Government funding/help with living while studying (LONG)

Pie-Roe · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Karma :

Hi there,
This is very much going to be a 'scumbag living off the govt thread' but shit happens so meh Smile

I'm 19, and currently been working for 2 years as a Chef. I left school at 17 after doing a year of AS levels due to being a little prick and not really going to school, drinking too much and generally being a little git. I went to catering college 25 hours a week for 2 years and gained NVQ1+2, and while doing so, worked in various places, eventually ending up working for 5 months at Michelin star level. Currently I'm working as an assistant kitchen manager for a well known chain, and while the food is low end, the money for me is pretty good. I've earnt good money, and earn good money for my age now.

About 3 months ago I moved out of my parent's house for personal reasons, not because I didn't get along with them, but due to a sibling having severe difficulties which required lots of strict routines, and this not working with my working lifestyle and generally things are better for them when I'm not there. I wouldn't move back there, for that reason and because now I've not lived at home I doubt I could again.

I've been musing since I finished college about what I want to do with my life, I feel that while I love cooking, there is no money in it at all, and the lifestyle burns you out as a person very rapidly. When I was younger, I was very intelligent, I got a scholarship to a private school (which my parent's neglected due to not wanting to be that average kid in a rich world, but that's irrelevant now) was a model student and all that jazz. I've pretty much decided I'm going to do an access course next year with the aim of going to university, which will be 4 full days a week, with a lot of personal work on top of that. I'd be able to work 2 days a week as well, however from working it out, even by selling my bikes off, just running a cheap commuter and living cheap, income would be far below outgoings. I've saved quite a bit of money (around 6k as well as my vehicles) however I don't particularly want to spank this just on living for a year to live while I'm trying to better myself and learn, especially as I've spent most of my teenage years working (every summer since I was 14, every weekend since I was 15 as well as school then as above)

I know while studying I can get ALG, which is 30 quid a week, and a couple of bonuses, and working can bring in some money, but is there anything else I can claim from the government to help get by? I'm not averse to using my savings because ultimately, what is money, but it's not really what I had in mind for it. The other problem is that the only college from me that does the course I want to do is 30 miles away, thats 240 miles a week, which isn't a lot for commuting really, but still will rack up in petrol bills.

The other thing that got mentioned to me by a friend was that if I get a tenancy now for a year, as a 'professional sharer' and then change my situation to a student with any govt monies coming in, does this violate an agreement? Generally, I'd try to only rent from a private landlord whom we have met, I presume as long as they get the money and things are fine, twill be ok, or am I reading into things too much?

Cheers for any thoughts or advice
Pyro
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Numptie · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Karma :

Great to hear you're going back to university!

I spent too long in university so much so that it pulled me back to work there.

Sounds like you've had some fun with cooking - why do you think it's a burn out career? I know some chefs who enjoy their work. Sure, it's not very cerebral, but they love their food and the socialising you get with it. I guess that isn't true if you're working for a) a chain b) a low fodder chain that does animal burgers though.

Definitely see the benefits of having an education. You need to request a list of grants available from the university or your educational establishment, and see which you can be entitled to. This can range from access type grants (in addition to getting an access grant), scholarships for previous performance (not for example, winning a Coca Cola Competition when you were 11 years old); hardship grants, local grants, or specific discipline grants. There is a massive handbook available which details these local and national grants, and a lot go unclaimed because no one knows or thinks they'll get a chance at it. Well, my only reservation is that you say that you want to go to university because you see there is no money in what you're doing. Frankly, I've never cared about the money and prefer pursuing personal development than worrying about ubiquitous material concerns which we can all collapse into until we become trapped in our own little materialistic neurotic bubble.

I would however say that on a budget of £6k savings for the year, you'll probably run into some form of hardship if you're paying rent and living as you do. Although you can do an access degree, I wonder if you would be eligible to go the evening route after the access year. Literally, you could work during the day, and attend university for 3 nights/week or something similar. This requires a phenomenal amount of discipline, and perhaps, isn't ideal if you haven't learnt how to be an independent learner at this age.

My guess is, if you are registered as a professional sharer with a private income, then your student status will be in conflict, particularly (even with) 2 days/nights of catering work. However there is no cross-checking system for this in university; only the access grants etc will be means tested. Or maybe things have moved on since I was a student....

What course are you thinking of then?

Pie-Roe · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Karma :

Imonster · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Karma :

Pie-Roe · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Karma :

Oh, I don't care about getting into debt, what's another 5k in the scheme of things when university costs so damned much anyway.

Pyro
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Numptie · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

One of my sisters did a food science degree (forgotten the exact title of it). It is hard work compared to plenty of other degrees (she had more lab / lecture time in the first year than my other sister had in total in 3 years for a history degree).

All the best

Keith
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Carl_steveo · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Karma :

I'm in exactly the same boat mate. Trained and worked as a chef for 2 year and have now decided to go back to education. I have applied for an access course to go to university to study History which is what i've always wanted to do which i'm hoping will lead onto being a teacher. I have no idea what kind of financial funding/help is available. I live with my gf who is a university student and she gets a student loan of about 2 grand every 3 month. I'm doing a crap job for crap money which I would have to quit in order to go to college full time. There has to be some sort of student loan for college based students aswell.

Can you claim benefits while at college because i'm pretty sure you can't. Which sounds a bit daft really. The government will give you money to sit on your arse all day but not to go to college and better yourself. Adult maintance allowance of £30 a week wouldn't cover my bus fare to get to the college let alone anything else.

If I find anything out i'll post it here for you to read mate.
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Pie-Roe · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Karma :

ClaireBear · Traffic Copper Joined: 27 Jun 2009 Karma :

Would just like to say be very wary about relying on ALG - it had quite strict rules when I was at college- if you were late for one lesson, miss any lessons (even doctors/hospital appointments etc) or the teacher doesnt take the register....it wont get paid. Rolling Eyes

instigator · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Karma :

Irezumi aka Reuben · Carrot Top Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Karma :

I'm doing an access course now.

Find out where the course you want to do is studied, also contact a Uni you wish to study at and ask them what is the best way to go about it (they may just accept you on to the Uni course).

If you do have to do the access course then you WILL be able to get a big chunk of help with your rent, you don't need to sell a sob story. ALG is not much money but worth doing for the sake of it. Also most people do not have to pay any fee's for the course. My college was able to work out I wouldnt need to pay them as I didnt have two full A-levels and saved me £1300.

Basically speak to the people who know as nobody who posts in this thread does for certain.