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CPCAB issue date: April 12th 2017

Potential sources of financial assistance for students in relation to CPCAB qualificationsFor 2017-18 in England

The information given in this guide-sheet may be subject to change and in some instances is provisional pending further clarification from government agencies and similar. Students are advised to check facts and figures for themselves.This guidance document can be downloaded from our website: www.cpcab.co.uk/public_docs/funding_for_students

Table of Contents Funding options (summary) for core qualifications

o Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills o Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies o Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling

Funding options (summary) for other qualifications o Level 2 Award in Understanding Substance Misuse o Level 2 Award in Effective Listening Skills o Level 2 Award in Introduction Counselling Skills o Level 3 Certificate in Life Coaching Studies o Level 4 Diploma in Life Coaching o Level 5 Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Skills & Theory o Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling o Level 6 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Supervision

Student loans (Advanced Learner Loans) Professional and Career Development Loans Grants and bursaries Learning support funds Other funding support schemes Ways of keeping costs down Help from employer More useful links In the UK, but not in England

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Funding options (summary) for CPCAB’s core qualifications for 2017-18:

Important note: a training centre’s potential access to direct funding from the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and/or indirect ESFA funding (via students obtaining Advanced Learner Loans) is dependent on the centre either: Having arranged through the ESFA a loans facility (for Advanced Learner

Loans); OR … Having signed an Adult Education Budget (AEB) contract with the ESFA; OR

… Being in an ESFA-registered subcontractual relationship with a “lead

provider” training centre that has signed an AEB contract with the ESFA. If your chosen training centre does not fall into any of the above categories (check with them to find out), then the only funding references cited below that may still apply are those concerning either (a) students aged 16 - 18 (depending on the CPCAB qualification concerned) ; or (b) Professional & Career Development Loans (PCDL).All age-related references below concern the learner’s age on August 1st of the relevant teaching year.

Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2):

Learners aged 18: grant-funding (fee remission) from the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

Learners aged 18 or older (because 18 is the min. course-entry age for CSK-L2): Professional Career & Development Loan (PCDL).A PCDL takes the form of a bank loan to the learner, although the loaned money is paid to the training centre.

Learners aged 19–23 who are unemployed and already have a full1 Level 2 qualification: full funding (fee remission) from the ESFA.

Learners aged 19–23 where the learner has already achieved a qualification at level 2 or above: co-fundable. With co-funding, the learner or an employer is expected to contribute (alongside the ESFA) towards the costs of learning.

Learners aged 19 or older: fundable under the Local Flexibility scheme (learners should ask the training centre about their plans for this concerning the qualification concerned).

Learners aged 24 or older and not unemployed: co-fundable. Learners aged 24 or older: full funding (fee remission) from the

ESFA for learners who are:- Receiving Job Seekers Allowance (including those receiving National

Insurance credits only), or Employment & Support Allowance (in the

1 This means a qualification awarded after a course of at least 150 Guided Learning Hours in length.







work-related activity group), or Universal Credit (if mandated to training by the Jobcentre); or …

- In custody but released on temporary licence (RoTL) following learning outside a prison environment not funded through OLASS; or …

- Unemployed and receiving any state benefits not listed above but who want to enter employment and believe skills training will help them to do so.

Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3):

Learners aged 19–23: co-fundable … unless the learner qualifies for full funding as described immediately below. With ESFA co-funding, an employer or learner is expected to contribute (alongside the ESFA) towards the costs of learning.

Learners aged 19 or over: full funding (fee remission) from the ESFA for those (needing help to move into work, progress in work or remove a barrier to getting into work) who are …- Receiving Job Seekers Allowance (including those receiving National

Insurance credits only), or Employment & Support Allowance (in the work-related activity group), or Universal Credit (if mandated to training by the Jobcentre); or …


- In custody, but are released on temporary licence (RoTL) following learning outside a prison environment and not funded through OLASS; or …

Learners aged 19 or over: Advanced Learner Loan. The learner (not the training centre) applies for this loan, but the money is paid directly to the centre. However, through the ESFA the centre must have previously arranged (i.e. already have in place) a loans facility.

Learners aged 19 or over (because 19 is the minimum course-entry age for CST-L3): Professional Career & Development Loan (PCDL).A PCDL takes the form of a bank loan to the learner, although the loaned money is paid to the training centre. It can’t be used for the same qualification as an Advanced Learner Loan.

Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4):

Learners aged 19–23: co-fundable … unless the learner qualifies for full funding as described immediately below. With ESFA co-funding, an employer or learner is expected to contribute (alongside the ESFA) towards the costs of learning.







Learners aged 19–23: full funding (fee remission) from the ESFA for those (needing help to move into work, progress in work or remove a barrier to getting into work) who are …- Receiving Job Seekers Allowance (including those receiving National





Learners aged 19 or over (because 19 is the minimum course-entry age for TC-L4): Professional Career &Development Loan (PCDL).A PCDL takes the form of a bank loan to the learner, although the loaned money is paid to the training centre. It can’t be used for the same qualification as an Advanced Learner Loan.







Funding options (summary) for other CPCAB qualifications for 2017-18:

All age-related references below concern the learner’s age on August 1st of the relevant teaching year.

Level 2 Award in Understanding Substance Misuse (USM-L2):

Learners aged 16-18: grant-funding (fee remission) from the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

Learners aged 19–23 who are unemployed and already have a full2 Level 2 qualification: full funding (fee remission) from the ESFA.

Learners aged 19–23 where the learner has already achieved a qualification at level 2 or above: co-fundable. With co-funding, the learner or an employer is expected to contribute (alongside the ESFA) towards the costs of learning.







Level 2 Award in Effective Listening Skills (ELSK-L2): Learners aged 14–18: grant-funding (fee remission) from the

Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Learners aged 19–23 who are unemployed and already have a full

Level 2 qualification: full funding (fee remission) from the ESFA. Learners aged 19–23 where the learner has already achieved a

qualification at level 2 or above: co-fundable. With co-funding, the learner or an employer is expected to contribute (alongside the ESFA) towards the costs of learning.

2 Click here for a definition of what makes a qualification ‘full’.












- Unemployed and receiving any state benefits not listed above but who want to enter employment and believe skills training will help them to do so. In this instance full funding is at the centre’s discretion (concerning the learner and not the type of benefit they’re receiving), but the centre must be satisfied that the learning is directly relevant to both the individual’s employment prospects and local labour market needs.

Level 2 Award in Introduction Counselling Skills (ICSK-L2): Learners aged 16–18: grant-funding (fee remission) from the

Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Learners aged 19–23 who are unemployed and already have a full

Level 2 qualification: full funding (fee remission) from the ESFA. Learners aged 19–23 where the learner has already achieved a

qualification at level 2 or above: co-fundable. With co-funding, the learner or an employer is expected to contribute (alongside the ESFA) towards the costs of learning.













Level 3 Certificate in Life Coaching Studies (LCS-L3): Learners aged 19–23: co-fundable … unless the learner qualifies for

full funding as described immediately below. With ESFA co-funding, an employer or learner is expected to contribute (alongside the ESFA) towards the costs of learning.

Learners aged 19 or over: full funding (fee remission) from the ESFA for those (needing help to move into work, progress in work or remove a barrier to getting into work) who are …- Receiving Job Seekers Allowance (including those receiving National





Learners age 19 or over (because 19 is the minimum course-entry age for LCS-L3): Professional Career & Development Loan (PCDL).A PCDL takes the form of a bank loan to the learner, although the loaned money is paid to the training centre. It can’t be used for the same qualification as an Advanced Learner Loan.

Level 4 Diploma in Life Coaching (LC-L4): Learners aged 19–23: co-fundable … unless the learner qualifies for

full funding as described immediately below. With ESFA co-funding, an







employer or learner is expected to contribute (alongside the ESFA) towards the costs of learning.

Learners aged 19–23: full funding (fee remission) from the ESFA for those (needing help to move into work, progress in work or remove a barrier to getting into work) who are …- Receiving Job Seekers Allowance (including those receiving National



- Unemployed and receiving any state benefits not listed above but who want to enter employment and believe skills training will help them to do so. In this instance full funding is at the centre’s discretion (relating to the learner and not the type of benefit they are receiving), but the centre must be satisfied that the learning is directly relevant to both the individual’s employment prospects and the needs of the local labour market.


Learners age 19 or over (because 19 is the minimum course-entry age for LC-L4): Professional Career & Development Loan (PCDL).A PCDL takes the form of a bank loan to the learner, although the loaned money is paid to the training centre. It can’t be used for the same qualification as an Advanced Learner Loan.







Level 5 Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Skills & Theory (CBT-L5):


Learners aged 19 or over (because 19 is the minimum course-entry age for CBT-L5): Professional Career & Development Loan (PCDL).A PCDL takes the form of a bank loan to the learner, although the loaned money is paid to the training centre. It can’t be used for the same qualification as an Advanced Learner Loan.

Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (PC-L5): Learners aged 19 or over: Advanced Learner Loan. The learner (not

the training centre) applies for this loan, but the money is paid directly to the centre. However, through the ESFA the centre must have previously arranged (i.e. already have in place) a loans facility.

Learners aged 19 or over (because 19 is the minimum course-entry age for PC-l5): Professional Career & Development Loan (PCDL).The same conditions apply as per CBT-L5 above.

Level 6 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Supervision (TCSU-L6): Learners aged 19 or over: Advanced Learner Loan. The learner (not

the training centre) applies for this loan, but the money is paid directly to the centre. However, through the ESFA the centre must have previously arranged (i.e. already have in place) a loans facility.

Learners aged 19 or over (19 is min. course-entry age): Professional Career & Development Loan (PCDL).The same conditions apply as per CBT-L5 above.







Advanced Learner Loans:Advanced Learner Loans are available to learners aged 19 or older at the start of the teaching year (August 1st) in relation to approved qualifications at Level 3, 4 ,5 and 6.

Loan applications can be made from May 1st onwards for the courses that start during the next teaching year.

So for 2017-18 Advanced Learner Loans are potentially available to eligible students on courses in England at eligible training centres leading to eligible CPCAB qualifications at any level from 3 - 6.

You can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover the course tuition fee (and any associated fee concerning registration with an awarding organisation such as CPCAB) either:

In full. Or just partly (if you have some funding from an employer or are making

a personal investment).

The minimum loan-amount you can apply for is £300, and the loan cannot be used to subsidise the costs of books, travel equipment or any other additional resources that you may require to access the course. You can optionally access up to four loans (e.g. for four separate courses), either one after the other, or simultaneously.

Students seeking an Advanced Learner Loan must apply for it themselves: their training centre cannot do it on their behalf. Applications go to Student Finance England 3. If a loan is approved, the SFE will inform both the student and their training centre. The loan sum is paid to the training centre (and not to the student).

Note that the loans are: For a minimum of £300 (you can’t apply for smaller amounts). Not means-tested (i.e. they don’t depend on how much or how little

income you have, nor whether you are employed or not). Not based on you undergoing a credit-check. Not restricted on the basis of prior attainment – so even if you already

have a level 3 qualification you can still apply for a loan concerning a course leading to another level 3 qualification.

Restricted to courses leading to qualifications that are:- At levels 3 – 6.

3 A service administered by the Student Loans Company, who operate on behalf of the UK Government.






http://www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk/



- Designated for loans by the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).







In terms of CPCAB qualifications, this means that for 2017-18 Advanced Learner Loans are available to eligible students at eligible training centres in relation to our:

Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3). Level 3 Certificate in Life Coaching Studies (LC-L3). Level 4 Diploma in Life Coaching (LC-L4). Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4).

TC-L4 is normally run (part-time) over two years. You can optionally apply for a loan to cover just part of the course (the 2nd year for example) instead of the whole thing.

Level 5 Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Skills & Theory (CBT-L5).

Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (PC-L5). Level 6 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Supervision (TCSU-L6).

To be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan students must: Be taking a course at a college or training organisation that has arranged

a loans facility with the Education & Skills Funding Agency (a government body).

Be undertaking a course in England leading to an eligible qualification. On the course-start date be aged 19 or over for courses starting on

or after August 1st. Be living in the UK on the first day of their course and have lived in the

UK, the Channel Island or the Isle of Man for the three years immediately preceding. This can includes EU students, provided they fulfil these residency conditions.

Have (or be able to obtain) a National Insurance number – so that the loan can be paid to your college or training organisation on your behalf.

How the loans work Before you apply, ask your training centre for a ‘Learning and funding

information’ letter - you need this to complete the application. It contains the details about your course.

You can apply online to Student Finance England (a service administered by the Student Loans Company).

The money is paid (in monthly instalments, over the period of study concerned) directly to your training centre.

It’s possible to apply for a loan at any time during your course (but not after you’ve completed it) and loans are not tied only to courses starting in September.

An government guide to these loans can be found here.






https://www.gov.uk/24_advanced_learning_loans

https://logon.slc.co.uk/cas/login?_locale=en_GB&service=https%3A%2F%2Fsecure.studentfinance.direct.gov.uk%2Fprotocol%2Findex.do%3F_locale%3Den_GB


Professional Career & Development Loans (PCDLs) will continue to exist but cannot be used for the same qualification as an Advanced Learner Loan. In addition, students will not be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan if/while they are still doing a PCDL-funded course.

Pay back You will be charged interest on the loan until it is paid back (but you only

pay interest from the time your first payment is made – see below – until you pay your loan back in full).

From April 2016 onwards, the interest rate will vary depending on how much you earn (but will never be higher than RPI + 3%) as follows:- RPI for those earning less than £21,000 a year; - On a sliding scale between RPI and RPI + 3% for earnings between

£21,000 and £41,000 a year; - RPI + 3% for individuals earning more than £41,00.

No money has to be paid back until you earn more than £21,000 per year, when repayments will be automatically deducted from your earnings via the tax system (your training centre is not involved in this process).

If you never earn this much, then you don’t pay anything back and the loan is written off after 30 years (it’s also written off if you die).

If your earnings temporarily fall below £21,000 then the payments stop and only restart if your earning again rise above this 21k threshold.

You won’t have to repay the full loan amount if you leave part-way through the course.This is because if you stop attending the course then the payments to the training centre (from Student Finance England) will also stop … so you’ll only have to repay the amount (plus any interest accrued) that’s already been paid to your training centre.

Repayments will be claimed back at 9% of earning above 21,000. They will start from the April after your course has finished … if and when you earn more than £21,000 per year.

Application for a loanThe latest you can apply is up to six months after the start of the teaching year. Check with your college / training centre as to when your academic year starts, as it’s not necessarily the first day of your course. It will most likely be September 1st, but it could be, January 1st, April 1st or 1 July 1st.

Each student must apply individually for the loan to Student Finance England4, who will assess each application and (once a loan has been approved) will inform both the student and their college/training centre.










Before applying for a loan, you’ll need to obtain the following from your training centre:

A ‘learning and funding information’ letter - you need this to complete the application. It contains the details of your course.

The centre’s UK Provider Reference Number (UKPRN). Having a UKPRN means that the centre is registered with the UK Register of Learning Providers.

Your Unique Learner Number (ULN). If you don’t already have one (or don’t know what it is), then your training centre will obtain this for you. An Advanced Learner Loan cannot be obtained without a ULN.

For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learning-loans, or for queries ring Student Finance England on 0300 1000 619 (this is the number for their Advanced Learner Loans section).

Professional & Career Development Loans:Note that this type of loan cannot be used for the same qualification as an Advanced Learner Loan.

If you are aged 18 or over (and have been living in the UK for at least 3 years before your course starts), then you may well be eligible for a Professional and Career Development Loan (PCDL). You should apply for the loan 2 months before your course starts (but not earlier than this, or else your application won’t be accepted) to give enough time for your loan application to be processed.5

All of CPCAB’s qualifications should be eligible in relation to PCDLs, provided that the course concerned:

Involves at least 5 hours of study per week, including (we assume) required study/work outside of course-hours at the training centre.

Is provided by a training centre that is on the PCDL Register (so you’d need to ask your prospective centre if they are on this register).

A PCDL is a bank loan. You make an agreement with a participating bank to borrow an amount between £300 and £10,000. Then once you’ve stopped studying, you pay it back in the normal way.

The difference with a PCDL is that the Education & Skills Funding Agency (a government body) pays the interest on the loan while you’re studying – and for one month afterwards. After this, you’ll pay interest at the rate fixed (usually a reduced rate) when you took out the loan. Interest rates on the loans are set so they’re competitive with other ‘unsecured’ personal loans that are commercially available. 5 If you receive benefits, check with your benefits office before you take out a loan as it can

affect the benefits you’re entitled to.






https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learning-loans

http://www.ukrlp.co.uk/

http://www.ukrlp.co.uk/


But remember that a PCDL is re-payable no matter what your income, whereas an Advanced Learner Loan is re-payable only after your earnings reach £22,000 and is on a sliding scale … so no matter how much your loan is for, your re-payments will always be linked to your earnings.

Find out which banks offer the loan and order an application pack by calling the National Careers service on 0800 100 900 (Monday to Sunday, 8am to 10pm). You then fill in the application form and send it to the bank.

Grants and bursaries:Grants don’t have to be paid back. Bursaries are similar to grants, but are usually linked to a particular career, qualification or type of course.

Student Finance EnglandPart-time students may be able to apply for a grant from Student Finance England.6

Family Action Educational GrantsThese grants are aimed as helping individuals, aged 16 or over, start or continue on a course of education or training. While there are no set limits, in general grants are made for £200 to a maximum £500.

The grants are mainly targeted at families and individuals on low incomes, particularly those living on benefits. Preference is given to those studying courses likely to lead to improved employment prospects. In addition, applicants must be: Studying at a college or university that is affiliated to the Educational

Grants Service (EGS). A British national by birth (this means those who at birth had British

Citizenship) OR asylum seekers, refugees and those with leave to remain.For more information click here.

Grants from the Student Loans Company:The Student Loans Company also have some money available for grants and bursaries.

Educational Grants Advisory ServiceSome charities and trusts offer financial help, but their eligibility rules vary. The Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS) provides information and advice on sources of funding through their directory, helpline and website. Click here to check on the EGAS website if you're eligible for an educational grant.







http://www.family-action.org.uk/section.aspx?id=1037

http://www.slc.co.uk/

http://www.family-action.org.uk/standard.aspx?id=2470




Other possible sources of grantsYou can also check the following publications via your local library: Educational Grants Directory (published by the Directory of Social Change) Charities Digest (Waterlow Information Services) Grants Register (Macmillan Press) Directory of Grant Making Trusts (Charities Aid Foundation)

BursariesAdvanced Learner Loans Bursary FundThe Bursary Fund is made available by the Education & Skills Funding Agency and distributed by eligible colleges and training centres. It’s aimed at students who are eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan, but need additional financial support – for example parents who need help with childcare costs, ex-military personnel, disabled students or those with learning difficulties. The fund is distributed at the discretion of providers and is not an entitlement. It includes the funding for Discretionary Learner Support.Note: The bursary fund is an extremely limited pot of money and so only those

students who are facing the most severe financial hardship will receive any financial support.

BACP bursarySome training centres offer courses that are both (a) registered with CPCAB (i.e. designed to lead directly to a CPCAB qualification); and (b) accredited by the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP).7

The BACP offers help with course fees to anyone who has been accepted on to a BACP-accredited course. The bursary is for £500 and they offer 60 of these each year. For the guidelines and application form click here.

Other bursariesIf you are aged 16-19, you can also apply for a bursary from your school, college, academy or other learning provider. Use the following clickable links to get more information. Help if you're studying away from home Help with the cost of transport to college or sixth form 16 to 19 bursary fund

To be eligible to apply, you must: Be aged 16 - 19.

7 Note that the BACP is simply a professional association. It is not an awarding body and does not provide qualifications.






https://www.bacp.co.uk/docs/pdf/14083_bursary%20application%20form.pdf


Have been accepted onto and be studying a programme of learning funded by the Education Funding Agency (EFA).

Colleges determine priority groups and maximum amounts they award. The focus of funds are for financially disadvantaged people aged 19 or over, who need support in areas such as childcare, transport, books and equipment.

Learning support funds:Students who have assessed learning needs (such as dyslexia) may be able to obtain some learner support funding from their training centre.

Discretionary Learner Support This is available from colleges (and sixth form colleges) to help with learning costs if you are aged 19 or over. The funds are prioritised for those who face financial hardship. They are not a grant to help with the payment of tuition fees but can be used to help with:

financial hardship and emergencies; childcare costs (for Ofsted-registered childcare) if you are 20 or over; accommodation costs, for those who have to study further than the

maximum distance from home; essential course-related equipment, materials and field trips; travel costs.

You have to apply directly to your college or learning provider (contact student support services). For more information click here.

Other funding support schemes:Some or all of these additional funding support schemes may also be of interest:

Care to Learn (can help pay for your childcare costs while you learn, if you're under 20). For further information click here.

Residential Support Scheme:

Phone the Learner Support helpline on 0800 121 8989 between the hours of 9am-5pm to enquire about any of the above schemes.

Ways of keeping costs down: Find out if your college has a discount shop. Check if you are eligible for a National Union of Students (NUS) Extra card

- the card is recognised nationally, offering discounts on a range of products and services: More about the NUS Extra card.

Borrow books from the library, instead of buying them.






http://www.nus.org.uk/en/NUS-Extra/Discounts

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14To19/MoneyToLearn/Caretolearn/index.htm

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/FinancialHelpForAdultLearners/DG_10033131


Use computer facilities at your college, learning centre, library or UK online centre.

Help from employer:If you’re in work, your employer may be willing to support your training - financially or otherwise. For example:

Some employees of the NHS may get CPD (Continuing Professional Development) entitlement toward part of their training costs.

Most employees have the right to request time off for study or training, provided that they have worked for their employer continuously for at least 26 weeks. This right is known as ‘time to train’.

Your employer may already provide learning opportunities – if not, see if they would consider getting involved in an employee training scheme.

Click here for more details.

More useful links: Disability support at college (disabled people section) National Careers Service offers advice and information . Or ring 0800 100

900. A number of educational trusts and charities can offer limited funding for

students. The Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS) can advise about this. Or ring 020 7241 7459 (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 2.00pm to 4.00pm).

In the UK, but not in England:For students who are in the UK but not in the England, some information about sources of financial assistance can be found by clicking the following links:

Financial support for learning in Scotland (1) Financial support for learning in Scotland (2) Help with learning costs in Northern Ireland Financial support for learning in Wales






http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Funding-Support-Grants/FFL

http://www.nus.org.uk/cy/advice/money-and-funding/what-further-education-funding-is-available-in-scotland/

https://www.family-action.org.uk/what-we-do/grants/

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

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