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Other Sources of Funding
New Deal for Lone Parents
If you're a lone parent who works less than 16 hours a week, or not at all, and your youngest child is under 16 years old, then you might be interested in the New Deal for Lone Parents ( NDLP).
This specially designed programme helps lone parents who want to work find a job that suits their lifestyle. A trained personal adviser will support and advise you to help you:
- find training or education opportunities;
- find and organise childcare provision; and
- look and apply for suitable jobs.
Help with childcare costs may also be available while you are on New Deal for Lone Parents. If you want to find out more about New Deal for Lone Parents or arrange to see a personal adviser, call the information line on 0800 868 868 or visit your local Jobcentre Plus office.
ILA Scotland
ILA Scotland is a scheme that can help pay for a wide range of learning with a variety of approved learning providers including private and community-based providers, colleges and some universities. If you are aged over 18, live in Scotland and earn £18,000* or less per year or are on benefit, then you may qualify for up to £200 each year towards the cost of learning. If you earn more than £18,000 a year, you can still get up to £100 a year towards some courses.
For information on ILA Scotland, and to request an application pack, call the ILA Scotland helpline free on 0808 100 1090 or visit the website at www.ilascotland.org.uk for advice about what learning is available.
*This threshold is subject to Parliamentary approval.
Career Development Loan
If you cannot get assistance from SAAS, or any other public funding, to help pay for the course you want to do, you may be able to apply for a Career Development Loan ( CDL). CDLs are managed in partnership with a number of High Street banks and can support a wide range of vocational courses.
A CDL can support a course as long as it:
- is related to a job (not necessarily to a current job);
- lasts no more than two years plus up to one year's practical experience that is part of the course, where relevant; and
- you can borrow from £300 to £8,000 and use the loan to cover up to 80% of your course fees plus all your related expenses - including books, childcare, travel expenses and any costs associated with disability.
If you have been out of work for three months or longer at the time of application, you can apply for a CDL to cover 100% of your course fees.
You will not have to make any repayments while you are training and for up to one month afterwards (or up to 17 months if you are unemployed when repayments are due to start). During this time, the government will pay the interest on the loan for you. At the end of this period, you become responsible for the loan repayments and any further interest.
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