Helen, a mum, is improving her skills before returning to the job market
Helen (30) is married and hopes to go back to work when her son David (4) goes to school next year. Meantime, she wants to brush up on her office skills to have a better chance on the job market.
Her local college has just the course she's looking for, a part-time course in office and computing skills, running for 15 hours per week. As a mature student she doesn't need formal qualifications, and she can put forward her experience and skills at an interview to gain a place.
As she is taking a part-time course and her husband earns £20,000 a year, and the family is not in receipt of any qualifying benefit her fees will not be paid. However she can apply for an Individual Learning Account of £200 to help pay her course fees.
Helen speaks to the Bursary Officer at her local college to ask what funding she might be eligible for. The Bursary Officer tells Helen about possible help with her travel and study needs, explaining that their college has opted to provide students with travel tickets.
She also applies to the college for assistance from the College Childcare Fund, which the college has decided to use to provide a childminder on the college campus for students' children.