If you are from a disadvantaged socioeconomic background, you may be able to access funding to support your journey into meaningful employment.
Our guide to Funding, Grants and Schemes will help you understand the range of financial support available.
What Support is Available to Me?
Benefits
The Government provide financial support, commonly known as benefits, to help individuals and families who have a low income. You do not have to be unemployed to claim benefits, if you’re in work but on a low income, there may be benefits grants, or other financial support available to you.
There are various benefits available, including Universal Credit, Jobseekers Allowance, and Income Support. Visit the Government website to find out more about benefits and how to apply.
Turn 2 Us
Turn 2 Us is a national charity who provide financial support to low-income individuals and families. They have tools to help people in financial need find funding. This includes a benefits calculator and a grant search.
The Prince’s Trust
The Prince’s Trust award grants to young people aged 16-30. Specifically, they support individuals who are long-term unemployed, have been in care, faced difficulties in school or have faced legal problems. The charity run various programmes to support these young people, including awarding grants and bursaries.
Careers in the Arts
For people living in England and Wales who want to work as an artist, the Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants provide grants to support artists carry out their work. This includes writers, actors and musicians.
Similarly, Making Music support young professional musicians at the early stages of their careers through awarding bursaries and prizes.
Further Education
Everyone should have the opportunity to attend university. Your chance to gain further education should not be determined by your family’s financial status. While the cost of attending university in the UK can be extortionately high, there are various funding options available to help ensure you can access further education and reach your full potential.
One of the primary concerns of all students regarding higher education is getting hold of a student tuition fees and maintenance loan. Many young individuals do not know about alternative types of funding, grants and schemes, or assume they are not eligible for them.
We have put together a list of funding types for you, which will help you establish the best way to start your further education.
- Maintenance Grant
Maintenance grants or burasries are only available to students living in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales (Welsh Government known as the Learning Grant. Note that a maintenance grant may affect the amount of loan you can apply for. However, unlike the maintenance loan, you will not need to pay back the grant.
- Special Support Grant
If you are on income or housing support, are a single parent or have a disability, you might obtain Special Support Grant to help cover your expenses while studying.
- Dependants’ and Childcare Grants
You might qualify for extra support if you are financially responsible for another individual, including children. The amount you can be eligible for may depend on your location within the UK. You can find out if you qualify here.
- Bursaries and Scholarships
Bursaries and Scholarships are schemes run by colleges, universities, businesses, sometimes private funders. Each has independent conditions that need to be met in order to qualify. Some examples include your subject, course, grades or household income.
