General Chat

if she came to Scotland she would get fees paid if she had no support and a students loan which she would pay back once she earns a certain amount or if she was lucky -same employees take you on when qualified and pay it back for you !

Depending on what course she wants to do, she should start researching sponsorship from some of the big firms. There's plenty of stuff out there and if she can get sponsorship, they will support her at college and employ her in the vacations. Probably a job at the end of it too - although they might want a commitment of one or two years.

I do hope this girl can get the necessary help to try and fulfill her dream but there is another aspect to this.
If she goes away to uni, will her parents keep her room for her and keep her for free over the holidays even if she takes a part time job, and she will have to be careful any work doesn't jeopardise her loans/grants? Also will they spend all their time putting her down if she is at home so it makes her upset and depressed?

I don't know how old your son is and she is obviously young still. It's great that he cares about her enough to support her emotionally through all this, what would happen if while away at uni they split up, would she cope?

It sounds as tho if she doesn't go to uni her parents would charge her for board etc as is only right if she is earning but they would be greedy about it. However it might be a good thing for her situation and her relationship with your son, if she took a job for a year after leaving school, maybe went to evening classes too if something that would increase her education even more, and put away as much money as possible. The relationship with your lad might become even more solid or turn out the other way as it can do with young people, and also she would become more worldly wise having had to work for a year and mix with many more people. I am not sure how that would affect grants etc but she could ask about that at the same time to be sure of not jeopardising the help she might get.
She would also learn how to budget and could maybe even prepare some of her own meals, like midday pack up or whatever, and get her weight down a little so she is comfortable with it and it removes one thing for her parents to jibe at. They sound very unkind and maybe even jealous that they never had the opportunity to go to uni and don't want to let her do it because of that.

Or maybe there would be a chance of her moving in with you so she is free of them and their demoralising comments.

I wish her luck and your son too, with helping her through, I am sure you will be there for both of them as well.

I made use of charitable trusts when my son was at school and I am sure many of them will help university students too.

Lizx

Esta - OH has just got home (long time 6th form tutor) says L should check bursaries with the Uni itself as they have some and many don't get taken up as no one seems to know about them.
Hope she does well & good luck.

Thank you all for your replies - at least now I have some positives I can give her to raise her spirits.

Esta

There are commercial companies that give bursaries to uni students - also some charities do it. Uni's have hardship Funds as well. L should approach her 6th Form tutor/Head of 6th Form for help and advice on these.

We are in Wales and all funding goes through www.studentfinancewales.co.uk.

As I understand it from when my daughter applied, grants are related to the parents income, but loans are available for tuition fees and living expenses, but they are repayable when the student startsearning.

Hope that helps and Good Luck

Janet

Not sure about Wales, but my daughter went to university in England 5 years ago and, as there were no more grants, student loans were available that don't need to be paid back until you've gat a decent job when you graduate. (And the interest rate is really low.) My daughter has only just started paying hers back.

My daughter had a friend who came from a family with no money so her loan was the maximum £4000 a year, (probably increased by now) paid out termly. This covered her accommodation and almost all the tuition fees; a couple of part time jobs paid for food, drink and partying and she survived very nicely and got a good degree.

When your son's girlfriend applies for uni all the relevant forms will be sent to her so she needs to fill them in and loans should be arranged.

Good luck to her!

Esta,

Try contacting local solicitors offices. Often there are bequests left as trust funds, for help in the education of young people of the town. I know of several of these in my town, some donating just a few hundred and others sometimes several thousand for buying a computer or costly text books.

Two of the local spinster teachers left bequests some years ago and a relative of mine left a large sum, and I am talking large, with the interest paid out in grants for the further education of young people of the town. (He had little education himself, but saw the value of it.)

Worth a try.

Elisabeth

My parents were the same 46 years ago. I passed my 9 '0' levels at age 15 but wasn't allowed to stay on and do 'A' levels or go to university, despite my headmistress writing a letter, because my father thought it was a waste of time educating girls. Both my parents thought it was time I was paying my keep and they took half my net wages for my board. I never ever forgave them for taking away my self confidence and my promising future.

You are a lovely lady for trying to help and I would say she should explore every avenue before giving up. Apparently many parents do not provide the financial help 'assessed'.

Sources of funding help suggested on other sites are a college welfare officer or an adviser in a student union. There is an Access to Learning hardship fund mentioned.

Also www.moneyfacts.co.uk give details of student accounts with interest free overdrafts.

Could she manage a part time job while she is doing her course?

I do hope that with your and your son's support and help she finds a way.

Best wishes and let us know.

Just been hunting around for you and found this site - worth a look - it is ............family-action.org.uk Good luck.

She could try the Learning & Skills Council (LSC). They fund 16-19 places and they might have some ideas/help/contacts.

Good luck with it!

Jill

Is it possible that there is a local charitable organisation in Wales which would help out in a situation like this ?

Hi Esta,

I dont often post on these boards, and unfortunately I can't offer you any guidance on how to help to find funds for your sons girlfriend............

I just wanted to say........ what a terrific lady you are, her parents don't seem at all bothered about this young lady, but here you are looking to try and help her.

What a lucky young lady she is to have someone like you and your son emotionally supporting her..........

I take my hat off to you Esta and wish all the best success in your search.


Dee x

This is 'student finance for Wales'

http://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/portal/page?_pageid=56,1274440&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Well tried Connexions - it appears that Ls parents income will be included in any grant application even though her parents wouldn't help out financially - apparently that's just the way the system is??

We live in Wales so I'm going to try the Welsh Assembly pages on student finance to see if there is any information available from them.

YOU ASKED FOR HELP AND NOT FOR ME TO GO.................................

SO SORRY.

XXX

Hi

Thank you all for your support. I'm trying Connexions Direct at the moment to see what they suggest.

Any other suggestions would be welcome though.

Esta

OMG............Whats wrong with these people ~surely to god they should helping her not putting her down............i was always told that education is most important and without that ~well who knows.............................

Are these peeps scraed of what she might be come..................

In my eyes they are SELFISH ~they had their lives so let her have hers and if it means going to uni allwell and good.

I DO HOPE AND PRAY THAT SHE GETS WHAT SHE WANTS.

X

It would also be well worth talking to her 'favourite' teacher, I am sure they will be able to help with information .If her parents won't support her they would probably be asked to sign something to that effect and she would then get the grants that others with low income would get. (I am assuming here I don't know for sure).

this also might help

Connexions Direct - HomepageOffers advice on education, careers, housing, money, health and relationships for 13-19 year olds in the UK. Includes web chat, telephone and call-back ...
www.connexions-direct.com/