Financial Support

Students aged 16-18 at the beginning of the academic year, who live in a household that is in receipt of one of the listed benefits with be eligible for Free College Meals.

Students aged 19-25, who have a valid EHCP at the beginning of the academic year, and who live in a household in receipt of one of the listed benefits, will be eligible.

Evidence must be provided in all cases.

Eligible benefits for FCM

• Income Support
• Income-based JSA or ESA
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Support under part VI Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit (not Working Tax Credit) and with a gross income of no more than £16,190
• Universal Credit

To make an accurate calculation to determine household income and eligibility, we need to see evidence of all relevant household income. We also need this to comply with our audit requirements and to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly. We will have to decline your application if you do not submit the correct evidence. Lack of evidence or the wrong evidence will cause delay with your application.

Copies, not original documents should be provided, as we are not able to return original documents to you.

If you receive Universal Credit, you need to provide:

• All pages of the latest 3 Universal Credit Award Notices (to do this click on each date in your portal which will then provide your full breakdown which can be downloaded as a PDF and/or printed)
• Any other applicable documents listed below.

If you do not receive Universal Credit, you need to provide all of the following that apply:

• Wage slips/salary evidence (latest three months)
• Evidence of self-employment income (e.g. your HMRC tax calculation)
• Latest Child/Working Tax Credit Award Notice (all pages)
• Latest Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Support (including amount) Award Letter
• Any other state benefit (e.g. ESA, Carer’s Allowance, State Pension, Income Support) latest award notice
• Pension Credit (latest award notice)
• Any other income such as child maintenance or private pension, rental income, etc. (latest award notice/last 3 months evidence).

Applications can be completed and submitted online via our website using the link below.

All applications for financial support are treated as confidential.

View our privacy notice.

Any assistance granted is subject to the student maintaining good behaviour, punctuality, and attendance.

You will be informed of the outcome of your claim via email. If you are unsuccessful in your application, you have the right to appeal and the appeals process will be outlined in your decision letter.

We aim to process completed claims as soon as possible, however this may take some time during busy periods. We thank you for your patience.

Please be advised that the Bursary funds are limited and therefore we would advise that you apply as early as possible. We aim to support all eligible students where possible and consider applications made during the academic year, should an unforeseen situation arise. However, once the funds are exhausted, students may not receive support.

If you have any bursary queries, please contact us by emailing fundingteamcc@ekcgroup.ac.uk