Bursary & Free School Meals

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is for the purpose of supporting financially disadvantaged young people taking up or continuing in their education or training post-16.

The 16-19 Bursary is a limited fund made available for supporting eligible young people with the costs of educational field trips and visits, books, course materials and equipment, transport and food, essential to successfully completing their programme of study.

The 16-19 Bursary is targeted towards those young people considered most in need of financial support and overcoming the individual barriers to education a learner may face. The Government has identified a priority group of young people who will be eligible for a Vulnerable Learner Bursary. The Academy has received funding which is available for other young people in need of financial support. The Academy has set eligibility criteria to ensure this fund goes to those who are seen to need it most. Any young person who meets these eligibility criteria can apply for a Vulnerable Bursary (Level 1) or Discretionary Bursary (Level 2 and 3).

To be eligible to receive a 16-19 Bursary in the 2023-24 academic year, the learner must be aged 16 or over and under 19 on 31 August 2023. Learners aged 19 or over are only eligible to receive a discretionary bursary if they are continuing on a study programme they began aged 16 to 18 (‘19+ continuers’) or have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). These two groups of aged 19 plus learners can receive a discretionary bursary while they continue to attend education (in the case of a 19+ continuer, this must be the same programme they started before they turned 19), as long as their eligibility continues and their institution considers they need the additional support to continue their participation.

In addition, a learner must meet the national residency requirements and at least one of the criteria listed below. They can apply for a Vulnerable Learner Bursary if they are:

• Learners in care
• Care leavers
• Learners receiving Income Support or Universal Credit because they are financially supporting themselves or themselves and someone who is dependent upon them and living with them.
• Learners receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right.

Discretionary Bursaries

Discretionary bursaries are targeted at learners to remove specific barriers to participation and may need financial help for things like transport, meals, books and equipment. They can apply for a

Discretionary Bursary Level 2 if either:

• your gross annual household income does not exceed £16,255.20 and/or;

• You receive Universal Credits as a replacement for Income Based Jobseekers Allowance -Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

• Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit.

Discretionary Bursary Level 3:

• Your gross annual household income does not exceed £28,400 and/or;
• You receive Universal Credits as a replacement for Income Based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit.

Yes, providing they meet the age and residency eligibility criteria you can complete a bursary request form for exceptional circumstances for one-off payments or additional support.

To apply, they must complete the 16-19 Bursary Fund Application or Request Form and submit these to the induction tutor. Learners can apply for a Bursary at any point in the year.

The Vulnerable Learner Bursary is £1,200, the Discretionary Bursary Level 2 and 3 is dependent on individual circumstances and will take into account their actual financial needs and funds available.

No, receipt of bursary funding does not affect receipt other means-tested benefits paid to families, such as Universal Credits, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Child Benefit, Working Tax Credit and Housing Benefit. However, if a learner is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (or Personal Independence Payments) and Employment Support Allowance or in receipt of Universal Credit, parents can no longer receive certain household/family benefits for that child, such as child benefit.

If your child applies and is successful, they will need a Bank Account for the Bursary to be paid directly into. It will typically be paid weekly subject to them meeting attendance, punctuality and satisfactory behaviour conditions.

Trinity Solutions Academy may withhold payments to a learner who does not meet the agreed standards and where learners have been absent for a period of 2 continuous weeks or more. Trinity Solutions Academy will consider the impact on the learner before taking a final decision to do so.

The 16-19 Bursary Fund Policy will provide further information, including details on eligibility criteria and supporting evidence needed, or you can talk in confidence to the induction tutor if you have specific questions or need help or assistance in supporting your son/daughter to make an application.

You can write to us at:
Trinity Solutions Academy
Condercum Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 8XJ