In addition to Wiltshire County Council’s own 16-19 Travel Scheme and similar schemes run by other Councils, there are a number of other schemes or organisations that may be able to offer financial assistance to students over the age of 16.
Educational Maintenance Allowance
If you have a household income of less than £30,000 per year, you may be eligible for Education Maintenace Allowance (EMA) payments of up to £30 a week. These are paid directly to you and can be used to pay for anything you wish, including transport, books or entertainment. For further details please visit the EMA website.
Additionally, if you are entitled to the MAXIMUM EMA amount of £30 a week and qualify for transport assistance through Wiltshire County Council, you may receive a 50% discount on the cost of your travel pass.
Grants from Charitable Organisations
The following information has been provided by Charities Information Bureau who are able to help and advise groups and individuals on funding and charity law. They are themselves a voluntary organisation supported by grants and donations who give free advice to voluntary organisations and individuals within Wiltshire.
If you think that one of the following organisations may be able to assist you, please contact the Charities Information Bureau for further guidance and contact details.
Alfred Bourne Trust
Provides grants to students under 30 who have lived in the UK for at least 2 years. Grants must only be for one year to help with college or university fees, maintenance, books, equipment and travel to place of study. Because funding is limited, for applicants to be successful they are likely to be in their final year of ‘A’ level or a first degree and have specific funding difficulties.
The Broadlands Home Trust
Provides grants to women under the age of 22 either for educational purposes or to help young women starting out on their careers.
Broad Town Trust
Grants are given to applicants born in Wiltshire or Swindon, or who have been resident for at least 5 years and are 16 – 25 years in age. Grants can be used for education and training – books, tools, materials, special clothing and equipment only.
Chippenham Borough Lands Charity
Applications can be made from people in need who have lived in the civil parish of Chippenham for at least 2 years. The aim of the fund is for the relief of the aged, sick, disabled or poor inhabitants of the Borough of Chippenham; facilities for recreation or other leisure-time occupations in the interests of social welfare; the advancement of education. The funds are usually one off according to need. Welfare: Baby equipment, bills and debts, clothing, furniture and household equipment, medical equipment, mobility, travel. Further and Higher Education students, towards books, equipment/instruments, fees, maintenance/living expenses, educational outings in the UK, study or travel abroad and childcare.
The Fenton Trust
Available to British born subjects who are dependants of a member of the professional class and are undergoing a course of education or training approved by the trustees; or poor members of the professional or middle class. Grants are only intended to be supplementary, therefore applicants are only considered if they are in the final year of a course and if they have managed to raise almost the whole amount needed, or if they encounter unexpected difficulty.
The Joe Smith Memorial Trust
Grants are available to teenage students at New College, Swindon or Swindon College. One-off grants are available for the welfare and education of students at Swindon Colleges.
Lawrence Atwell’s Charity
This is available to British citizens aged 16 to 26 whose parents joint income is less than £24,400 a year. The charity is particularly interested in helping vocational training, artisans and craftsmen. Preference is given is non-academic applicants. Grants may be used for one-off and recurrent costs for fees, rent, travel, childcare, books and apprentice’s tools.
The Lord Ashdown Charitable Settlement
Grants are available for students with disabilities continuing in education.
The Professional Classes Aid Council
Weekly allowances and one-off gifts are available for education and welfare purposes to dependants of people of professional background who are in financial distress.
The Reg Burns Foundation
Grants are available to young people who wish to continue/improve their education.
The Reynolds Memorial Scheme
Available to young people aged between 16 and 21 who are:
- estranged or orphaned; or
- care for sick or disabled parents; or
- looked after by adoptive parents; or
- living with single parents; or
- cared for by family members or friends; or
- have been granted full refugee status; or
- are asylum seekers resident in the UK for 3 years or more and not subject to a deportation order.
Young people who are experiencing the effects of some exceptional misfortune as well as having to face financial problems. Students are eligible whether they have already started their course or not, providing they are under 25 and were under 21 when they began the course. The grants can be used for fees or maintenance where, for good reason, these cannot be provided by statutory sources or by the applicant’s family. Help to study for academic, professional, trade or vocational qualifications, or for contributions towards living costs, transport, books and equipment.
Salisbury City Educational and Apprenticing Charity
Grants are available for education/apprenticing, eg equipment, books, materials, clothing and school trips. The fund is open to applications from anyone aged under the age of 25. Occasionally, loans are given.
Thomas Wall Trust
The fund is open to UK nationals who are in financial need. Grants are only given to schoolchildren if an unexpected financial crisis threatens their A level (or equivalent) course. Can be used for educational studies which are vocational, short courses of professional training or are concerned with social service and which will lead to paid employment.
The Wiltshire Society
Open to young people aged 11 to 25 years of age who:
- were born in Wiltshire*, or
- have a parent born in Wiltshire* or who was resident in Wiltshire* at the time of their birth, or
- who have been a resident in Wiltshire* for at least 5 years.
Funds can be used towards tuition fees, exam fees, equipment, books, materials, clothing and travel costs (*Wiltshire means “Wiltshire and Swindon”).
For further information on the Charities Information Bureau and their work, or to make a donation, please contact them by email at enquiries@cibwilts.org.uk, or by phone 01380 729279.
Please note that the above information is based on details provided to us by the organisations concerned and has been included here in good faith as an indication of the assistance that may be available.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information is correct, no responsibility can be accepted for any inaccuracies, so please contact the college or council concerned before committing yourself to a particular course.