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What can you use Discretionary Support Funds for?

Discretionary Support Funds are available in colleges and school sixth forms to help with learning costs.

The funds are prioritised for those who face financial hardship. They can be used to help with:

• financial hardship and emergencies
• childcare costs (for Ofsted-registered childcare)
• accommodation costs, for those who have to study further than the maximum distance from home
• essential course-related equipment, materials and field trips
• travel costs (for over 18s)

Colleges and sixth forms will take into account whether there are alternative sources of help available. Follow the links below for details of alternative sources of help with accommodation costs if you’re studying away from home, and information on help with transport costs for under 19s.

• Help if you're studying away from home
• Help with the cost of transport to college or sixth form

Who is eligible?

To be eligible to apply, you must:

• be 16 or over
• have been accepted onto and be studying a programme of learning funded by the Learning and Skills Council

Colleges determine priority groups and maximum amounts they award. Common priority groups are:

• students who are economically disadvantaged (such as those on a low income or receiving benefits)
• those aged over 19 who don't have a Level 2 qualification
• students who have been in care or on probation, young parents and others considered 'at risk'

• Qualifications: what the different levels mean

Who is not eligible?

You can't claim if you are:

• under 16 
• an Asylum Seeker aged over 19 
• receiving full public funding for higher education 
• on a learndirect course 
• on a New Deal programme (except New Deal for Lone Parents) 
• on an apprenticeship training scheme
• on a Work Based Learning course
• on an Adult & Community Learning course (ACL)

How much do you get?

Schools and colleges set their own criteria and manage their own procedures. This means that the amounts available, and the way funds are allocated, may differ between institutions.

Some funds, including childcare and residential funds, have maximum amounts available.

How is it paid?

If you qualify, funding could take the form of a direct payment to you, or a payment to someone else on your behalf (for example, a landlord) . Your payment could be a loan, which you have to pay back - or a grant, which you don't.

How and when to apply

If you're at a college, speak to your student support or welfare officer. If you're in a sixth form, get in touch with your tutor or the student awards or student support officer. You may be expected to provide proof of income or expenditure when you apply.

Effect on other financial help

You can claim if you also receive other grants and funds, including:

• Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) 
• Adult Learning Grant (ALG) 
• Career Development Loan (CDL) 
• Care to Learn
• New Deal for Lone Parents 
• Disability Living Allowance, which is ignored when assessing income

But bear in mind that Discretionary Support Funds are intended to meet special needs and circumstances which can't reasonably be covered by other forms of help.

How to appeal

Each college will provide information about their scheme, including information about how to appeal.

What else you need to know

Student support staff will be able to advise you on whether you qualify for other sources of funding.

Discretionary Support Funds were previously known as ‘Learner Support Funds’, ‘Access Funds’ and ‘Hardship Funds’.

More useful links

• Information for Discretionary Support Fund providers Opens new window