ILA Scotland is a Scottish Government scheme that helps you pay for learning that you can do at a time, place, pace and in a way to suit you. It’s for people who have an income of £22,000 a year or less, or who are on benefits. If you are 16 or over and living in Scotland, you could get up to £500 towards the cost of learning with a learner account from ILA Scotland.
All those earning below the threshold are eligible to access ILA Scotland funding towards suitable courses.
For more information visit the ILA Scotland website or phone ILA Scotland helpline free on 0808 100 1090.
You can only get help from a trust if you meet its eligibility requirements. These vary from trust to trust and only the trustees can decide if you are eligible.
Most trusts say that you must be Scottish to apply, or be planning to study in Scotland. You can look in the following publications:
Directory of Grant Making Trusts (published by the Charities Aid Foundation)
Grants Register (published by McMillan Press)
Charities Digest (published by the Education Grants Advisory Service)
For more information on places to apply. You can usually find these publications in larger public libraries.
The Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) also has a register of educational endowments containing information on various Scottish trusts. SAAS will search the register for you if you fill in and submit an enquiry form. They will then send you the names and addresses of suitable trusts which you can then apply to directly.
CDLs are bank loans that cover you while you are undertaking vocational training. The government pays the interest while you are learning. Loans of between £300 and £8,000 can be borrowed to support learning to help you in your career.
For more information on Career Development Loans call free on 0800 585 505.
Various organisations offer sponsorships and bursaries for courses. A few of these schemes require the student to work for the organisation during holidays and after graduation.
You should ask at your student careers service or there might be information in the Jobcentre.
Individual colleges sort out these funds and each is very different in the way the money is given out. Small payments may be given to cover equipment, childcare, living costs and fees.
See if you can get more information about hardship funds from your student union, or your student advice/counselling centre.
The SAAS have a range of other grants that might be available to you. Go to the SAAS website for full details.
Students in full time education do not qualify for state benefits. However, some students with disabilities or who are lone parents may be eligible for income support and housing benefit.
For information on exceptions to this rule, check with the National Union of Students, your local student services or the Employment Service.
Published on 07/07/2010
Last modified on 19/12/2011
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