help needed for student application looked after child

Lokolo

hoochi wrote: »

thank you i will be seeing her today and we wil print this off she originally ticked the box about under the care of the local authority but then at the end of the application where it gives you an estimate of entitlement and under maintenance grant it said N/A so i rang the helpline for her to be told she cannot claim the grant unless she ticks income assessed and puts carers details, we will do it on paper copy and tick not living with parnets etc so not income assessed will she still get the grant she is waiting for contact from the social workers as apparently the one that did her crb for uni has left

sorry its a long post, but also she is getting ema how does she make sure she continues to get this ?

thank you very much

EMA isn't for uni, its just for college.

She'll get plenty of grants anyway I imagine.

gizmo111

She will get full grants and fees paid - not sure what the reference to Barnados paying is. The Local Authority should be paying any extras - is she going to a local Uni or wil lshe need accommodation.

hoochi

shes going away to uni but not far enough to stay she will be travelling by train thats what shes hoping to do its not a local one, her connections officer has told her that barnados will pay, if the authority pay does that mean its a loan ? it seens that now shes 18 she seems to have been left to sort everything out herself and shes clost to leaving it which is why im trying to sort it, i understand that ema is for college i thought someone said she could get maintenance funding during the school hols until she goes uni or is this her allowance from barnados she will get thanks

Oldernotwiser

hoochi wrote: »

shes going away to uni but not far enough to stay she will be travelling by train thats what shes hoping to do its not a local one, her connections officer has told her that barnados will pay, if the authority pay does that mean its a loan ? it seens that now shes 18 she seems to have been left to sort everything out herself and shes clost to leaving it which is why im trying to sort it, i understand that ema is for college i thought someone said she could get maintenance funding during the school hols until she goes uni or is this her allowance from barnados she will get thanks

Does she already have some kind of council/HA flat? If not, wouldn't it be a good idea for her to move into halls so she can integrate fully into university life?

I was the one who mentioned funding for the holidays - I'll try to find a link.

Edit: See paragraph headed "Care Leavers Grant".

http://www.careleavers.com/acessingeducation

gizmo111

hoochi wrote: »

shes going away to uni but not far enough to stay she will be travelling by train thats what shes hoping to do its not a local one, her connections officer has told her that barnados will pay, if the authority pay does that mean its a loan ? it seens that now shes 18 she seems to have been left to sort everything out herself and shes clost to leaving it which is why im trying to sort it, i understand that ema is for college i thought someone said she could get maintenance funding during the school hols until she goes uni or is this her allowance from barnados she will get thanks

Your neice is a Former Relevant Young Person under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and as such the Local Authprity is her parent. They should not be lending her money but fully funding her to go to Uni. She should have a Personal Advisor from the LA, alhough it seems this may be one that is subbed out to Barnados. She will be entitled to funding throughout the Uni course including accommodation if she is not staying in foster care, and travel if she is.

hoochi

i suggested her staying in halls but she did not want to get into severe debt in renting also she has only just found myself and her grandma a year ago so she is also torn between family links even though we have said we are not going anywhere, i think if her lodgins were paid for she may reconsider i will certainly have a look, thank you all so much this is a very overwhelming time for all of us and your kindness and help is appreciated

Lokolo

hoochi wrote: »

i suggested her staying in halls but she did not want to get into severe debt in renting also she has only just found myself and her grandma a year ago so she is also torn between family links even though we have said we are not going anywhere, i think if her lodgins were paid for she may reconsider i will certainly have a look, thank you all so much this is a very overwhelming time for all of us and your kindness and help is appreciated

Try and support her to make new friends. It will be harder if she is living away and commuting. But it may give her the opportunity to live away (with friends) from her second year.

Oldernotwiser

gizmo111 wrote: »

Your neice is a Former Relevant Young Person under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and as such the Local Authprity is her parent. They should not be lending her money but fully funding her to go to Uni. She should have a Personal Advisor from the LA, alhough it seems this may be one that is subbed out to Barnados. She will be entitled to funding throughout the Uni course including accommodation if she is not staying in foster care, and travel if she is.

Could you give us a link for that please? As a former Careers Adviser and foster parent, I've never heard of it.

Oldernotwiser

hoochi wrote: »

i suggested her staying in halls but she did not want to get into severe debt in renting also she has only just found myself and her grandma a year ago so she is also torn between family links even though we have said we are not going anywhere, i think if her lodgins were paid for she may reconsider i will certainly have a look, thank you all so much this is a very overwhelming time for all of us and your kindness and help is appreciated

There is also a Care Leavers Bursary that she can apply for that is, I believe, 2,000 for the first year and 1,000 for the subsequent years.

gizmo111

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/_download/?id=5268 Page 61

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/draft/ukdsi_9780111480663_en_1

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/_download/?id=6500

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/ukpga_20000035_en_1

Section 23 and 24

In addition each LA is required to have a children in care council and produce a Pledge for their area which will clearly set out their commitment to education.