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

iwanttosave_2

This is the PDF of the aplication for the OU access to funding course and it has nothing that can help with us. Can we still apply?

OU

Basically we are really struggling at the moment, we can just about pay the rent or buy food.

missk_ensington

I have no idea, I don't know anything about the OU. I guess it should be the same criteria for funding, do you have children?

It IS for general living costs, don't be fobbed off by them. You can't lose anything in applying.

Do you receive loans and grants when you study at the OU?

missk_ensington

Just read your link, it says 'such as travel, childcare....' it doesn't say only for travel and childcare!

I didn't get mine for those reasons, mine was for general living and to buy a washing machine and have carpets etc put in house.

iwanttosave_2

missk_ensington wrote:

I have no idea, I don't know anything about the OU. I guess it should be the same criteria for funding, do you have children?

It IS for general living costs, don't be fobbed off by them. You can't lose anything in applying.

Do you receive loans and grants when you study at the OU?

Yes we have children, ages 6 &1. And I have recived the cost of my course fee's from them and a £250 grant to pay for books, computer equipment and other stuff study related.

The guy on the phone said that there is no way that the hardship fund would EVER pay out for general living costs as its only for study costs. When I told him he was wong and explained about this thread and that others were reciving money, he said that the guys advice was out of date and that what has been said is not true nor valid :mad:

Thing is, I cant see on that form anywhere to put what needs to be paid out as it only has a study costs table

missk_ensington

Well as I've said, I've just got my money today, so don't see how it can be out of date. The fund used to be called the Hardship fund, as was put in place to help people suffering HARDSHIP which could cause them to drop out of uni.

The guy you've spoken to may not be wrong, it may be something to do with the fact you're at open university. Due to the flexibility of it, you may be expected to work also?!?! Maybe it isn't regardded as a uni degree because you don't receive student loans and grants for it?

No idea, just trying to second guess a reasonable explanation. I don't really know how the OU works, I thought you paid a fee and you do everything at home in your own time, then sit exams as normal? No? Therefore you may be expected to work becuse you don't have to be at lectures/seminars at set times several times a day?

Do they pay your childcare? If not I'd swap and go to another uni, full time. Depending on what your husbands income is, they give you loads. I get nearly all my childcare paid 5 days a week including holidays (I'm only at uni 2 days, so when Im at work the other 3 days I don't pay any childcare!) They give me £1365 Parents Learning Allowance, £1000 HE grant plus £4,000 is loans. Then onviously I get my tax credits, Child Benefit etc.

iwanttosave_2

He said that this had taken over from the hardship fund and no longer gave money for living costs, according to the direct government website, it does cover costs so I cant see how the OU can tailor it to their own specifications.

What I am doing is a degree, which as as good as a normal degree, the difference is, is that I do it at home (which does make it harder sometimes) The course I am doing is a minimum of 16 hours a week, then an exam on the end (friday the 13th :eek:) and I did recive a grant of £250 for course materials, books ect.

I am doing it at home because I dont want to put my kids into childcare, although they do give you money towards childcare.

I was reading on a website about a higher education grant through the LEA might have to try that instead.

djhworld

When I go back for my second year in September I'll be applying for ALF again, it's always a helping hand!

robhammond

Hey all,

missk_ensington

"Hey just wanted to say, I got an email today from Access To Learning and they're giving me £1,465!!!"

Fantastic, I know it's been a struggle for you of late from your previous posts so I'm really happy for you! Have you thought about applying for the summer fund too?

iwanttosave

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Regarding what the OU said, that isn't strictly true. The ALF is for students in financial difficulties that may mean that either they cannot afford to buy essential course materials OR are in a situation where they may be forced to give up thier study because they are in significant financial difficulties OR because something unexpected happens and they do not have the financial resources to deal with it.

In your case I would say that you are probably in the final two categories. If I was in your situation, I would still apply. In your supporting statement I would state about your partners medical condition, the difficulty you are having paying the bills and the fact that it is having a detrimental impact on your studies.

If you have any further difficulties or questions you know where we all are. - Good luck!

SuperBOB

"Based on your experience is it worth me applying?"

The short answer is yes, as I would always recommend that a student applies. To be honest though I don't think that you will get much if anything unless there are reasons why you cannot afford to work during the summer break?
However, the ALF committee will be looking to give as much away as possible because if they don't spend it, they give it back and face reduced amounts next year so I wouldn't worry about the moral dilemma!

Cheers,

Rob

missk_ensington

Thanks Rob, I'm not hardfaced anough to apply for Summer Fund when they have just given me this money! I'll apply for ALF again though next year!

I felt really awful about taking this money because I guess its my own fault all my loan/grant were used on a despoit for my house, but I thought, well if I hadn't bought my own house I would be able to get Housing Benefit at £300 a month on a rented house, so that'd cost the Government more than £1500 in the long term, and it all comes from the same pot essentially!

Again, thanks loads. If you hadn't given me the advice I would never have applied!

x

Snow_Angel

I applied for this last year and was told their access fund pot had run out - I actually do have the need for financial help.

I got really pi***d off as I know people who applied who go out 4 or 5 nights a week drinking, spend all their money on clothes and still got in excess of £1500 because they were in "hardship".

I just think the unis should be more careful in checking applications and actually look into applicants' spending habits through, for example, previous bank statements.

Sorry - rant over!

:mad: