16-19 Bursary Fund
As a care-experienced person, you can also access financial help if you're planning to stay at school, move into further education or start a training course. However, this bursary isn't available if you decide to start an apprenticeship.
The bursary is paid to your school, college or employer and can be used to help you to continue to learn and study. There are two funds available:
- a bursary of up to £1200 for young people who are in care or have recently left care.
- school or college specific bursaries, available if you have an EHCP or continuing a course you started from ages 16-18 when you're 19
Your school or college support services will be able to tell you if you can apply for a specific bursary.
16-24 bursary fund
If you decide to start an apprenticeship, the government will give you a £1000 bursary to help with practical costs and to help you move into work-based learning successfully.
The bursary will be provided to any care leaver who starts an apprenticeship and is between the ages of 16-24. This will come to you as a one-off payment from your training provider.
Your training provider and personal adviser will help you access this bursary.
Apprenticeships
There are a range of apprenticeships available across Westmorland and Furness:
- Apprenticeships across Westmorland and Furness (Twitter)
- Westmorland and Furness Council Apprenticeships
We have a wide range of rewarding apprenticeships on offer that lead to a fulfilling career right across Westmorland and Furness. As an apprentice you will:
- make a real and positive difference to people and communities right across the county
- develop transferable skills that will be valuable for your future career
- work in a real fast paced environment working with skilled and knowledgeable officers who want you to succeed
- have a personal mentor who will support you to be the best you can be;
- get the opportunity to access professional development opportunities which will help to further accelerate your career
- gain a recognised apprenticeship qualification with the opportunity to progress (while there is no guarantee that a position would become available at the end of your apprenticeship, as an apprentice you will have access to the council's internal job vacancies list which is only available to council employees, improving your chances of getting a permanent job)
- be supported with travel costs of up to £15 per week which will help you keep more of the money you make
- have contact with the Council's dedicated apprenticeship team who will ensure your apprenticeship is as successful as possible
- get the right support to help you get a job at the end of the apprenticeship
Driving lessons
We can help you access the following opportunities:
- Theory test: if you're in education, employment or training we will fund one attempt at your theory test
- Practical test: if you're in education, employment or training we will fund up to 10 driving lessons as you continue to purchase them. We will also fund an attempt at your practical driving test
You will need to speak to your personal adviser to access support with learning to drive.
Guaranteed interview scheme
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 are looking to apply for.
Your personal adviser and the apprenticeship team of the organisation you wish to apply to will be able to give you more information.
Unpaid work experience
In helping to develop your CV, you sometimes may have to undertake unpaid work experience to aid your skill set. We do recognise that this may reduce the time you can spend in paid employment.
We will therefore pay you up to £20 per week for such activities, however this work experience or volunteering will have to be deemed suitable and will be reviewed monthly.
Your personal adviser will help you access this funding.
The national website called do-it.org holds lots of volunteering opportunities you can access that can act as valuable sources of work experience.
Support for vocational courses
This is a judged payment based on your circumstances
To support you to move into a career of your choice, you may have to undertake additional training or practical courses to ensure you have the necessary additional skills.
You will need to show us that the additional training course will support the development of your career. Your personal advisor will help you apply for up to £100 funding that can be used for these courses.
Traineeships
A traineeship is a step-up programme into an apprenticeship or other training route. Through a traineeship you will gain work experience, English, maths and ICT skills and other employability skills. All of which will support you becoming ready for an apprenticeship with the council or one of our partners.
Whilst on a traineeship, you may be eligible for a free bus pass to help over the cost of travelling throughout the programme. The offer is targeted and your personal adviser and apprenticeship team will offer you a free bus pass if you are eligible for the scheme.
Work experience programmes
The council along with our NHS colleagues are working to create a series of short work-experience programmes. Available right across the county, these include working in an acute hospital ward, in civil engineering or as a carer as examples of available opportunities.
The programme will give you the opportunity to learn and develop new skills, gain work related experience and allow you to get a taste of different careers to help to start to shape plans for your career.
Work uniforms and clothing for interviews
A number of jobs or training courses may require you to wear specific clothing or use specific equipment. You may have to purchase this clothing or equipment yourself which can be expensive.
Your personal adviser 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 adviser will also be able to help you access this funding.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the schemes mentioned above, get in touch.
Email: apprentice@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Telephone: 01228 221400