Bursary Funds

The purpose of the bursary fund is to provide financial support to learners who are in financial hardship and would find it difficult to meet the costs associated with the study. YTP has a responsibility to ensure that this money is targeted at those learners deemed by the government to be in most need. The bursary fund is limited and does run out so you should apply as early as possible.

Financial support to help you take part in your learning

Yorkshire Training Partnership may be able to provide financial support towards some of the costs associated with attending your course.

Our Learner Bursary Fund may provide help with eligible costs such as:

Childcare
Travel
Essential books, equipment and learning resources
Support for eligible learners in vulnerable groups

Bursary funding is limited and discretionary. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee that funding will be awarded.

Applications are assessed against the current YTP bursary policy, the funding available and the evidence provided with your application.

Who can apply?

You may be able to apply for YTP bursary support if you are undertaking an eligible programme with Yorkshire Training Partnership and can provide the required evidence.

For learners applying under the YTP general bursary criteria, you must normally be able to demonstrate either:

a household income below £30,000 per year; or
that your household receives a qualifying means-tested benefit.

You will need to provide evidence to support your application.

The specific eligibility requirements can vary depending on the type of support you are applying for.

Please note: meeting the eligibility criteria does not automatically mean that funding will be awarded. Funding is limited and applications are subject to assessment.

Childcare Support

YTP may be able to help towards childcare costs where childcare is required to enable you to attend your learning and assessment activities.

Childcare support is intended to cover childcare required while you are participating in eligible learning and assessment activities.

It does not normally cover childcare required outside your learning and assessment timetable.

What childcare providers can I use?

Childcare support can only be provided for childcare through an Ofsted-registered childcare provider, where applicable.

YTP does not provide childcare services and does not accept responsibility for the quality or standard of care provided by your chosen childcare provider.

You should check that your chosen provider is appropriately registered before making childcare arrangements.

Changes to your childcare

You must tell YTP as soon as possible if:

your timetable changes;
your childcare arrangements change;
your childcare provider changes;
your weekly childcare costs increase or decrease; or
you no longer require childcare support.

YTP cannot guarantee that additional costs will be funded if your childcare costs increase during the academic year.

If you do not tell us about changes and receive an overpayment, you may be required to repay the amount overpaid.

How are childcare payments made?

Approved childcare support is paid directly to the learner, not to the childcare provider.

You are responsible for paying your childcare provider.

Childcare payments are dependent on your attendance at the eligible learning and assessment activities covered by your bursary award.

Free Early Education and Childcare

Before applying for bursary support for childcare, you should check whether you are eligible for Government-funded early education or childcare.

The Government's childcare support has changed over time, and eligibility depends on your child's age and your individual circumstances.

You can check the current support available to you through GOV.UK:

https://www.gov.uk/find -free -early -education .

If you are eligible for Government-funded childcare, you are expected to use this support before applying to YTP for additional childcare assistance.

YTP may consider eligible childcare costs that remain after other available Government support has been taken into account, subject to our bursary policy and available funds.

Travel Support

The YTP Learner Bursary Fund may be able to provide support towards reasonable travel costs associated with attending:

Lessons
Training sessions
Learning activities
Assessment activities

Travel support is discretionary and is not an automatic entitlement.

Funding is limited and applications are assessed in accordance with the YTP bursary policy.

Books, Equipment and Learning Resources

The bursary fund may provide support towards essential books, equipment or learning resources that are required for you to participate in and complete your course.

Support is:

discretionary;
subject to available funding; and
limited to eligible and necessary course-related costs.

Where possible, YTP may purchase required items on your behalf.

If YTP is unable to purchase an item directly and agrees that you can purchase it yourself, you may be required to provide evidence of purchase before reimbursement can be considered.

You should not purchase expensive equipment or resources expecting reimbursement unless this has been agreed with YTP in advance.

Support for Learners in Vulnerable Groups

Additional bursary support may be available to eligible learners who meet the Government's criteria for a vulnerable group and who have a financial need.

This support is intended to help learners who may have limited or no financial support from parents, guardians or carers.

Depending on the funding rules applicable to your programme, vulnerable-group eligibility may include learners who are:

In care
Care leavers
Receiving Income Support or Universal Credit because they are financially supporting themselves, or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them, such as a child or partner
Receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right

You will need to provide evidence of your circumstances.

Support is assessed according to your individual circumstances and the costs you need help with.

What evidence will I need?

You must provide the evidence requested to support your application.

Depending on your circumstances, this may include evidence of:

Household income
Means-tested benefits
Advanced Learner Loan funding
Your course or programme
Childcare arrangements and costs
Travel costs
Vulnerable-group status
Other financial circumstances relevant to your application

Incomplete applications or applications without the required evidence may not be considered.

What happens after I apply?

Once we receive your application, we will check that:

The application form has been completed.
The required evidence has been provided.
You meet the relevant eligibility criteria.
The costs you are applying for are eligible.
Funding is available.

We may contact you if we need additional information or evidence.

You will receive the outcome of your application in writing, normally by email.

Do I qualify for Bursary Funds?

You can only apply for bursary funding if:

you can supply evidence of your Advanced Learning Loan / Traineeship acceptance and you have a household income of less than £30,000 or

your household receives means-tested benefits

The tables below tells you which evidence you will need to provide. You must be able to provide the evidence requested or your application will not be considered.

Will I automatically receive bursary funding if I apply?

No.

Bursary funding is limited and is not an automatic entitlement.

An application does not guarantee an award.

Applications are assessed against the relevant eligibility criteria, the evidence provided and the funding available.

Where demand exceeds available funding, YTP may operate a waiting list or

prioritise applications in accordance with its current bursary policy.

How long will my application take?

We aim to assess completed applications as quickly as possible.

Where you have provided all the required evidence, we aim to provide an outcome within 4–6 weeks.

During busy periods, including the start of the academic year, processing times may be longer.

If additional evidence is required, the assessment period may also be extended.

Please apply as early as possible.

What happens if my application is unsuccessful?

If your application is unsuccessful, or we cannot provide the full amount requested, we will notify you in writing.

If you have not yet started your course, you will need to consider whether you can meet the remaining costs yourself.

If you believe the decision has been made incorrectly, you may be able to appeal, subject to the YTP bursary appeals process.

What conditions apply to bursary funding?

Bursary support is provided on the understanding that you continue to participate appropriately in your learning.

You are expected to:

Attend your scheduled learning sessions.
Attend assessment activities and reviews.
Notify your tutor if you are unable to attend.
Keep YTP informed of changes that could affect your bursary.
Provide evidence where requested.
Use bursary funding for the purpose for which it was awarded.

Your bursary payments may be reviewed, reduced, suspended or withdrawn if your attendance or circumstances change.

You may also be required to repay an amount if you have received funding to which you were not entitled or have not informed YTP of a relevant change in circumstances.

Attendance

YTP expects learners to maintain satisfactory attendance.

Our current bursary policy uses 80% attendance as the minimum satisfactory attendance level, subject to the circumstances of the learner and the relevant programme requirements.

If you are unable to attend, you should notify your tutor before the scheduled session wherever possible.

Examples of circumstances that may be authorised

These may include:

Unavoidable medical appointments
Sickness, where appropriate evidence may be required
Court or probation appointments
Attendance at a funeral

You should discuss any absence with your tutor as soon as possible.

Unauthorised absence may affect your bursary payments.

Examples may include:

Holidays that have not been agreed
Persistent lateness without a reasonable explanation
Social engagements

Religious observance will be considered in accordance with YTP's equality and attendance policies.

Can I receive bursary funding for more than one course?

Bursary funding is limited and YTP aims to support as many eligible learners as possible.

As a general policy, an applicant will normally only be funded for one full-length course per academic year.

Exceptions may be considered where funding rules and available resources allow.

Please contact the bursary team if you are considering more than one programme.

What if my circumstances change?

You must tell YTP as soon as possible if there is a change that could affect your bursary.

This includes changes to:

Household income
Benefits
Employment
Childcare arrangements
Childcare costs
Travel arrangements
Course timetable
Attendance
Your eligibility for other financial support

Failure to notify YTP of a relevant change may result in an overpayment.

Where an overpayment has been made, you may be required to repay the amount.

Can I appeal a decision?

If you disagree with a bursary decision, you can request an appeal in writing.

Your appeal should explain:

The decision you are appealing
Why you believe the decision should be reconsidered
Any additional information or evidence that you would like us to consider

Appeals will be considered in accordance with the YTP bursary appeals process and subject to available funding.

Send your appeal to:

Bursary Appeals
Yorkshire Training Partnership
Unit 1 Enterprise Court
Fairfield Park
Manvers
Rotherham
South Yorkshire
S63 5DB

Complete Bursary Application

For further information, support or guidance contact the team:

Email: info@yorkshiretrainingpartnership.com

Tel: 01709 871872