Financial Help

If you are on a low income, you may also qualify for financial support to help with the costs of coming to college. You may be eligible for one of the following:

Dress makingLearner Support Fund

If you are over 16 years old and your course is 9 hours or more and you're on a low income, you may be eligible for financial support from the Learner Support Fund. At this college, these funds are used to help with:

  • Tuition and exam fees
  • Childcare costs if using the college nursery. Limited places available
  • Contributions towards the cost of books and equipment and trips and residentials
  • Travel expenses

Adult Learning Grant

The Adult Learning Grant is an allowance of up to £30 per week paid while you are studying for your first full level 2 or full level 3 qualification. You must be over 19 and meet residency conditions. You must not be in receipt of any other government grants or training allowances or out of work benefits. The amount of allowance you get depends on your income. If you live alone your income must be less than £19,000 and if you live with a partner your joint income must be less than £30,000. You must be studying for a minimum of 12 hours a week.

For information phone the Adult Learning Grant Helpline 0845 456 0027 or 0845 456 0028.

Adult Learning Options

Adult Learning Option can help you to get financial support to study towards a vocational qualification so that you can improve your skills. You will Astonreceive an extra payment each week and your benefit will not be affected. If you are on Adult Learning Options you will also get your travel expenses and childcare cost for up to 52 weeks. To qualify you must be studying towards your first level 2 vocational qualification. You must be 19 years or over and be in receipt of a qualifying benefit for the qualifying period. Ask for details at your local Job Centre Plus office.

Care to Learn

The Care to Learn fund is for young parents under 20. It pays towards the cost of childcare (in the college's nursery or an external nursery). You can also get help with travel costs. You can be on a full time or part-time course. There is no set number of hours. You can claim up to £155 per week in childcare costs for each child and travel costs. It will not affect your benefits and you do not have to be in receipt of benefits to claim Care to Learn. For more information call the Childcare Link on 08000 960296 for help in finding a registered childcare provider.

For more information on Care to Learn:
Call the Care to Learn Helpline on 0845 600 2809
Email: caretolearn@manchester.gov.uk
Website: www.dfes.gov.uk/caretolearn

HE Access to Learning Fund

We have a small fund to assist home students onto Higher Education courses. The Access to Learning Fund can help towards the cost of fees, travel and other expenses. For further information contact our Student Services Team.

Golden Hillock AcademyEducational Maintenance Allowances (EMAs)

If you're 16-19 years old you may be eligible for:

  • A weekly payment of up to £30 if you attend college regularly
  • Bonuses of up to £100 each are payable at intervals during the year, if you do well

You may be able to claim this money for up to three years depending on your age. You can apply for an EMA if:

  • You are under 19 when you start your course
  • You on a full time course (over 12 hours per week)
  • Your parents' gross taxable income is less than £30,810 per year
  • You are a UK resident

For more information on EMA visit www.direct.gov.uk/ema or call the EMA helpline on 0808 10 16219.

European Social Fund

Some of our courses are supported by the European Social Fund. This funding helps us to offer courses that we could otherwise not run, and also provides support directly to students in some cases. Students who are eligible for this funding include unemployed people, lone parents, and people who are employed in small companies. The European Social fund also helps other groups such as women and young people who are experiencing disadvantage.