Sunderland College Bursary Fund
Did you know that you could receive financial help from Sunderland College's new Bursary Fund?
It's been designed to work in the same way that the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) did, as it's paid straight into your bank account giving you access to money when you need it.
It's also been guaranteed for the next four years which means it will be there to support you throughout your studies at College.
Not sure if you qualify?
If you would have received the EMA full award of £30 per week under the old scheme (where your parents brought home less than £20,817 a year), you now automatically qualify for financial support.
For other people, the amount you receive will depend on your personal situation.
However, people who apply could get up to £510 towards covering travel to and from college, £510 to help with meal costs and the bursary can cover the cost of materials needed for your studies, making it affordable to do the course or subject or your choice.
To find out more, call the College's Welfare Team on 0191 511 6589 to see what you could be entitled to.
Extra support
Each of Sunderland College's five centres has its own Welfare Team available to talk you through the application form as well as loads of other things like your health, issues at home and financial support.
Also, as part of the bursary scheme and on top of the regular payments, the College is also able give you extra support if you need it. This pot of money is for you if you are aged 16 or 17 and are in care, if you are a care leaver aged 16, 17 and 18 or if you are aged 16, 17 or 18 and currently receive income support. It also covers a number of different situations such as if you are a teenage parent, live independently or have a severe disability.
To find out if you qualify for extra help, speak to the Welfare Team.
Next steps
If you want your payments to begin in time for the start of College in September, then you have to complete a '16-18 Bursary' application form and send it to the College's Welfare Team as soon as possible, so they can let you know the amount you are entitled to by Friday 19th August 2011. This way, payments can be ready to arrive into your bank account from Friday 16th September 2011.
To start your application, for help completing the form or for any other questions you may have, call the Welfare Team or visit the college's Bursary Fund page.
For more information about the college in general visit the Sunderland College website.