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Funding

Here you can find out about financial support information and resources that are available to help young people access education, employment and training opportunities.

The Cardiff Young People's Fund

The Cardiff Young People’s Fund is available to help young people continue their education, or to assist in their entry to a profession, trade or vocation. 

You can apply for both the Cardiff Young People's Fund and the Craddock Wells Bursary.

No further applications will be accepted once all available funding has been allocated in a given financial year.

Eligibility:

The Cardiff Young People's Fund

  • You must have attended a Cardiff secondary school for at least two years
  • You may apply for financial assistance towards attending further or higher education or to support you with entering a profession or trade.

The Craddock Wells Bursary

  • You must have attended either a Cardiff primary or secondary school for at least two years
  • You must currently be resident in Cardiff
  • You must have remained in non-statutory education for two years to study A-Levels or a qualification at an equivalent level
  • ​You may apply for financial assistance towards the costs associated with attending a course of further or higher education

Craddock Wells Maintenance Allowance

  • You must be studying at a Cardiff Secondary School.
 
You can claim for:
The Cardiff Young People's Fund
  • Financial assistance towards clothing, tools, instruments or books to assist you in preparation for your profession, trade or vocation.
  • A grant of up to 50% of the total cost of attending an educational establishment approved by the Council.
  • Any other costs deemed necessary for the pursuit of studies will be considered.

The Craddock Wells Bursary

  • Bursaries to assist with educational costs to further your education as either a single payment or series of payments up to a maximum of 50%.

Craddock Wells Maintenance Allowance

  • A grant of up to £400 to enable you to finish your course of study at a Cardiff Secondary School​.

 

Application Process

​​​​​You can apply for funding from the Cardiff Young People's Fund  or Craddock Wells Charity.

Please complete the Cardiff Young People's Fund application form (180kb PDF)​​​​​​​​​​​Link opens in a new window​ and email it to CardiffFETrust@cardiff.gov.uk

To apply for funding, you need to support your application with:

  • Evidence that you meet the eligibility criteria, and
  • An estimate of the costs of items.

 

When to apply

  • You can make your application prior to buying items by using estimations of item costs.
  • You can apply anytime during your training or studies relevant to the application.

You will need to make a new application each academic year.

When you have submitted your application form, we will email you to confirm that we have received it. We will email you with our decision within 21 days after the next Trustee meeting.

We may require further information from you before we can make a decision. Please provide as much backing documentation as possible to support your application to prevent any delays.

You will receive grant payment after you have bought the items and provided proof of receipt.​​​​

 

What is EMA?

A payment for 16- to 18-year-olds living in Wales, who want to continue their education after school leaving age.

Eligibility

You may be eligible to receive a £30 weekly EMA award if:

  • you are above the compulsory school age
  • you will be aged 16, 17 or 18 years old on or before the 31 August
  • you normally live in Wales
  • you are studying an eligible full-time academic or vocational course
  • your household income is £20,817 or less

or

  • your household income is £23,077 or less and there are other young people in your household who qualify for Child Benefit

 

You can claim for

All EMA payments will be paid directly into a bank, building society or credit union account in

your name. and can be used to support you with any costs you have towards your chosen area of study.

 

Application Process

Complete and return an EMA application form. These will be available from spring 2022.

You can get an application from:

 

When to apply

  • June 2023 – to make sure your EMA application is assessed and ready for the start of term send your completed form back with all the appropriate evidence, by June 2023
  • 8 weeks after course start date – to be considered for backdated payments you must apply within 8 weeks of the start of your course.
  • 31 August 2024 – this is the final date that we can accept an application from you to be eligible for EMA in 2023/24.

 

Who can help me

The Into Work Advice Services can help you to complete applications, job search, write CVs, apply for benefits and access funding to help you move into education, employment or training.

Advisors are located in your local Hyb – pop in today and a friendly advisor will be able to help you out with your next steps.

You can also visit

Visit www.studentfinancewales.co.uk to find out more about what financial support you may be able to receive.

What is the Welsh Government Learning Grant?

It provides funding to help with the costs of your education if you’re aged 19 or

over. If you’re studying full-time you could get payments of up to £1,500 a year or, if

studying part-time, you could get up to £750 a year

Eligibility

To get this grant you must be aged 19 or over, so for academic year 2022/23 you must be 19 or older on 1st September 2022.

Eligible courses include:

  • GCSE
  • ‘A’ or ‘AS’ levels
  • BTEC, GNVQ, NVQ
  • Basic Skills courses
  • Independent Living Skills or, if studying in England, Preparation for Adulthood

Your household income must be £18,370 or less in order to get this grant.

If you live with your parent(s) this is based on the highest of you or your parent(s) income.

If you don’t live with your parent(s) this is based on your income.

If you live with your partner this is based on the highest of you or your partner’s income.

If you are a care leaver, you won’t need to give us any financial details

 

You can claim for

All payments will be paid directly into a bank, building society or credit union account in

your name. and can be used to support you with any costs you have towards your chosen area of study.

 

Application Process

Complete and return your grant application form. These will be available from spring 2023.

You can get an application from:

  • your school or college
  • www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/wglgfe
  • your local Job Centre
  • Careers Wales

 

When to apply

Spring 2023

 

Who can help me

The Into Work Advice Services can help you to complete applications, job search, write CVs, apply for benefits and access funding to help you move into education, employment or training.

Advisors are located in your local Hyb – pop in today and a friendly advisor will be able to help you out with your next steps.

You can also visit

Visit www.studentfinancewales.co.uk to find out more about what financial support you may be able to receive.

What is PaCE?

Support for childcare whilst training and gaining skills to get a job.

Eligibility

  • parents who are not in work
  • parents who are not in education
  • parents who are not already training
  • parents who are unable to arrange childcare whilst trying to gain skills to get a job

 

You can claim for

  • funding available for childcare
  • guidance about benefits you can get whilst working
  • advice about CV writing
  • find and apply for training
  • finding a job
  • advice about what training and qualifications are required

 

Application Process

Email pace@gov.wales and an advisor will contact you and arrange a meeting to discuss if you are eligible.

 

When to apply

At any time

 

Who can help me

The Into Work Advice Services can help you to complete applications, job search, write CVs, apply for benefits and access funding to help you move into education, employment or training.

Advisors are located in your local Hyb – pop in today and a friendly advisor will be able to help you out with your next steps.

You can also visit

Visit www.studentfinancewales.co.uk to find out more about what financial support you may be able to receive.

When you have money it’s important that you learn how to look after it properly and budget for the things you need. Here are a few websites and services which can help you and that you can explore in your own time.

 

Natwest’s Life Moments – Managing your Money

An online resource which can help you to manage your money, save and budget, reduce your bills and understand your credit score.

Managing your money | Life Moments | NatWest

 

Citizens Advice

With staff located in Central Library and also an online resource which can help you with benefits, work, debt and money, housing, family, law and courts, immigration and health.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wales/

 

The Princes Trust – Money Management

An online resource to help you with lots of things from planning your monthly spending budget to finding the best deal at the supermarket, here's lots of handy tools to support you and your finances. 

Money management | Financial advice | The Prince's Trust (princes-trust.org.uk)

 The Money Charity – The Student Money Manual

The Money Charity seeks to ensure that young people grow up feeling confident that they have not just the skills and knowledge, but also the attitudes and behaviours they need to make the most of their money throughout their lives.

Resources such as workshops essential guides to all things student finance and teacher resource packs support young people to make the right decisions about managing their money.

The Student Money Manual - The Money Charity

Student Finance Wales is a website which supports young people with financial advice for young people studying in Further Education (college) whilst you’re in university studying for your degree or related qualification or following your degree in any further study you undertake.

Home | Student Finance Wales

What is Turn2Us?

A website which can help you find out what support may be available to you through benefits, grants or other financial support.

Advice on benefits, advice and support agencies, grants and information and advice on student matters are all included in this website,

Studying (16+) - Turn2us

Support for children and young people with a disability?

The Council’s Families First Disability Benefit Support team is keen to remind eligible customers of the assistance available for families who have a child with a disability and young people with a disability.

The team offers a variety of specialist advice and support with:

- Child Disability Living Allowance

- Employment and Support Allowance

- Limited Capability with Universal Credit

- Personal Independence Payment

They can also help with completing claim forms, Mandatory Reconsiderations and appeals, and where appropriate provide representation at tribunal hearings. So if you have a child with a disability or you’re under 25 and have a disability and need assistance, get in touch. Call 02920 871 071 or email

disabilitybenefitsupport@cardiff.gov.uk