Education, training and employment for care leavers

How we can support you to learn new skills and train for a career.

We’re committed to ensuring that you have the opportunity to access a career that you will enjoy. This could be through university, training or an apprenticeship. Regardless of the route, we will provide you with the support you need to help you succeed in taking the next step to employment.

On this page:

Bursary fund for 16- to 19-year-olds (non-apprentices)

This fund is available to eligible, relevant and former relevant care leavers who are planning to:

  • stay at school
  • move into further education
  • start a training course

The bursary will be paid to your school, college or employer. This can be used to help you to continue to learn and study. For example, clothes, books and other equipment for your course.

There are two funds available: 

  • a bursary of up to £1,200 for young people who are in care or have recently left care
  • school or college specific bursaries. They’re available if you have an education, health and care plan (EHCP), or if you’re 19 and continuing a course that you started when you were between 16 and 18

Your school or college support services will tell you if you can apply for specific bursary. 

Find out if you’re eligible for 16 to 19 bursary funds (GOV.UK)

How to apply for 16-19 bursary funds (GOV.UK)

This fund is not available if you decide to start an apprenticeship. There are other forms of support for apprentices.

Bursary fund for 16 to 24-year-olds (apprentices)

If you decide to start an apprenticeship, the government will give you a £1,000 bursary. This is to help you with practical costs and help you to move into work-based learning successfully. 

This bursary is available to any care leaver who is aged between 16 and 24 and is starting an apprenticeship. It will come to you as a one-off payment from your training provider. 

Your training provider and personal adviser will help you access this. 

Our apprenticeships

Read about our apprenticeships at Westmorland and Furness Council. 

This information includes the benefits of working with us, the support we can offer you, current opportunities and how to apply for an apprenticeship.

Going to university

If you're thinking about going to university, we'll help you every step of the way. Whether you're exploring your options, applying for a course, or already studying, we'll work with you to make sure you have the support you need to succeed.

Before you apply

We will help you to:

  • explore university and higher education options
  • attend university open days and visits
  • research courses and entry requirements
  • complete your UCAS application and personal statement
  • apply for student finance, bursaries and scholarships
  • explore other options, including degree apprenticeships
  • understand the support available for care leavers at different universities
  • make informed choices about where and what to study

When you receive your results

We will support you to:

  • understand your options on results day
  • access support through Clearing if needed
  • consider alternative education, training or employment opportunities if your plans change
  • make decisions about your next steps

While you're studying

Your Personal Adviser will stay in touch and continue to support you throughout your time at university.

We will help you to:

  • understand your accommodation options, including during university holidays
  • access financial advice and guidance
  • access university support services and wellbeing support
  • access specialist support where needed
  • provide evidence of your care leaver status when requested by your university or student finance providers
  • consider your options if university is no longer right for you

Financial support

Like other university students, you will usually receive student finance to help cover your tuition fees and living costs.

As a care leaver, you may also be entitled to additional support from us to help with the costs of studying and living away from home.

Higher education bursary

If you are eligible, we provide a £2,000 higher education bursary across the duration of your course. This is usually paid as:

  • £500 at the end of Year 1
  • £500 at the end of Year 2
  • £500 at the end of Year 3
  • £500 when you successfully complete your course

(For Former Relevant young people over the age of 21, this may be considered on a discretionary basis.)

Help with your living costs

We can help with your accommodation and living costs while you are studying at university. This support is usually up to £4,500 per year, or £5,200 per year if you are studying in London, based on a standard full-time degree course lasting three or four years.

We know that some courses or locations can be more expensive than others. If your expected costs are higher than this, we will talk through your circumstances with you, look at what funding may be available, and help you explore other sources of financial support.

If you need to repeat a year of your course, additional funding may be considered, but this is not guaranteed and will be reviewed on an individual basis.

If you are studying part-time, the amount of support available may be adjusted to reflect your study arrangements.

Accommodation during university holidays

If your university accommodation is not available during holidays and you are not living in a Staying Put arrangement, we can help with accommodation costs during university vacation periods. 

Course equipment

We can help with the cost of equipment you need for your course, including:

  • up to £500 before the start of your first year towards a computer, warranty and software
  • up to £250 per academic year after this, based on assessed need

Travel costs

We can help with:

  • travel costs to university interviews
  • the cost of an overnight stay where needed, based on an assessment of need

Graduation costs

We can contribute up to £250 towards graduation costs so that you can celebrate your achievements.

Keeping in touch with home

Moving away to university does not mean losing touch with the people who are important to you.

We will help you maintain important relationships and stay connected to your support network by contributing towards:

  • your journey to university at the start of the academic year and your journey home at the end of the year
  • up to four visits home during each academic year, in line with your Pathway Plan

We know that having strong connections with the people who care about you can make a real difference to your wellbeing and success at university.

Other financial support available

Student finance

You may be eligible for tuition fee and maintenance support through Student Finance England. We will help you understand what support you can apply for.

University care leaver bursaries

Many universities provide additional bursaries, grants and support packages specifically for care leavers.

The amount available varies between universities, so it is worth checking what each institution offers before making your decision. Some universities offer several thousand pounds of additional support during your studies.

You can compare support available at universities across the UK using the Propel website.

Unite Foundation scholarship

Care leavers may be able to apply for a Unite Foundation scholarship, which can cover accommodation costs at participating universities.

Support available from local universities

Many universities offer dedicated support for care-experienced students, including:

  • a named care leaver contact
  • one-to-one advice and guidance
  • accommodation available all year round
  • bursaries or additional financial support (where eligible)
  • wellbeing and pastoral support

You can find more information on the websites of:

We're here for you

Going to university can be exciting, challenging and sometimes overwhelming. You do not have to manage it on your own.

Your Personal Adviser will continue to support you throughout your university journey and help you access the advice, practical help and financial support you need to achieve your goals.

Driving lessons

Learning to drive will give you more independence and help you to access learning and training opportunities. 

Like many young people, you may want to learn to drive. We can help you by paying for:

  • one attempt at your theory test
  • up to ten driving lessons, as you continue to buy them
  • one attempt at your practical test

This funding is available to eligible, relevant and former relevant care leavers. You must also be in education, employment or training to qualify for this funding. You will need to speak to your personal adviser to access support with learning to drive. 

Guaranteed interview scheme 

We’re keen to ensure you have the best possible opportunity to access one of our work-based learning schemes, such as: 

  • apprenticeships
  • traineeships
  • work experience

We may be able to offer you a guaranteed interview, as you are a care leaver. However, this will depend on the level and type of job you apply for. 

Your personal adviser and the apprenticeship team of the organisation you wish to apply for will be able to provide more information. 

Non-paid work experience

Unpaid work experience can help you to develop your CV and you may sometimes have to undertake unpaid work to aid your skill set. For example, volunteering can be a valuable source of work experience. 

We recognise that this may reduce the time you can spend in paid employment. Therefore, will pay you up to £20 per week for such activities. 

We will assess your work experience or volunteering. It must be deemed suitable, and we will review this monthly. 

This is available to eligible, relevant and former relevant care leavers. Your personal advisor will help you access this funding. 

Find volunteering opportunities at do-it

Support for vocational courses

You may need to undertake additional training or practical courses, to ensure you have the necessary skills for your chosen career. 

We can support you with up a discretionary grant of up to £100. You must be able to show us that the course will support your career development. 

This is a judged payment based on your circumstances. Your personal adviser will help you to apply for this funding. 

Traineeships

We recognise that you might not be ready to go straight into an apprenticeship. You might need extra time or support to make the step up. If so, we can help you reach your potential through our traineeship scheme. 

A traineeship is a step-up programme. It leads into an apprenticeship or other training route. You will gain:

  • work experience
  • English, maths and ICT skills
  • other employability skills

This will help you become ready for an apprenticeship with us, or with one of our partners. 

Whilst on a traineeship, you may be eligible for a free bus pass to help cover your travel costs. This offer is targeted. Your personal adviser and apprenticeship team will offer you a pass if you are eligible for the scheme.

For more information, please speak to your personal adviser or contact our apprenticeships team.

How to contact our apprenticeships team

Telephone: 01539 713434
Email: apprentice@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk 

Work experience programmes

We understand that you may find the workplace daunting, and how to make a good start may be a little confusing. To assist, we’re working with NHS colleagues to create a series of short work experience programmes. 

Work experience placements are available across Cumbria, in areas such as:

  • acute hospital wards
  • civil engineering
  • care settings

The programme will give you the opportunity to:

  • learn and develop new skills
  • gain work-related experience
  • get a taste of different roles, to help you start shaping your career plans

Your personal adviser will be able to provide you with information about the programme. 

Work uniforms and clothing for interviews

Your job or training course may require you to wear specific clothing or use specific equipment. You may have to purchase this clothing or equipment yourself and this can be expensive. 

Your personal advisor can help you access £250 which can be used to buy such clothing or equipment. This funding may be paid in instalments where appropriate. 

In addition, we can provide up to £50 to help you purchase clothing for an interview. Your personal advisor will also be able to help you access this funding.

ID

You will need ID to open a bank account and start a job.

We want to make sure you have a suitable form of ID, so we will support you to get your first adult passport or provisional drivers license. 

If you don’t have British Citizenship, we will help you to apply for alternative forms of ID that may be available.