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What can you use discretionary Learner Support Funds for?

Discretionary Learner 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 beyond daily travelling distance 
• travel costs
• essential course-related equipment, materials and field trips

To find out more about funding if you study beyond the daily travelling distance, follow the links below.

• Help if you're studying away from home

Who is eligible?

To be eligible to apply, you must:

• be 16 or over (including those in sixth forms) 
• 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 benefit or a low income)
• 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 amount of funds available to individuals, 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, payment could be in cash to you or via a third party, or could pay for goods and services. Your payment could be a loan, which you have to pay back; or a grant, which you don't have to pay back.

How and when to apply

If you're at a college speak to your student support or welfare officer. If you're in the sixth form get in touch with your year 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

The funds are intended to meet special needs and circumstances which can't reasonably be met by other grants.

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 Learner Support Funds were previously known as Access Funds and Hardship Funds.

More useful links

• Information for Learner Support Fund providers (opens new window)