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Funding

CILEx as a professional body and awarding organisation realises that many students face difficulties in funding their legal professional studies. Students may be aware that there have been recent changes to the funding of courses, including the abolition of the education maintenance grant for new courses from September 2011.

Evidence suggests that across all courses delivered in further education colleges, more than a third of students consider dropping out because of lack of financial help (survey by the Learning and Skills Network, commissioned by the National Union of Students in 2008).
 
Whilst completing your CILEx studies, there are a variety of schemes which may help you to meet your study costs. This area is complex and funding will be dependent on many factors, including age, address, financial and personal circumstances, the qualification you wish to complete and your mode of attendance (full or part-time).
There is a wide range of information available mainly through the web but it is often piecemeal and fragmented. This article aims to highlight what funding may be available to help you as an individual CILEx student.

It is important to appreciate that government funding schemes are different in England and Wales, and the position is subject to review and change.  Students should consider the following sources of financial support and primarily for those studying in the further education sector also approach their college’s awards or welfare officer. There may be other sources of funding and support available on a local or regional basis, including help with child care and travel costs.

Government Initiatives
Adult Learning Grant/Assembly Learning Grant in Wales

This is a grant for students aged 19 or over studying on a full-time course if they do not already have a qualification at Level 3 (equivalent to A-level standard) or higher.
Eligibility is dependent on the student’s income in England and household income in Wales and the type of course they may wish to study. For further information, please contact 0800 121 8989 or www.direct.gov.uk/alg or in Wales 0845 602 8845 or www.studentfinancewales.co.uk.

CILEx understands that at the current time the grants will continue for the next academic year from September 2011-12. However, students are recommended to contact their college and visit the relevant website to obtain up-to-date information.

Student support scheme

On 28 March 2011, the government announced a £180 million bursary scheme to replace the education maintenance allowance (EMA), which was scrapped in England last year. The replacement scheme is intended to target funding at those most in need. There will also be a partial reprieve for students who are already on courses and receiving EMAs and some funding may now continue beyond September 2011.  The bursary scheme applies to those  aged between 16 to 19 towards the costs of full-time education/training.  Students most in need will be eligible to receive a bursary of up to £1200 a year.  Further information is available at
www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14To19/index.htm or on 08001218989.

Access and learner support funds

Help with the costs of staying on in further education and training may also be available through access and learner support funds administered either by your local college and/or local education authority. Individual colleges set their own eligibility rules; determining their priority groups and maximum amounts they award. Assistance may be available for travel, books or childcare.

Care to learn: help with childcare while you learn

If you are a student and a young parent, Care to Learn can help pay for your childcare and related travel costs while you are learning. Information is available on the Learner Support helpline on 0800 121 8989 or through your local Connexions personal adviser.

Professional career development loans

Professional career development loans (PCDLs) are available for students who are 18 or over, settled in the UK, have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the three years prior to the start of their learning programme and intend to work in the UK, the European Union or the European Economic Area when the course finishes.
The PCDL will help pay for a course, including the CILEx Graduate Fast Track Diploma, that lasts up to two years, or a three-year course that includes up to one year of work experience. The criteria are that the course leads to employment or enhances job skills.
 
The Young Person’s Learning Agency PCDL brochure states:
‘Professional and career development loans are bank loans only offered through Barclays or The Co-operative Bank that can be used to help pay for work-related learning. You can borrow between £300 and £10,000 to help support the cost of up to two years of learning (or three years if it includes one year’s relevant unpaid practical work).

‘The Young People’s Learning Agency will pay the interest on the loan while you are learning and for one month afterwards. The loan can be used to pay course fees or other costs such as travel and living expenses. You can also use the loan to supplement other forms of support such as grants or bursaries.

‘Because the professional and career development loan is a commercial loan product, it should only be considered as an option once all other student funding options have been investigated.’

For further information you should visit www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning or www.ypla.gov.uk or telephone free phone 0800 585 505.

Other Sources of help
Support from your employer

In 2010, CILEx completed research which found that over 50% of employers surveyed contributed financially to the costs of their employees’ CILEx studies and over 70% paid their employees’ membership fees. The financial help included payment of annual subscriptions, course and examination fees.

CILEx students in employment should initially ask their employer, particularly if the employer is accredited with Investors in People, to provide financial support with their studies.

  • CILEx students could also suggest that employers consider other areas of support, including:
    Payment for tuition;
    Day release and/or study leave;
    Coaching and mentoring; and
    Providing experience in other areas of work in the organisation.

If you are going to approach your employer and present a case to them to support you in your CILEx studies, we suggest that you outline the potential benefits to the organisation, which may include:

  • Opportunities to qualify as a legal executive lawyer specialising in a particular area of law with new unitised and nationally recognised legal qualifications;
  • Flexible, adaptable and cost-effective training which offers progression opportunities;
  • Qualifications which combine practical experience in the workplace with academic training and developing professional skills to help meet your organisation’s targets;
    Increasing retention of staff; and
  • Enabling support staff to generate income for the organisation by converting them into fee-earners when they pass an CILEx Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice course.

Educational charities and trusts

There are various local and national charities and trust funds, which may be able to offer you financial help to support your CILEx studies. They may also make small awards towards other expenses, such as books, travel and childcare, which are not covered by other sources of funding. 

You may apply to many educational trusts and see if they can support you and how to qualify may depend on several factors, including where you where born, how old you are, and the particular qualification you wish to study. 

You could also approach the Educational Grants Advisory Service on 020 7249 6636 or obtain one of the following publications which may provide further information: The Educational Grants Directory (published by the Directory of Social Change); The Charities Digest; The Grants Register; and The Directory of Grant Making Trusts published by the Charities Aid Foundation.

The Prince’s Trust

The Prince’s Trust provides grants for education, training or work for those aged between 14 and 30. Grants are available from £50 to £500 and the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law qualification may be eligible for a development award.

For further information, you should contact the trust on 0800 842 842 or visit www.princes-trust.org.uk

Information for Students in Wales
Go Wales Graduate Training and Development Fund

Go Wales can offer small to medium-sized businesses in Wales up to £1,500 towards the cost of training graduate staff members. The fund provides an opportunity to identify training that will benefit the business and the individual taking part.

Requirements

  • The business must be small to medium-sized, employing fewer than 250 staff;
    The business must be based in Wales;
  • The funding is only available for graduate staff (the participant must have a degree, HND or equivalent qualification at National Qualifications Framework/Qualifications Credit Framework level 4 or above); and
  • The funding must provide a clear benefit to the business.
  • This programme is currently under review and students are recommended to contact the fund on 0845 225 60 50 or e-mail info@gowales.co.uk/training

Welsh students can obtain information at: wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/lang=en and www.careerswales.com or www.support4learning.org.uk or the Welsh Assembly government website at www.welshassembly.gov.uk

Other sources of information
www.direct.gov.uk
Learn Direct provides information about learning, courses or funding. The national helpline 0800 100 900 is free and confidential. Access the website at www.learndirect-advice.co.uk. Information for over 19s is also available through the Adult Information Advice and Guidance (IAG) Partnership, which can be contacted on 0800 100 900.

Other sources of careers advice include your CILEx course tutor, college student adviser and for English students Connexions Direct on 0808 001 3219 and www.connexions-direct.com for those aged between 13 and 19 and adults over 19 at www.learndirect.co.uk and the careers advice service on 0800 100 900, and in Wales www.studentfinancewales.co.uk.

Other useful websites include:
www.moneytolearn.direct.gov.uk
www.guidestar.org.uk
www.dcfs.gov.uk/learning&skills

Please contact Alison Hollyer, CILEx’s head of awards by e-mail at ahollyer@cilex.org.uk if you have any questions regarding the funding of your CILEx course.