Adults often tend to think of learning as an activity reserved strictly to youngsters. However, especially in the present economic environment, it is more essential than ever that one commits to upgrading, expanding and diversifying their professional skills in order to gain competitive advantage in the labour market and secure employment.
It is unfortunate that an increasing number of adults avoid the opportunity to receive further training due primarily to financial concerns. This is why, this article will bring to your attention, both, the various grant schemes for adult learners which you can access as well as local opportunities for adult learning.
Adult Learning Grant
The Adult Learning Grant enables adults in learning to receive up to £30 a week (£1000 a year) to help them with covering learning costs, including travel, study materials and other costs. This scheme gives you the freedom to choose between a wide range of qualifications: BTECs, NVQs, GCSEs, A-levels) as long as the course you take leads you to your first full Level 2 or first full Level 3 qualification (to check if your course is classes as “full” Level 2 or 3 qualification, contact the Careers Advice Service on 0800 100 900). To be eligible for this scheme, you need to be 19 or over and you must be getting under £19 573 a year if single/£30 810 if in a couple. You should not be getting Job Seeker`s Allowance.
To see how this scheme relates to other benefits and what benefits it could be combined with click here.
To discuss your choice of training/learning and enquiry further about the grant, fill in the following Free Call Back form and you will be called by an experienced Learning Adviser.
Fifty Plus In-Work Training grant
It is not impossible that you need to start a new job or return to employment at the age of 50. This grant, which could provide you with up to £1500, will help you to cover any work-related training costs for upgrading your professional skills (for example, updating your industry knowledge, improving your computer skills or other professional skills). You will qualify for this grant if you are currently working as employee or self-employed person, you have previously claimed at least one of the following benefits for at least 26 months but are no longer claiming them and were aged 50 or over when you stopped claiming: Jobseeker`s Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Severe Disablement Allowance, Pension Credit, Bereavement Allowance, Jobcentre Plus Allowance Payments, Auto Credits or National Insurance Credits. You will only qualify for the grant if you apply within 52 weeks of stopping to get the relevant benefit. To learn more and apply for this grant, please contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.
Horizons Education Fund
The Horizons Education Fund aims to support lone parents who have the motivation, determination and ability to improve their employment prospects. It provides support and advice on money matters and getting back to work, as well as grants towards education and training costs.
Grants amount to up to £1,500 towards course expenses for any courses where the applicant can demonstrate that study will improve employment prospects and they meet all the eligibility criteria below. For application guidelines please follow this link.
What Job Coaching services are available locally?
Orion Pax Employment (Enfield & Haringey)
At
Orion Pax Employment you can find
a team of one-to-one job coaches and back-to-work advisers which can provide free support and advice so that you can successfully apply for job vacancies. The agency also offers free ESOL courses for refugees and asylum seekers. To register, please call 020 8803 2611 (Enfield) and 020 8808 7776 (Tottenham), or email:
jobs@orionpax.org.uk
KIS trainingLocated in Haringey, KIS Training offer free impartial advice on adult training courses, further and higher education, personal development and job opportunities. To make an appointment, please call 020 8275 4230 or email enquiries@kistraining.co.uk.
Address: Sentinel House, 1 Ashley Road, Tottenham Hale, London N17 9LP
This article has been published in Issue 4 of Action for Social Integration’s Community Advice E-Newsletter, July 19th 2010
