Young people's learning agency
Discretionary Learner Support
Discretionary Learner Support (DLS) is
available to provide support to learners aged 16-18 in school sixth
forms and sixth form colleges who are resident in Tower Hamlets and
are experiencing financial difficulty with meeting the costs
associated with learning.
In addition, there is a 16-18 Residential
Bursary Support, which supports learners attending specialist
provision at agricultural/horticultural colleges and colleges of
art and design that requires a residential element. This
funding is divided amongst 47 providers who will consider the
applications for support themselves.
Applicants must have been resident in the UK
for the three years before the start of the academic year preceding
the course to be eligible and must not have been in full-time
education during any part of that period. Other groups of
applicants as defined in the Education (Fees and Awards) (England)
regulations 2007 may also be eligible for support.
Learners should ensure that they have applied
for other forms of financial support before applying for DLS which,
in many cases, will be Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).
16-18 hardship support can be used for:
- course-related costs such as course trips, books and
equipment
- temporary support with domestic emergencies
- transport costs on a temporary basis
- short-term emergency accommodation whilst waiting for benefit
support
- costs for exam resits
Funding may not be used:
The fund is cash limited and applications may have to be refused
where there is insufficient money left to meet a request for
assistance.
Applications
can be obtained from the Student Finance Section or
downloaded (PDF 64.2KB). Applications are normally
considered within three weeks of receipt. Following receipt of
an application form, an applicant can expect an offer of a grant, a
request for more information, or a refusal of support with reasons
and the right of appeal.
Cheques are sent to the school of successful applicants for the
applicants to collect.
Forms can be requested by phone or downloaded and posted
to:
Student Finance Section
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
E14 2BG
Tel: 020 7364 5006
Fax: 020 7364 4311
The Student Finance Section is open to
personal callers form 9am to 1pm on any working
day. Telephones are answered from 8.30am to 5pm.