Latest News: Bus Travel Offer for 16-18 South Devon College Students

 

South Devon College are delighted to announce that, working in partnership with Torbay Council, Devon County Council and Stagecoach, an exclusive bus pass offer is available for all 16 - 18 students wishing to study at the College for the first time or continue their studies with us.

 

The Vantage Point Bus Pass is FREE or available at the significantly reduced price of £260 per year, which is equivalent to just over £7 per week.

 

To see if you are eligible, read on.

 

 

Fantastic Deal - The £1 off peak South Devon College Rider

 

Any South Devon College student with a valid bus pass will be able to purchase a ticket for any single journey, anywhere within the Stagecoach Devon network, at the cost of £1 during off peak periods*

 

*After 18.00 Mon-Fri, all day Saturday and Sunday, bank holidays and College holidays

 

If you are a South Devon College Applicant/Student living in Torbay:

 

To be eligible you need to meet all of the following criteria:

 

• - Be under 19 years old on 01 September 2012
• - Live over 3 miles from the College site (postcode TQ4 7EJ)
• - Be studying on a full time course
• - Travels by bus only (use of taxi is determined by Torbay Council)

 

If you meet the above criteria and your household income is less than £21,000 then you are entitled to a FREE bus pass. If your household income is greater than £21,000, or you do not meet the criteria above, then the pass will be available at a heavily discounted cost of £260 per year which is equivalent to just over £7 per week.

 

To apply please use the following link to the Torbay Council Application Form

 

 

If you are a South Devon College Applicant/Student living in the South Devon area (Outside Torbay):
 

If you live outside Torbay and are in receipt of any of the following benefits

• - Income Support
• - Income-Based Job Seeker’s Allowance
• - Employment Support Allowance (income related)
• - Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• - Guarantee Element of Pension Credit
• - The maximum level of Working Tax Credit (WTC) (in Section 2 check ‘Reduction due to your income’, if it shows £0.00 then you receive the maximum level)
• - Child Tax Credit if you do not also receive WTC and your annual income, as assessed by the Inland Revenue, does not exceed £16,190. NB This amount is subject to change.
• - Evidence that you receive one of these benefits applicable to September 2012 must be provided.

If you meet the above criteria and South Devon College is your ‘designated place of study’ then you will be entitled to a FREE pass. Although the pass is advertised as £250 the College will pay this on your behalf and you will receive your pass absolutely FREE of charge!

You will need to make an application through Devon County Council.

 

If you live outside Torbay and are NOT in receipt of the qualifying benefits listed above

 

OR

 

Have been refused a bus pass by Devon County Council because you can study somewhere closer to your home, you will need to complete a

 

South Devon College Vantage Travel Application

 

If your household income is less than £21,000 then you are entitled to a FREE bus pass also! If your household income is greater than £21,000, or you do not meet the criteria above, then the pass will be available at a heavily discounted cost of £260 per year which is equivalent to just over £7 per week.

 

Please print and complete this form along with the Direct Debit, if required, and return to us at:

 

    Transport at the Helpzone
    South Devon College
    Long Road
    Paignton
    Devon
    TQ4 7EJ 

If you have any queries or for more information please contact the Helpzone on:
 
Freephone 08000 380123

Email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

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Good news for 16-18 year olds!

 

We are pleased to be able to offer a range of support for students who are either starting or continuing their studies with us in September 2012.

 

Depending on your circumstances you may be entitled to support from the 16-18 Bursary Fund.

 

Money could be available to help you pay for:

• - Course Books
• - Equipment/Materials
• - CRB Checks
• - Kit
• - Trips
• - Travel
• - Other Costs

There is also a £1200 bursary available to you if you are aged between 16 – 18 on 31^st August 2012 and are in one of the following categories:

• - in receipt of Income Support
• - in Care or is a Care Leaver
• - in receipt of Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance

If one or more of these statements is true for you then please let us know as soon as possible by phoning us on 08000 380123 and we will inform you what evidence you need to provide.  

 

 

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Click on the links below to download your application for financial support. If you are a current student experiencing hardship please complete and return the first form. If you are looking to study with us next year, please complete and return the second form.

 

For 16 – 18 Learner Support Fund Application for courses starting in September 2011

 

For 16 – 18 Bursary Fund Application for courses starting in September 2012 COMING SOON!

 

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Frequently asked Questions

 

Question 1: I have applied for the 16-18 Bursary Fund, when will I hear back?

 

Answer: Once we have received your completed form we will write to you by letter within 10 working days

confirming whether you have met the criteria. Following this, we will then contact you again by letter within a further 10 working days, with the specific amount you will receive and how this will be paid.

 

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Question 2: How much will I get if I am eligible?

 

Answer: It will depend on your circumstances and household income .The purpose of the 16-18 Bursary Fund is to help those that need it the most and as the fund is limited it is best used to remove financial barriers to studying, for example with helping to pay towards travel to and from college and to contribute to kit and equipment costs. The vast majority of this money will be paid in vouchers and/or travel passes at the start of the College term in September. 

 

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Question 3: Do I need to be on a full time course to be able to apply for this fund?

 

Answer: Yes, you will need to be studying over 12 hours per week to be eligible for help. 

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Question 4: If I buy my kit/equipment/books before the course starts will I get any money back

 

Answer: If you receive an award from the fund and provide the receipts we will refund up to the value of the award for these items after the course has started in September. 

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Question 5: I don’t know how much money I will need for course books, equipment, materials, and course visits. Where can I find this information?

 

Answer: If you have not already received these costs from your interview, you will be notified following your Welcome Day in early July. We will take all of these costs into account when making an award and the 16-18 Bursary Fund will contribute towards them for those that receive support. 

 

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Question 6:  What do ‘household income’ and ‘means-tested’ mean?

 

Answer: Your household income is as follows:

• - If you live alone – your income
• - If you live with a partner – your income and their income combined
• - If you live with parents (including step-parents)/carers/guardians) – your income and their income combined

 

Note that by income we also need to know about any benefits being received by any of the above and we will need to see evidence of these as indicated on the front of the Learner Support Application under ‘Proof of Income’.

 

Once we have the above information we are able to means-test the application, this is where we make an award based on your household income. This allows us to make sure that we are helping those that need it the most. The upper limit for household income for the 16-18 Bursary Fund is £21,000.

  

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Question 7: As I was at the College last year, do I have to provide any evidence for this year?

 

Answer: If you are under 19 on the 1^st September 2012 and received EMA last year we want you to tell us in Section 4 of the form, along with how much EMA you received. You will not then have to provide us with any more information. If, however, you did not receive any EMA last year but your circumstances have changed and you would like to make an application then you will need to provide evidence of household income. 

 

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Question 8: I need to provide evidence of proof of income for my 16-18 Bursary Fund application, how do I do this?

 

Answer: The evidence you need to provide is outlined on the front of the 16-18 Bursary Fund application. If, however, you are unsure, don’t worry as the Helpzone has a Financial Welfare Coordinator who will be happy to help you. You can contact us in the following ways:

• - Ring us on 01803 540507
• - Email us  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• - Drop in any time Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm

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Question 9: Can I get any help with childcare costs?

 

Answer: If you are under 20 years old on 01^st September 2012 you could get most if not all of your childcare fees funded by a Government scheme during your studies. Application forms and further guidance is available from the Helpzone or by calling the Care to Learn helpline on

 

0800 121 8989

 

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Question 10: Is there a deadline to send in my 16-18 Bursary Fund application?

 

Answer: If you can send this in by 6^th July 2012 we can guarantee that your award, providing that you are eligible, will be in place for when you start your course in September. We will endeavour to do our best to process any applications received after this date as quickly as possible.

 

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