Young people can apply for grants to support their travel to education and training from today (Thursday 22 August).
Westmorland and Furness Council's £300,000 16-19 Education Travel Bursary programme is aimed at supporting 16 to 19-year-olds to pay for transport for education and training, ensuring travel costs are not a barrier to young people achieving their potential.
The fund is not means-tested and can be used for buses, trains, taxis, fuel costs for private transport, or bicycle.
Improvements to the scheme this year include an increase from 11 pence per mile to 13 pence per mile to cover fuel costs and an increase from £100 to £400 for students buying a bike to cycle.
The scheme closes on 1 November. Successful applicants from last year whose education or training is continuing this year will have already been contacted.
Find out more and apply at: Westmorland and Furness Council website l 16 to 19 Education Travel Bursary Fund
Councillor Sue Sanderson, Cabinet Member for Education, Inclusion and Skills, said: "The results young people get today will determine how and where they continue their education or training and this scheme will go a long way to easing that journey into post-16 learning and ensuring that they can base their decisions on what is best for them, and not what they or their families can afford.
"I urge anybody who thinks they might be eligible to get their application in quickly so we can get this support to them as soon as we can."
Councillor Neil Hughes, Cabinet Member for Transport and Regulatory Services, said: "Improving infrastructure and connectivity throughout Westmorland and Furness is one of our key objectives and we are delighted to be able to continue this scheme, which will support young people’s travel by bus, train, taxi, fuel costs for private transport or even bicycle."
Alston Moor Federation will continue to be supported to provide affordable, subsidised bus transport for students to attend sixth form at New College, Durham in 2024/25. This is done via a transport service from Alston, collecting young people from Nenthead and along Weardale each day.
Myerscough College had received support for a non-means-tested subsidy for students accessing the land-based provision delivered by the college at Ullswater Community College in Penrith. Following a review of take-up, it has been agreed that Myerscough students will apply to the bursary individually.
Last year a total of £269,647 was granted to 385 individuals, as well support for the two college transport schemes.
Qualifications that successful applicants were studying for included A Levels, AATs, BTECs, AS Levels, diplomas, foundation degrees, T Levels, UALs, degrees and HNCs. Subjects studied include English, maths, agriculture, chemistry, physics, geography, electrical installation, health and social care, art, animal management, sports coaching, cyber security, engineering, economics, music and plumbing.
Other support is also available from Westmorland and Furness Council:
- Free Post 16 (low income) transport - if you are under 19 years of age on 1 September 2024, come from a low-income family and you are studying a full-time course (a minimum of 17 hours per week), you may be eligible for free Post 16 transport. This is available to students in full-time education, who live more than three miles from their catchment sixth form or nearest college offering the vocational area they are studying and whose parent or carer is on one of a range of benefits. For more information visit: Westmorland and Furness Council website l School transport
- A2B NowCard – this reduced-fare bus travel card is for children and young people aged five to 20 living in Westmorland and Furness, to help them access leisure, sports, social participation and culture outside school travel times. It is valid on local bus services within Westmorland and Furness and entitles holders to bus travel for £1.80 (single) and £3 (return). If the normal fare is less than this, travellers will pay the normal fare. Application forms for the A2B NowCard are available at all libraries in Westmorland and Furness or can be downloaded at: Westmorland and Furness Council website l A2B NowCard