Connexions is the confidential advice and support service for all 13-19 year olds (and up to age 25 for young people with special needs).
Connexions services offer advice and support on a wide range of lifestyle issues including careers, education, training, employment, health and personal development opportunities.
Connexions Personal Advisers can offer young people information and guidance to help them make positive choices about the future. Personal Advisers work in schools, colleges, Connexions Centres, youth clubs and at other venues and events across Tyne and Wear.
Connexions Sunderland have launched the on-line Sunderland Directory of information and opportunities for students in Year 11.
The Sunderland Directory website is designed to help young people consider their next steps after finishing Year 11, whether they are considering employment, an Apprenticeship, other work-based learning or further education.
There are sections on Exams and Study Skills, Apprenticeships, Further Education, Employment and Volunteering... along with information on 'Things to do' (including volunteering opportunities in Sunderland) and useful contact information for a huge number of organisations offering a wide range of support services for young people.
Young people in Sunderland can request information and application forms for specific learning opportunities - and if young people let Connexions Sunderland know about their future plans before the end of May 2012, they will be entered into a Prize Draw.
For more information, click onto the Sunderland Directory website.
Student Finance Update
The 2012/2013 Student Finance England service is now open and new and continuing higher education students can now apply on-line.
If you’re planning to start a full-time course at university or college later this year and haven’t applied for your student finance, go on-line today and apply at the Directgov Student Finance website. The final deadline for new students is 31st May 2012.
You don’t have to have a confirmed place to apply - simply use your first choice of course and amend it on-line at a later date if you need to.
If you’re returning to a full-time course at university or college later this year you can re-apply on-line at the Directgov Student Finance website. If you're re-applying for student finance, the final deadline is 29th June 2012.
Student FAQs
The Student Loans Company have developed a set of frequently asked questions and
answers in response to the most common questions their customers ask. For more information, click onto the Student Loans Company website.
The range of financial support available depends on your circumstances, your course and where you study. The main types of finance are Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans (which have to be paid back) as well as grants and bursaries (which don't). The good news is most students won't have to pay anything up front.
Extra support is also available for those with special circumstances, for instance if you have children or adult dependants, a disability, mental-health condition or a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia or dyspraxia.
Repayments only start when you have left university and earn over a set amount and what you repay will depend on what you earn, not what you owe.
Student Finance England is a partnership between the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Student Loans Company and provides financial support on behalf of the UK Government to English students entering Higher Education in the UK.
Moving Forward
Moving Forward is an introduction to ‘Transition Planning’ for young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and gives information about the process, what happens when and what the options are.
Moving Forward has now been revised and updated and is now published as an on-line resource for young people, parents and carers and the professionals working with them.
The Moving Forward Directory includes contact information for institutions offering post-16 opportunities to young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.
On-line vacancy service
Thousands of people use our free on-line vacancy service every year to look for job or Apprenticeship vacancies every year. You can sign up to receive free e-mail alerts to let you know when new jobs that match your requirements are available. You can also create and print your own CV using our on-line CV creator.
The Apprenticeships website has a wide range of Apprenticeship vacancies from across the country. Wages start at a minimum of £2.60 per hour but some are higher - the average Apprenticeship wage is £170.00 per week.
For more information, visit the Apprenticeships website.
16-19 Bursary Fund
If you’re aged 16-19, studying or starting a full-time course from September 2011 and think you might struggle with the costs for your studies, schools, colleges and training providers have funds to help you. The students most in need will be eligible to receive a bursary of £1,200 a year.