Transitioning from care into independent living and employment is a significant milestone, but it shouldn’t mean facing financial barriers alone. If you are a care leaver looking to build a professional career, an apprenticeship offers an incredible route to earn a salary while securing globally recognised qualifications.
To better support care-experienced young people, the UK Government provides an Apprenticeship Care Leavers’ Bursary of £3,000. This tax-free grant is designed to help with the initial costs of transitioning into the workplace, ensuring you have the financial stability needed to focus on your professional development.
Whether you are looking to step into the dynamic world of procurement or build a robust supply chain career through apprenticeship training, here is everything you need to know about accessing this crucial funding.
What is the Care Leavers' Apprenticeship Bursary?
The Care Leavers’ Bursary is a dedicated financial support package provided by the Department for Education (DfE). Recognising that care leavers often face higher living costs and may lack a wider family support network, the government increased the bursary from £1,000 to £3,000 for any apprentice starting their programme on or after 1 August 2023.
Key benefits of the bursary include:
- Tax-Free: The £3,000 is completely exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions.
- Benefits Protection: Receiving this bursary will not affect your Universal Credit calculations or entitlement.
- No Spending Restrictions: There are no rules on what you can or cannot spend the money on. Whether it’s for daily travel, professional workwear, rent, or a new laptop for your studies, the choice is entirely yours.
Are You Eligible for the £3,000 Grant?
To qualify for the Care Leavers’ Bursary, you must meet specific criteria set out by the UK Government. You are eligible if you:
- Meet the Age Limit: You must have been under 25 years old on the day you started your apprenticeship.
- Meet the Start Date: You started your current apprenticeship on or after 1 August 2023. (If you started before this date, you may still be eligible for the previous £1,000 bursary).
- Have Care Status: You must meet the legal definition of a ‘care leaver’ (which includes being an ‘eligible child’, a ‘relevant child’, or a ‘former relevant child’) or currently still be in care. Generally, if you have been supported by a local authority leaving care personal advisor, you will meet this requirement.
How is the Bursary Paid?
The £3,000 is not paid as a single lump sum. Instead, it is distributed in three manageable instalments over the first year of your apprenticeship.
The Department for Education pays the funds directly to your training provider, who is then legally required to pass the full amount on to you within 30 days of receiving it.
The typical payment schedule looks like this:
- Payment 1 (£1,000): Paid after 60 days (around 2 months) of starting your apprenticeship.
- Payment 2 (£1,000): Paid after 120 days (around 4 months).
- Payment 3 (£1,000): Paid after 300 days (around 10 months).
Note: If you are on a shorter apprenticeship (where the standard duration is less than 12 months), your final payment will be brought forward.
How to Claim Your Bursary
Claiming the bursary is a straightforward process, but you will need to take the first step by communicating with your training provider.
- Declare Your Status: Let your training provider know you are a care leaver before or during your initial onboarding assessment.
- Provide Evidence: You will need written confirmation of your care leaver status from your local authority. A simple signed letter or official email from your Personal Adviser or Leaving Care team is perfectly acceptable.
- Provider Action: Once you have provided this evidence, your training provider handles the rest, registering the claim via the government’s funding portal.
Need Support With Your Claim?
If you’re an SRSCC apprentice and think you qualify for care leaver bursary funding, speak to our team today to find out more and get support. We are committed to making our apprenticeships accessible and inclusive, and our dedicated staff are fully equipped to help you process your bursary claim smoothly so you can focus on launching your career.
