Alternative sources of funding

Career development loans

If you cannot get any student support through the Local Authority (LA) or any other funding to help pay for the course you want to do, you may be able to apply for a Career Development Loan (CDL).

A - How do CDLs work?

A CDL is designed to cover course fees and other costs such as books, materials, childcare and, if the course is full-time, living expenses. You can apply for a CDL of between £300 and £8,000 to cover up to 80% of course fees plus other costs. Anyone over the age of 18 years can apply.

You make no repayments during the period of training and for up to one month afterwards. During this time the interest on the loan is paid by the Learning and Skills Council for you. At the end of this period you become responsible for the loan repayments and any further interest.

If you are claiming, or wish to claim social security benefits you should check with your local benefits agency office and local authority how your benefits may be affected.

B - Who is eligible to apply?

Anyone aged 18 or over who lives or intends to train in Great Britain.

C - How can you find out more?

CDL information leaflets or application packs (which include full details on eligibility, an application form and lists of bank branches you can apply to) are available from Job Centres, careers advisers, universities and colleges. Or you can ask for the leaflet or application pack from the CDL information line, phone 0800 585 505.

---

Access to learning funds

Hardship Funds are available to full-time and part time students (studying at least half of an equivalent full-time course. Your College will be able to tell you if your course qualifies). Undergraduate and postgraduate students at college can apply. Your college can give you more information. Hardship/Access Fund payments are usually given as grants, and do not have to be repaid, although sometimes they can be given as short term loans. Whether you receive payment and how much, is up to the College to decide and will depend on your circumstances.

Hardship loans

Hardship loans are available too help students who get into serious financial difficulty during their course. To qualify you must have applied for your full loan entitlement and have received your first instalment. It is up to your college to decide whether you meet the criteria and how much of the hardship loan you can receive.

Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS)

The Educational Grants Advisory Service operates nationally and offers comprehensive advice and information on sources of funding available for education and training including loans, grants, benefits, hardship funds, bursaries and charitable trusts

On receipt of a completed Student Questionnaire EGAS provides an individual, written response to students wishing to identify funding for education and training. Based on the information provided in the questionnaire EGAS will ensure that the student is supplied with information on statutory funding to which they are entitled and recommend other appropriate funding options, including charitable trusts.

EGAS is not a grant-giving body itself; however, EGAS is part of the Family Welfare Association (FWA), which is trustee to a number of educational trusts with a range of eligibility criteria. Students cannot apply to these trusts directly; all enquiries should be addressed to EGAS.

Telephone: 0207 254 6251, open:Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2pm to 4pm.

A copy of the Student Questionnaire can be printed from Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS) website or by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to EGAS at: 501-505 Kingsland Road, London, E8 4AU. Email: egas.enquiry@fwa.org.uk.

National Union of Students (NUS)

The NUS produces a series of information sheets on student finance. You can send an A4 stamped addressed envelope, specifying the subject you require information on, to: The Welfare Unit, NUS, 2nd Floor, Centro 3, 19 Mandela St, London NW1 0DU. Telephone: 08712 218221. Fax: 08712 218222. Or visit the NUS Online website.

---

Trusts and charities

There are many thousands of different Trusts in the UK. However not all are available to students. Different Trusts have different criteria. So, firstly, you have to find an appropriate Trust to apply to. Secondly, follow the specified application procedure; some Trusts require the institution to apply, some may let the applicant apply in the first instance then approval is required from the institution for reference. There are a number of ways for you to find a charity that may be able to help meet your particular need:

Libraries

The following publications may be available in Reference Libraries:

• Charities Digest (2007 edition) price £30.60 plus £2.95 postage and packing. Publisher: Waterlow Press
• Directory of Grant-Making Trusts 2005 -2006  published by the Charities Aid Foundation. Price approximately £95.
• The Grants Register (2007) published by Palgrave Macmillan Press. Price £175
• Funder Finder, A CD ROM, is also available which will give details of appropriate funding sources.

Useful websites

See links opposite.

Local charities

The following charities can give help to students for specific purposes, eg books, equipment etc. They tend not to give maintenance grants but if you need only a small amount towards maintenance, it may be worth while asking for help. Apply in writing, explaining how much you need, what you need the grant for, why you need help and what your financial circumstances are. If you can get letters of support (from tutors, social workers, etc) it will help.

---

Individual trusts and foundations

Important note: Please read very carefully the qualifying criteria for the individual Trusts and Foundations.

The Devon Educational Trust

People under 25 years whose normal place of residence is in Devon. Trustees meet three times a year, in March, July and November and make awards between £100 and £500. Closing date for applications normally four weeks before the date of the meeting. Application forms from: Mrs Judy Matthews, PO Box 86, Teignmouth, TQ14 8ZT.

Note: You can download a copy of this application form from the file attachments box below.

The Elmgrant Trust

The Elmgrant Trust, a Private Trust set up by the late Leonard and Dorothy Elmhurst of Dartington Hall.

• Eligibility - applications are only considered from individuals who are normally resident in the South West mainly Devon or Cornwall. Appeals will be considered from small national organisations.
• Type of Grant - general charitable purposes, but in particular the encouragement of local life through education, the arts and social sciences. Funds are not available for Counselling courses, except under the Fellowship Scheme.
• Restrictions - postgraduate study, overseas student grants, expeditions, travel and study projects over seas not considered; also renewed application from the same (successful) individual or organization not considered with a two-year period.
• Annual Grant Total - 79 grants in 2005/06 totalling £52,528 of which 25% were for individual applicants.
• Applicants - by letter only, giving full financial details, confirmation of a place on your course and, where possible, a letter of support. Meetings are held quarterly.
• Correspondent - Angela Taylor, Secretary, The Elmgrant Trust, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6EL. Telephone: 01803 863160

The Second Chance Trust (formerly Elmgrant Fellowships)

The Second Chance Trust Fellowships are awarded to those aged 30 and over living in Devon or Cornwall who want to change direction and need further education, training, experience, or support to do so. Special consideration is given to applicants whose proposed activity will benefit the community they live in as well as themselves. Applications for activities other than courses are especially welcome.

The Trustees are especially interested in supporting personal development through experience, or applications from groups, or from a ‘learning family’. There is no upper age limit. In 2004 the average was £230. Few grants are given for degree courses other than those of the OU. No grants are given for postgraduate study or overseas travel. Second grants are given only in extreme circumstances.

Apply to: Bob Greig, Second Change Trust, 2 Martins, Dartington Hall, Totnes TQ9 6EUP enclosing a large SAE. You are advised to phone 01803 849245 before applying.

Charitable Trust in West Devon

The undermentioned three Trusts might be able to assist students who either are not eligible for a grant or whose grant is insufficient. All enquiries regarding these three Trusts should be addressed to: Mr F J Webb, The Clerk to the Trusts, 33 Downham Gardens, Tamerton Foliot, Plymouth, PL5 4QF. The telephone number is 01752 776612.

(a) Elize Hele Foundation

Grants in aid are limited to boys and girls born or resident with their parents for five years, either:

• within the boundaries of the City of Plymouth
• within the parishes of Bere Ferrers, Brixton, Sparkwell, or Yealmpton
• for those aged 16 to 23

(b) John Lanyon Foundation

Grants in aid are limited to boys and girls born or resident for five years, within the boundaries of the City of Plymouth.

Grants by these two Foundations are made to assist in starting out in life, either at University, College of Education or other educational establishments, including professional or technical ones. Grants are not made for maintenance while at such establishments, but are made to enable the commencement, properly equipped, of courses at such places and may include the provision of clothing, tools, equipment and books at all levels of further education.

Grants are for those aged between 16 and 23

(c) Devon and Cornwall Aid for Girls Trust

Grants in aid are limited to girls resident in the counties of Devon and Cornwall:

• primarily orphans - that is those who have lost either or both parents
• any other girl in need

Grants are made towards the cost of care, maintenance or other needs, particularly in the case of those entering University or College, by providing tools, books, special fees, travelling expenses or other items as may help them earn their own living or advance them in their chosen livelihood. Grants are for those aged between 16 and 23.

(v) Dyke Exhibition Foundation

The Foundation makes awards to students who are undertaking courses in further education. The awards made are for a maximum period of 3 years and are for the general use of the student to assist with fees, accommodation, purchase of books and equipment, travelling or any other expenses incurred by the student.

Applicants must be aged 16 or over but under 25 at the date of application and at the beginning of the latest year for which an award is applied. Applicants must be resident in Somerset, Devon or Cornwall and satisfy at least one of these requirements:

(a) the applicant must have been born in Somerset, Devon or Cornwall, or

(b) the applicant must have been resident in Somerset, Devon or Cornwall for at least 3 years before the date of application, or

(c) the applicant must have been attending a school in Somerset, Devon or Cornwall for at least 2 years before the date of application.

All applications are considered on merit but preference is given to applicants who are, or who are about to become, undergraduates of Oxford University or any other university.

Amount of award

The Foundation has only limited funds available to it. The amount of an award will depend on the circumstances of the individual applicant, but is likely to be in the range of £100 to £300 per annum.

Application forms and details of closing date are to be obtained by sending a stamped, addressed envelope to G J O Channer, The Clerk to the Exhibition’s Trustees, Messrs. Bevan Ashford, 41 St James Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1JR.

Please also read the booklet entitled ‘A Guide To Financial Support for Higher Education Students in 2006/2007’ published by the DfES for further alternative funding information. Available free of charge from Plymouth Student Support Team and the DfES direct.

[Back to top]