Learner support fund for adults aged over 19 for academic year 2020 / 2021

The request was successful.

Dear City of Bristol College,

For the academic year September 2020 to July 2021 - Please disclose;

1. How much money has been set aside for the Learner Support Fund. I believe the LSF is available to help students with course related costs such as travel to and from College, fees, kits, uniform and trips. Some students may also get help with childcare costs through this scheme.

2. If no money has specifically been set aside; please disclose how much money has been awarded under the LSF.

a. Of the money awarded - how many students have been made an award and how many refused.

b. Of the money awarded - the largest award made and the smallest award made.

3. Where an award has been declined by your appeals panel, please state if a student has further recourse to an independent body for review / appeal.

Yours faithfully,

M Ahmed

Corporate Services, City of Bristol College

Dear M Ahmed

 

Thank you for your Freedom of Information Request regarding Learner
support fund for adults aged over 19 for academic year 2020 / 2021,
received 18 February 2021.

 

We will respond to this request within the 20 working day deadline (or
earlier if this is possible).

 

Yours sincerely

 

Corporate Services

City of Bristol College

PO Box 2887, Bristol, BS2 2BB

 

Corporate Services, City of Bristol College

Dear M Ahmed

 

Thank you for your Freedom of Information Request dated 18 February 2021 
Please find our answers to your queries below.

 

For the academic year September 2020 to July 2021 - Please disclose;

 

1.  How much money has been set aside for the Learner Support
Fund. I believe the LSF is available to help students with
course related costs such as travel to and from College, fees,
kits, uniform and trips. Some students may also get help with
childcare costs through this scheme.

Response:

City of Bristol College receives a Learner Support Fund allocation each
year from the Government which is split across different student cohorts
(see table below for further details on the 2020/21 allocation) Further
information is also available through the College’s Bursary Policy which
is published on our website
[1]City of Bristol Bursary-Policy-2020-21 

 

LSF Fund 20/21
16-18 Discretionary £336,046
Free School (College) Meals £149,902
19+ Advanced Learning Loan £96,746
19+ Discretionary £397,285
Vulnerable £133,200
Total Allocation £1,113,179

 

 

2.  If no money has specifically been set aside; please disclose how much
money has been awarded under the LSF.

Response:

To date we have allocated £1,041,723.65 across all cohorts from the total
allocation for 2020/21.  Applications continue to be made and processed
for this academic year.

 

a Of the money awarded - how many students have been made an award and how
many refused.
Response:

1743 applications (of which 121 were not eligible for support)

b Of the money awarded - the largest award made and the smallest award
made.
Response:

£7,280 largest award, £3.15 smallest award

 

3.  Where an award has been declined by your appeals panel, please state
if a student has further recourse to an independent body for review /
appeal.

Response:

Students have the right to appeal in writing to the Learner Support Fund
(LSF) Team, and have 10 working days to do this from receipt of their
award notification. The appeal should set out their reasons and include
any supporting evidence. The Hub Leader in charge of LSF and Head of
Student Services will consider the appeal and provide the student with an
outcome in writing within 10 working days of receipt of the appeal.
Students who are not satisfied with the outcome of their appeal, should
refer to the College’s Complaints Policy and Procedure.

 

We trust this answers your query but if you are not satisfied that your
FOI has been answered please email us at
[2][email address]  within 14 working days.

 

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request you have the
right to appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office –
[3]www.ico.org.uk

 

Corporate Services

City of Bristol College

PO Box 2887, Bristol, BS2 2BB

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.cityofbristol.ac.uk/wp-conte...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.ico.org.uk/