Anyone know of any financial support available to a 19 year old at college not Uni.

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I am hoping someone may point me in the right direction as I have been looking on the internet but can't find any answers.

My stepson is 19, 20 in December. He did a 2 year course at college and then is now mid way through a further diploma course at college. It is a parallel course not any higher in qualification when he finishes than first one was, just in a different subject.

He had 3 years EMA which has now stopped as it is the maximum he could get, has been searching over the last couple of months for a part time job but not found one (another topic completely that he should have been looking for four summers since he left school not the last couple of months!!!!!!!!!)

In December we will stop getting child benefit and tax credits for him (we do have other children so that carries on for them) but my query is...does supporting him financially fall completely on his Dad and I now and when he is 20 or are there any grants/loans etc available to him?? He hopes to get a parttime job, intends to apply to Uni next year but what happens between now and then??

Everything I can find on net relates to Uni and not college as it seems most people do a 2 year course at college not the 4 he has done, so by his age he should it seems either be at Uni or be working and supporting himself/giving us board.

Any advice greatly accepted. Thankyou.

most colleges have a hardship fund of some description so the first port of call is to try student services at college - that's the good news, it's also possible that with all the cutbacks going on that this has been cut. you could try places like the princes trust - it's a long shot but worth a phone call - you'll find details on internet. lots of seasonal jobs are starting to recruit now so look at what shops are are to travel to and get on their websites, not many now recruit via the newspapers as it's too expensive so it's down to checking individual websites. remind him that any work experience will look good on his UCAS form as uni's now look for more things than just exam results. hope this helps a little.

you support him

or he gets a job to help support himself

I don't know of any other financial support available (and tbh, I think that is entirely reasonable unless he has dependants of his own)

Getting a job would seem the best option if he can find something even a couple of nights a week, or a weekend job. Someone of his age, rather than a 16 yr old, might need slightly higher wages because of the minimum wage but I would think employers would also think they were getting someone more reliable and mature, so he might stand a better chance for random part-time jobs that on offer (some of these will be surfacing just now since lots of students will be going to university and leaving their hometown part-time jobs for the next 12 weeks or so).

I can't think of any funding bodies or charitable organisations that would help with funding. Sorry and good luck.

If it were a designated part-time course he could sign on for JSA if he was willing to make himself available for work.

i thought student loans were available?

my son is doing a diploma and i was under the impression that next year he could apply for a student loan ( and hopefully move out)

I'd suggest he goes to a work agency and signs up for anything going... several of my kid's friends have gone this route and usually there are temp jobs going.Otherwise you will be subbing him!

Although it's not easy to get a p/t job these days, they do still exist.. I have a 18,17 and 16 yr old and they all had to really work hard to find jobs..sheer leg work and going to every shop etc but they all have p/t jobs now which they fit around their studies... my eldest is off to Uni in 2 weeks to study medicine but she has had to work through her A levels. None got EMA either as we fell just over their limit:( and they have to buy their own bus passes etc etc . I think the reality is he will have to look harder and not expect family to pick up the tabs!

a loan, yes

but I don't think the OP meant some finanial support that had to be paid back

Thanks everyone for ideas, I will do some more investigating and see what I can unearth...and push him to find out about...needs a shock to make him meet the adult world we think!!!

In the ideal world then yes we would financially support him...and may have to anyway.....but we struggle to make ends meet now.

I will look into the loan path too, but thought student loans were only for uni.

You can't get a sudent loan for doing a diploma these are for Students doing Foundation or full degrees at uni or at colege if they are taking a degree course.

Thanks. He needs pushing even harder down the job line we have decided. I went on diret gov yesterday and within 15 mins found 8 jobs he could have applied for!!! he is supposed to be actively looking for a parttime job he has told both of us and his Mum and yet when we put him on the spot he knew nothing about the jobs I found and yet reckons he is searching every day!!!

So he has been "spoken to" again and lets hope this makes him think. We have said from December we will need a contribution from him and he has to really try to find some part time work. Would help if he wanted any money himself as that may encourage him but he just doesn't want anything himself so makes a very half hearted go (when nagged enough) to look for a job but thats it.

My lad (20) has just moved back to Leicester Uni after his long summer holidays although he has been working VERY hard working nights as a barman in a nightclub in Manchester and then cycling back home at 4 in morning.

He is hoping to get work down there again at the place he used to work at but its hard to fit it in with lectures.

I also have a daughter who,because she is 17 cannot do that job as she is not old enough, why can't they let her work without serving alcohol?

We don't get EMA because my other half 'earns too much' apparently. Why don't they take outgoings into consideration when calculating?