The Discretionary Bursary helps cover the cost of course-related day-to-day expenses such as books / kits and stationery, and course related trips etc.  To be eligible

• You need to be 16 or over on 31 August 2025 to be eligible
• Be aged 19 if you are continuing a study programme you began aged 16 to 18 (‘19+ continuers’) or have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

• You need to have been resident in the UK, EU or EEA for 3 years prior to the start of your course. (Exceptions for 16–18-year-old asylum seekers).
• You need to be enrolled on a course funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and Department for Education (DFE)at Bridge Training.
• Receiving means tested benefits (for example, Universal Credit), or being supported by someone who is
• If the household income is below £35,000 Net before tax
• Students who are economically or socially disadvantaged and at risk of not taking up or continuing education.  This group includes students with physical or other disabilities, medical conditions and/or learning difficulties.

EHE students (those under the age of 16): are eligible for the bursaries and will be considered on a case-by-case basis in line with the 16-19 Bursary Fund Guide 2025 to 2026 academic year.

Quick Guide to check eligibility
Application Form

To be eligible, you must meet the criteria set out above as well as being:

• A young person in care
• Care leaver
• In receipt of income support or universal credit in your own name
• In receipt of employment support allowance (ESA) as well as Disability Living Allowance or personal independence payment (PIP) in your own name

The total amount paid will be based on the course length and calculated on a pro rata basis. All evidence submitted will be retained in accordance with audit requirements. Payments will be made monthly and based upon student attendance; this will be done in the form of vouchers (no cash payments will be made).

Quick Guide to check eligibility
Application Form

Students must be aged between 16 and 18 on 31st August 2025 to be eligible for free meals. Students who turn 19 during the 2025/26 academic year will remain eligible for free meals until the end of the academic year or to the end of their study programme, whichever is sooner.

Students aged 19 to 24 on 31st August 2025 who are subject to an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) are also entitled to free meals while attending Bridge Training if they meet the eligibility criteria.

The following groups of students are not eligible for free meals in further education support:

• Students aged 19 and over on 31st August 2025, unless they have an EHCP.

Eligible Benefits Free meals are targeted at disadvantaged students. For the purposes of eligibility for free meals, disadvantage is defined as the student being in receipt of, or having parents who are in receipt of, one of the following benefits

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190 as assessed by HMRC
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after someone stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• Universal Credit with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 for each year (after tax and not including any other benefits).

Working Tax Credit is not a qualifying benefit for free meals, and a parent or student who is in receipt of Working Tax Credit only is not entitled to free meals. However, if a parent or student is in receipt of one of the other qualifying benefits (apart from Child Tax Credit) as well as Working Tax Credit then they are eligible for free meals (i.e., the other qualifying benefit takes precedence over Working Tax Credit).

The Care to Learn scheme is available to anyone under the age of 20 at the start of their course and can help with childcare costs whilst you study.

What you’ll get:

You can receive up to £180 per child, per week

What it covers:

Care to Learn can help with the cost of:

• your childcare fees, including deposit and registration fees
• a childcare taster session for up to 5 days
• keeping your childcare place over the summer holidays
• taking your child to your childcare provider

Eligibility

You can get Care to Learn if all the following apply to you:

• you’re a parent under 20 at the start of your course
• you’re the main carer for your child
• you live in England
• you’re either a British citizen or have a legal right to live and study in England
• your childcare provider qualifies

Your childcare provider

To qualify, your childcare provider must be one of the following:

• registered with Ofsted
• registered with a childminder agency
• a school

They can be a:

• childminder
• pre-school playgroup
• day nursery
• out of school club

Claiming Care to Learn will not affect your family’s benefits or allowances.

Quick Guide to check eligibility

Application Form       

16-19 Financial Support (16-19 Discretionary and Bursary Fund Policy