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

wigglywoozle

robhammond wrote:

wigglywoozle
"I'm a lone parent and really need some extra cash to help out with my course that I'm starting in September. The Childcare grant only covers 85% of the nursery fees so I would need to find the rest myself. The only thing is I'm not in debt. Will they still look upon my case favourably?"

Yes, students in your situation and similar is precisely why the fund was set up. On your application, remember to tell them that you are being proactive rather than reactive. i.e. you are trying to prevent debt rather than be bailed out from it.

Do I have to specify what I want it for and the amount I want or can I just ask for the maximum they'd give me? Can you apply several times in the year like say, I got a payment this term, could I apply for another next term?

Thanks

Kate x

robhammond

wigglywoozle "Do I have to specify what I want it for and the amount I want or can I just ask for the maximum they'd give me?"

They give you the maximum they can automatically, you don't specify how much you want. Regards your other point, you give them full details of your income & expenditure (verified by your bank account statement) and explain in the written statement why you are struggling/going to struggle.

Other posts in this thread should give you help in filling the form in. If you have any problems though just ask!

freebie_junkie

wigglywoozle wrote:

I'm a lone parent and really need some extra cash to help out with my course that I'm starting in September. The Childcare grant only covers 85% of the nursery fees so I would need to find the rest myself. The only thing is I'm not in debt. Will they still look upon my case favourably?

im not in debt either, they can give you money for general course experditure OR debt relief, you can apply for the first part, tahts what i do

E36

Looks interesting, but im confused about how it all works.

Im off to Uni next month, Bath, for a MEng course. I have easily qualified for every student grant recently, eg full EMA for the last two years, and the full grant to cover tuition fees, as well as needing the full loans available to me. This should give a picture of my familes financial situation .

Can I apply straight away? And it appears to be much more than 30mins work for my Uni:

"Assistance is given only when a student can show special difficulties and there are certain priority categories that are indicated on the form. Students cannot be guaranteed assistance and will be required to have an interview with one of the Student Money Advisers. You will need to provide your last 3 months bank statements for all accounts held, details of sponsorship (if applicable) and any outstanding credit card or utility bills."

My current bank account statements are irrelevent , seeing as my housing and food are currently free thanks to my parents. I dont however spend at all frivolously, barely spend at all TBH.

Thanks for any help, and I apologise as im sure these questions have been answered earlier in the thread in slightly different wording :rolleyes:

r8frazer

Hi there, I need some advice about ALF too..

Last year I got minimum EVERYTHING with regard to student finance.. my household income was around £80K a year, so I got a 3K loan, no grant and had to pay all my tuition fees.. My mum and dad paid my fees, loan covered my accomodation, and I got 200 a month from the 'rents, plus about 200 a month from part time work whilst at uni.

Now my mum and dad have split.. Im now getting MAXIMUM everything, 4.6K loan, 1K grant and tuition fees free. This is because my household income is now 10.5K per year instead of 80, as my dad is no longer living with us.

Still, I will be getting the 200 a month from the 'rents and 200 from the part time job..

My question is, although im obviously going to be comfortable, would I be able to get any cash from the ALF solely due to my low household income? Or will the fact that I have 400 quid a month goin into my account go against me?

Thanks in advance, and I hope you dont think im a robbing git.. Im just tryna get some free cash!!

TeaBoy_2

r8frazer - you should be fed cockroaches served in a canister.
your daddy is on 80k a year!

i doubt you'd get any alf, they look at your bank statements and decide if your really going to struggle. think you should be happy with the free 1k grant.

robhammond

E36 "Can I apply straight away? And it appears to be much more than 30mins work for my Uni"

I can't comment on your individual case as I don't know all the facts but I would advise speaking to an advisor, even before Uni starts (the Advice Centres are usually open through the summer too). They will advise about your evidence too, but I should imagine they will tell you to submit alternatives i.e. rent agreement etc.

Regards the 30 minutes work - it may take a little longer in some cases - its an approximation!!

r8frazer "My question is, although im obviously going to be comfortable, would I be able to get any cash from the ALF solely due to my low household income?"

It is your income, not your household income (unless you are married/co-dependant). I would very much doubt you would get anything if you are 'comfortable' as it is for students in hardship. Basically your expenditure has to be more than your income (for valid reasons not because you couldn't resist that CD, new coat etc) or becuase you know your expenditure will be more than your income.

DrFluffy

I got £1,300 last year, and will definitely be applying this year...

radaas

you basically put on your incomings for the 9 months and your outgoings for that period regardless if you have say a 10-12 month accomodation contract etc etc.
The summer fund will be there to cover you to be that.

Always be honest! it helps

be wary of what else is happening in the financing topics of the uni/slc etc.

I only applied for it fopr the last 2 years 1st time i was declined but awarded 1k on appeal the 2nd time last year i was only awarded 400£ even though my financial problems were 4k more in the red.

The reason i say this is because if someof you remember last year there was a student loan fiasco where loads of people got it late, this meant we were told that the poor nurses (who have my full respect) had been studyng pre-september but were desperate to get there loan in so had no choice but to apply for alf and they were all given quite a high priority.

lets hope they are no more problems this year, but then again im no longer a student :0(

ezzmo

Hi.
your information and time on this thread is fantastic.:T
Can i ask you a question.
I have just found out today that i have been accepted from the reserve list for my local college to do an access to nursing course, it will start this coming monday. Its full time and my partner who will be a disabled student also starts the following monday.
As its such short notice and i havent even applied for childcare grant etc, can the college help me out with childcare costs before my award comes through?.
I have searched endlessly for info and cant find it. My local nursery wants one month up front and apparently the grant is one month in arrears, which will be impossible to finance.
Thanks in advance. Kathleen