financial assessment Form 2026/27

Eligibility for Standard Bursary:

Bursary funds are targeted at disadvantaged students; this is defined as having parents or carers who are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

Income Support
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
Universal Credit
In addition to being in receipt of one of the above benefits, total annual household income (i.e. earnings from employment or self employment plus benefits received) must not exceed £30,000

ELIGIBILITY FOR FREE COLLEGE MEALS

From September 2026 any household in receipt of Universal Credit will be eligible for support towards meals in college, even if they do not meet the criteria for the bursary.

Evidence

Please supply one of the following (we are unable to proceed without evidence):

Letter from DWP dated within three months of the application confirming receipt of one of the above benefits, or:
If receiving Universal Credit, the most recent statement. PLEASE NOTE WE NEED ALL PAGES OF UNIVERSAL CREDIT STATEMENT, SHOWING DEDUCTIONS FOR TAKE-HOME PAY AND AMOUNT OF UC RECEIVED - ALL PAGES MUST BE SUBMITTED

Please upload page 1 of evidence here* No file chosen Please enter page 2 of evidence here (if required) No file chosen Please enter page 3 of evidence here (if required) No file chosen Please enter page 4 of evidence here (if required) No file chosen Please enter page 5 of evidence here (if required) No file chosen Please enter page 6 of evidence here (if required) No file chosen

To be completed by student and/or Parent/Carer

Student Surname* Student First Name* Student Address* Benefit being claimed by parent* Student Phone Number* Student email address* Tutor Group (if known) Parent/Carer Surname* Parent/Carer Title and First Name* Parent/Carer Phone Number* Parent/Carer email address*

Financial Support Available for:

- Transport (Bus/Train Season Ticket)
- Food Allowance (to be used in on-site refectories)
- Essential equipment for relevant subjects i.e. calculators, books, art packs etc
- Curriculum-related day trips

Travel passes can be collected from the Finance Department once the student has enrolled and the bursary application has been approved.

We aim to process bursary applications quickly but students will need to budget for transport costs at the beginning of term.

Annual travel passes will be provided, in the event that the student leaves part way through the year the travel pass must be returned to the Finance Office immediately. Failure to do so may result in you being charged for the cost of the pass.

If a successful bursary application is made then the Learning Resource Contribution will be waived.

The Food Allowance (£3.50 per day) will be automatically added to the Student ID card every Monday.

Bursaries are only ever a contribution to course-related compulsory costs and will not necessarily cover all your additional financial needs. Funds are limited, it may be necessary to refuse an award at any point during the academic year.

Do you require assistance with travel costs*YesNo

If Yes, how will you be travelling? PLEASE TICK ONLY ONEArriva (bus)Hedingham (bus)First Bus (bus)Greater Anglia (train)

Where will you be travelling from?

Declaration:

- I have provided relevant documentation to support my application.
- I agree that, to the best of my knowledge, the information I have given is correct.
- I agree to provide the college with details of any changes in personal circumstances as they occur.
- I understand the continuation of any award is conditional on the student achieving an attendance of 90% or above across the study programme and meeting college expectations for coursework and behaviour.

The personal data entered on this form will be held on both paper and computer files. It will be shared with the ESFA in line with our legal obligations to provide information as part of the funding regulations. We will also use this information internally in order to administer and monitor the payment of the Bursary and Contribution to Food Costs scheme.

Warning – it is an offence to obtain a bursary by deception

Student Declaration*Please tick this box to declare the information entered into this form is correct.

Parents/Carer

I can confirm that I am responsible for the student named on this form. The student is resident with me.

Full Name Relationship to Student

SignedPlease check box to sign

Date of signature*

We will not be able to process your application if you have not provided relevant supporting evidence.

All students should submit their form by 9th August 2026. Any late applications will still be considered but we cannot guarantee support will be in place for the start of the academic year.

If the application is approved this will be subject to the student enrolling.