Learner Support Funds 25/26
f you or your parents/guardians are in receipt of means tested benefits or have an annual household income of less than £40,000 you can apply for help with college costs: Travel, meals, books, equipment, uniforms, and much more..
There are many different levels of support depending on your personal circumstances and course costs but may include:
- Transport – free bus passes for Warrington’s Own Buses if you live more than 1.5 miles away or support towards fuel costs if you live more than 1,5 miles away and drive yourself to college.
- Support towards essential course costs such as: uniforms, books, equipment, trips and visits etc
- College meals – please speak to the Bursary team for further information around FCM.
- Childcare and Care2learn
To apply students will be directed to an online application form on the student intranet once they have enrolled. Please note you will need to upload evidence to meet the eligibility criteria.
How to apply
Students will enrol on their course after GCSE results day at the end of August. You can only apply for financial support with college after you have enrolled on the course and received your College ID card and number.
When students start college they will receive their personal login details for the Student Intranet. They can then apply for financial support (College bursaries, free meals etc.) via the Student Intranet.
To apply you need to complete all of the information, upload evidence* of household income, and the student’s own bank details (not parent’s bank details, students must have their own bank account to apply).
We will then process the application, which will include a financial assessment against the financial need of the course that the student is applying for, students will receive a message to the student’s email/Teams address confirming if the student is eligible and what support will be given. Please note support may change each year and the support that is given is individual to the student.
Students who need support with childcare will need to make contact with our Bursary team. Online applications need to be completed, and the Bursary team will arrange a 121 interview for those students who are eligible.
The current deadline for submissions is 26th September 2025. You must make a new application at the start of each academic year for any financial support
If you have any questions or queries about the bursary scheme, please email: bursary@riversidecollege.ac.uk
Bursary A-D
This category of financial support is to cover the cost of books, equipment, and any other essential items to support a student in their studies. Support will vary depending on the financial need of a student and this will be agreed after financial and personal circumstances have been assessed. Please note the course that a student is studying will impact the level of financial need required and all contributions will be made subject to individual need throughout the academic year.
Targeted bursary
This is support for students who are 16-18 and are:
• Students in care; (including unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children)
• Care leavers;
• Students in receipt of income support or Universal Credit in their own right as they are financially supporting themselves or someone who is dependant, on them and living with them, such as a child or partner;
• Receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in their own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or UC in their own right
Again, financial support offered will be dependant on the financial need of the student in relation to course costs.
Free College Meals (FCM)
To be eligible for FCM this academic year, students must be aged between 16-18. If you turn 19 during the year of study, you will still be eligible until the end of the academic year. Any 19+ student who meets the criteria for FCM and does have an EHCP will also be eligible for FCM. All students will have to be assessed to determine if they are eligible for FCM – further information can be gained from our Bursary team. You can apply for this through the bursary application form.
Childcare
This is a means-tested scheme whereby the college will pay a proportion of childcare costs in substantial education, to support them to attend college.
These funds are paid directly to the childcare provider. Please do not place your child with a childcare provider without an approval from the bursary team as this could result in non-payment of invoices.
To apply, complete the Childcare application in the Student Bursary section on the Student Intranet. Eligibility for childcare is the same as bursary, please provide all evidence as requested including child’s birth certificate. Once this has been processed and approved you will be invited for an interview with a member of the bursary team. During this interview you will be given a monthly amount that the college will contribute, and you will provide contact details of the childcare provider. The bursary team will contact the provider and send a contract outlining these details.
This funding is subject to attendance and other terms and conditions which will be discussed in the interview.
Bus Pass – Warrington’s Own Buses
Returning Students
If you are a returning student and you had a Warrington’s Own Bus pass last year, you will automatically be issued one this year. All bus passes will be printed as a QR code on your College ID badge. This QR code is unique to you and therefore, your ID card acts as your bus pass. If you did not have a pass last year but wish to have one this year (and you live more than 1.5 miles away from your campus and are studying a substantial course), please see the Bursary team in Programme Management to apply. You will be able to travel on the buses without your pass until you have been given your new ID card during your first week.
New Students
If it is your first year, you will be issued with your ID at enrolment which will already have your bus pass uploaded to it. Your ID badge is your bus pass so you must keep it safe, and you will need it with you to access Warrington’s Own Buses services by scanning it on the bus. If for any reason at enrolment you do not get a pass on your ID card and you wanted one and are eligible, please see the Bursary/Bus Pass team in Programme Management.
Click here for more information about travelling to college.