probably have to move away if she wants to 'use' her qualification.

I'm thinking Foyer may be her best bet, although she will obviously still need to find rent. Hopefully it would be a little cheaper, or they can at least hep her make the most of her income.

She is apparently a bit down about it all at the moment and was thinking there is no point continuing with her course, although I think dd has managed to persuade her it is worth finishing the first year at least.

Oldernotwiser

bestpud wrote: »

Yes, I was quite surprised to! And I guess that is why they are not giving any guarantees for next year.

I don't actually know when she is 19 (I will ask dd later - she kind of threw it at me as she was walking out the door, as they do!) I just know she is 18 now and left school the year before dd. I'm only guessing it is the ALF to as dd said the college pay it.

I'd have said the chances of her getting a job that pays above the NMW are slim.

The course is a National Dip in Art and Design, I imagine. Well, it must be as that is what dd is doing.

I have no idea what she wants to do afterwards but I do know she will probably have to move away if she wants to 'use' her qualification.

I'm thinking Foyer may be her best bet, although she will obviously still need to find rent. Hopefully it would be a little cheaper, or they can at least hep her make the most of her income.

She is apparently a bit down about it all at the moment and was thinking there is no point continuing with her course, although I think dd has managed to persuade her it is worth finishing the first year at least.

The only Foyer I know was horrendously expensive because of all the staff and support costs. Although it was excellent, many people were really stuck there on benefits as, if they got any sort of job, they just couldn't afford the rent. May be different where you are.

This is always a tricky situation and working part time to fund the course is what everybody I know has had to do. Sorry not to be more help.

MrsManda

I presume the college is using their Discretionary Support Fund to pay for her accommodation this year. She may be eligible for an Adult Learning Grant.

She could also try searching for grants through certain charities and trusts. She can search what is available through HERE

Connexions is a good place to try.

bestpud

MrsManda wrote: »

I presume the college is using their Discretionary Support Fund to pay for her accommodation this year. She may be eligible for an Adult Learning Grant.

She could also try searching for grants through certain charities and trusts. She can search what is available through HERE

Connexions is a good place to try.

I was wondering if there were any grants she could apply for so thanks for the link. I realise they wouldn't cover her costs but every bit helps really.

She receives EMA at the moment, and I thought she would still get that next year?

Fire_Fox

She may be entitled to income support, I have known a student estranged from her parents who was able to claim this. She will probably need statements from college tutors/ counsellors/ key workers to support any application tho. Ditto if she wants to go to university and receive a maintenance grant. Has she exemption from council tax sorted?

bestpud

Fire_Fox wrote: »

She may be entitled to income support, I have known a student estranged from her parents who was able to claim this. She will probably need statements from college tutors/ counsellors/ key workers to support any application tho. Ditto if she wants to go to university and receive a maintenance grant. Has she exemption from council tax sorted?

Yes, I assume she has the exemption from council tax.

She is talking of moving away now and doing the course part time elsewhere. Personally I think that is jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, but still...

Oldernotwiser

bestpud wrote: »

Yes, I assume she has the exemption from council tax.

She is talking of moving away now and doing the course part time elsewhere. Personally I think that is jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, but still...

Has she found somewhere that offers the course part time? That's quite unusual.

I don't think that this will be suitable because you obviously have a course provider near you but it might be worth looking at colleges which offer Residential Bursaries. It might be possible for her to chooses a course that is't available nearby and do it this way. The link goes forwards to relevant institutions but back to direct.gov for general information about Residential Bursaries.

http://moneytolearn.direct.gov.uk/residentialbursary/

bestpud

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Has she found somewhere that offers the course part time? That's quite unusual.

I don't think that this will be suitable because you obviously have a course provider near you but it might be worth looking at colleges which offer Residential Bursaries. It might be possible for her to chooses a course that is't available nearby and do it this way. The link goes forwards to relevant institutions but back to direct.gov for general information about Residential Bursaries.

http://moneytolearn.direct.gov.uk/residentialbursary/

Thanks for that.

I will pm you about the first part, as I don't want to put any more details than I have on here.

ETA: your inbox is full.

Oldernotwiser

Will just sort it and look out for your pm later.