If money worries are making it difficult for you to study at college or sixth form, there’s lots of help out there.
If you are aged 16 to 18 and at sixth form or FE college, you may be able to claim EMA. You can get up to £30 a week directly into your bank account if you stay on in education after your GCSEs.
To get an application pack and for more information visit the EMA page on the Directgov website.
You can also call the Learner Support helpline free – Phone: 0800 121 8989.
If you are at sixth form or college and you are having trouble completing your course because of money difficulties, you may be able to qualify for a Learning Support fund.
The funds can help to pay for things like books, equipment, field trips, university and college interviews, exam fees or emergencies.
To qualify for help from a Learning Support Fund you must:
- be following an approved course
- be between 16 and 19 before 1 September (and no older than 19 on that date)
- be a resident of East Sussex
- be having financial difficulties – either because your family has a low income or for another reason.
To find out whether you should apply for this funding, speak to the student support officer at your school or college.
If your family receives certain benefits or tax credits, you may be able to get a coach permit, bus season ticket or grant towards your travel costs. We can help if you have to travel more than three miles to the nearest appropriate further education college or sixth form and attend a full-time course.
To find out more and apply, download the guidance notes and form:
Guidance notes for completing a Sussex schools or colleges travel application form - 2010/11 (Adobe PDF, 585KB)
Travel assistance for students in Further Education (FE) (Adobe PDF, 29KB)
Form – print, write and post (Adobe PDF, 139KB)
Please return your form to the Admissions and Transport Team.
You can also find out more about other travel discounts at travel discounts – bus and train.
I have special needs
If you have special needs which mean you can’t use public transport to get to your closest suitable college, you may be able to get help. We can arrange transport to college, usually with other young people.
You can find out more from your school or college Connexions PA, as they will need to recommend you. You can also find out more by contacting the Admissions Team:
Admissions and Transport Team
County Hall
St Anne’s Crescent
Lewes
East Sussex BN7 1SG
Phone: 0345 60 80 190
Email: admissions@eastsussex.gov.uk
If you are aged between 16 and 19 want to attend an FE course, but are worried about the cost of childcare, you may be able to claim Care to Learn funding of up to £160 per week.
Find out more at Directgov - Care to Learn
Or you can call the Learner Support helpline free – Phone: 0800 121 8989.
If you have to live away from home to attend a college course, because the course you want to do isn’t available locally, you can apply for funding to help with the cost of accommodation.
Find out more at Directgov – Help if you’re studying away from home.
We cannot offer any financial help to FE students over 19 years of age. You might be able to get help from your college. Talk to your Connexions PA or tutor for more details.
You can also find out about other sources of funding, like the Adult Learning Grant at Directgov – Help with learning costs.
Are you at college? How are you managing financially?
