Advice for online courses financial aid

marko1984

Hi there, I would like to know if there is any way of getting some financial help for three online courses i am interested in taking. they are GCSE maths and english, and Health, Exercise & Fitness - Level 3 Course, all from the distance learning centre.co.uk, totaling £865. not a lot i know, but more than i can currently afford due to my current situation of being unemployed. I am currently on ESA due to an anxiety disorder, and i hate the fact i cannot support myself. you see I left school early and never sat my exams and have felt regret about this for a long time. I did mostly labouring jobs for a number of years after leaving school requiring little in the way of qualifications, but fell ill, and was out of the workplace for a time, now on the mend i am required to have a checkable work history from the last six months and qualifications, which i do not have, and this sense of being trapped and inferior due to not possessing the basic qualifications is hurting my self esteem and is taking it's toll on me. I am 29 years old now, and feel like i am lacking the solid foundation that i could build upon, and regain my confidence. due to my current condition and not being in the best state to be sociable, i have developed a form of social anxiety, and would prefer to take these courses online without leaving my home. what i am looking for is some finacial aid that does not require me to attend any interviews or get any references. or if possible another site offering the same courses at either a cheaper rate, or a longer repayment plan. any help would be most appreciated, Thank you.

DomRavioli

marko1984 wrote: »

Hi there,

I would like to know if there is any way of getting some financial help for three online courses i am interested in taking. they are GCSE maths and english, and Health, Exercise & Fitness - Level 3 Course, all from the distance learning centre.co.uk, totalling £865.

not a lot i know, but more than i can currently afford due to my current situation of being unemployed. I am currently on ESA due to an anxiety disorder, and i hate the fact i cannot support myself.

you see I left school early and never sat my exams and have felt regret about this for a long time. I did mostly labouring jobs for a number of years after leaving school requiring little in the way of qualifications, but fell ill, and was out of the workplace for a time, now on the mend i am required to have a checkable work history from the last six months and qualifications, which i do not have, and this sense of being trapped and inferior due to not possessing the basic qualifications is hurting my self esteem and is taking it's toll on me.

I am 29 years old now, and feel like i am lacking the solid foundation that i could build upon, and regain my confidence. due to my current condition and not being in the best state to be sociable, i have developed a form of social anxiety, and would prefer to take these courses online without leaving my home.

what i am looking for is some finacial aid that does not require me to attend any interviews or get any references. or if possible another site offering the same courses at either a cheaper rate, or a longer repayment plan. any help would be most appreciated, Thank you.

You could apply for a 24+ loan, but you would have to go and sign the papers at the local college, and they will need to take proofs of ID and income at the college.

Why not go to learn direct? Your disability employment advisor (your local job centre has at least one of these) can refer onto Literacy & Numeracy - this is an equivalent at Level 2 to a GCSE in the subject.
It is usually free, you will have to register, but you can do most of it from home, and just take the exam at the centre.

I doubt you can get the funding for the courses on that provider - and being at college frequently is the best way to treat an anxiety disorder; you have to do things that make you uncomfortable in order to get better. If you're not managing your anxiety, please see your GP, they are there to help you.