Earn upto £3,500 for 30 minutes work!!! 'Access to Learning Fund'

Lady_K

My daughters going to apply for a second time during this year for ATL as since she applied the first time her circumstances have changed. She now has to stay in student accom all summer rather than come home and this wasn't expected. This will be extra cost for her plus extra cost for petrol to and from a placement so shes just going to try again

Just wasn't sure if she should re-apply for this ATL or just apply for the summer fund or both of them, anyone know?

missk_ensington

Elisebutt, do you mind me asking how much is 'too much coming in'? (You can PM me if you dont want to broadcast) Just I feel I might have too much coming in -£1300 a month plus my loand and grants. Is this more than yours? I have the application here but reluctant to send it having seen the figures on paper, I get childcare grant, PLA, HE and max loan equating to about £12,000 a year- it says on the notes divide this by 39 (why Ive no idea since I have to support myself 52 weeks of the year) well this works out over £300 a week! On top of my regular income! (But I dont actually have this money as it was spent on the deposit for my house...long story...but my partner left me last week)

I have no money, but on paper it looks like I have about £800 a week coming in!

elisebutt65

I think the limit is 12,000 a year but then you have to take into account things like school uniforms, all your bills, books and travel. The lady put all my figures up to the maximum but it was the CTC that put me over the limit as and I said - found out that I am getting £2300 a year in child disability for my littlie.

She told me to raise all my outgoings as much as is feasible - i.e. £50/month on books and about £25/week on travel. Those figures aren't actually that far off as I have to go to Brum from Leamington on the train and I spend a heck of a lot on books as i consider them an investment - I get them 2nd(or 3rd) from the uni library and then I can sell them back at the end of the course for 2/3 what I paid for them!!

My eldest littlie is starting 2ndry school in September and the uniform costs are horrendous - I'm off to find the 2nd hand uniform shop asap!! Plus there's all sorts of school trips etc that are way to numerous to list and I forgot to put them on - won't make that mistake again!!

djhworld

I've applied to the fund at my University.

Basically for a new computer, as my current machine (at uni) is broken, and I need it for my studies as I do a computing related degree.

Fingers crossed they'll grant me the money for one :P

ffeindadifyr

Sorry if a similar question has been asked before, but I'm going to be doing a graduate diploma nest year (music college) - will I be eligible for the ALF money?

greyster

Lady_K wrote:

My daughters going to apply for a second time during this year for ATL as since she applied the first time her circumstances have changed. She now has to stay in student accom all summer rather than come home and this wasn't expected. This will be extra cost for her plus extra cost for petrol to and from a placement so shes just going to try again

Just wasn't sure if she should re-apply for this ATL or just apply for the summer fund or both of them, anyone know?

I would apply twice.

|ZeN|

hi thanks for all the wonderful information.

i am just applying for the ALF myself. I am living out of home, will this be a problem as they can just turn around and tell me to go live at home as it will save the bulk of the costs? I am having problems with my family just in case your wondering and had to move out unofficially. Can they ask for proof? i.e. supporting letter from council etc...which i dont have.?

Moreover, i live in a place that is quite far from Uni so i have to add Transport costs, i can foresee them asking why i didint just live next to uni to save transport costs, is this a possibility or am i just being paranoid?

Finally, I have very little outgoings on my bank balance, because i pay for everything with mostly cash. I have 2 mobile phone lines that cost about £120 each month which i got for my foreign student friends who wernt able to subscribe to it themselves in the UK. Thus everymonth i get cash from these friends which i spend on living expenses etc. Do you think this will look dodgy to the committee?

All things considered, i do get full student loan and my tuition fees are paid by the gov because my family is so damn poor haha. I think my mom earns less than 10k for the family of 5.

missk_ensington

You havr to provide 3 months of bank statements and you get an automatic allowance for household costs like gas/elec etc so you dont need to prove them. Think its £45 a week for single student more for families. Your phone isn't regarded as an outgoing as its not essential.

It makes no difference where you live, they aren't there to rip you to shreds or interrogate you! You'll have to show your financial support notice thingy for your loans etc (You aren't entitled until youve received and used your maximum loan) you divide your loans andgrants by 42 or something like that and thats your weekly income plus aythig else you get. You then list expenditure like rent, travel, childcare, council tax (although the latter two won't apply to you)

Thing is, if you have no kids they expect you to work a few hours in addition to your studies, perhaps 10 hours a week of something to supplement your loans. You'll have received the HE grant of 1000 if your mum earns 10k, this will also be included in your income, but you deduct your rent from it which is probably your biggest cost anyway.

Good luck!

robhammond

Hi All,

I'm really really pleased to hear that you're all being successfully awarded, well in general! And for those that haven't appeal!!

elisebutt65

"I got £500!!!!!" :T

Lady_K

"Just wasn't sure if she should re-apply for this ATL or just apply for the summer fund or both of them, anyone know?"

My advice would be apply for both!! It will do no harm whatsoever!

missk_ensington

I'll get back to you very soon with some advice

djhworld

"Basically for a new computer, as my current machine (at uni) is broken, and I need it for my studies as I do a computing related degree."

I hope that it goes ok, but you'll be lucky if you do. They will probably argue that you can use computers on campus unless there is a very good reason why you can't. It would set quite a big precedent. If they don't, let me know the reasons why they have said no & i'll try and advise. Like I say though, hopefully they'll be nice!

ffeindadifyr

"Sorry if a similar question has been asked before, but I'm going to be doing a graduate diploma nest year (music college) - will I be eligible for the ALF money?"

Ok, it's a bit of a complex question. In principle yes you may be eligible but it will depend on who runs/owns your course. If the college is a further education institution running its own courses then the chances are you wont. However if the college has higher education status or is a further education centre with a course franchise with a higher education institution then you will! The best thing to do is simply ask!

|ZeN|

Firstly you are an adult & therefore can choose where you live, the Uni will not tell you where to live! The same applies to your transport question.
You may have problems evidencing your expenditure if you pay for everything in cash. If you have reciepts for rent, Council Tax (if you pay which you shouldn't!) & bills then copy them as evidence to substantiate your claim.

Make sure you spend time on your supporting statement.

Good luck!!

greyster

To those asking questions about how much detail the ALF staff go into, i really think you should not be worried. There is no verbal quizzing (well at least, i didnt) ... you don't need to worry about them coming back to you and asking why don't you do this or why didnt you do that.

They want to see the damage i.e 3 months of statements, review your app and potentially give you some cash to assist. Whether the hardship was due to gambling or your son driving the car into the next door neighbour's eden project - i doubt the ALF will ever know.