See the latest Newsletter from 4YP -

Drop-ins:

Tuesdays: Houghton Regis Library 

2pm to 4.30pm

Wednesdays: The Pioneer Centre, Manchester Place, Dunstable 

2pm to 4.30pm 

Thursdays: The Mayfield Centre, Downside, Dunstable  

2pm to 4.30pm

https://www.facebook.com/pages/4YPUK/504893649546153 

Evening All,
  

Busy week here. Some of our Personal Advisers are back in schools and Julie, Lynne and myself are busy trying to catch up with numerous calls and appointments. So unfortunately there's no webwatch this week

HOWEVER, we have some really good news about new training programmes starting in the next few weeks.......

THE GREEN TEAM ARE BACK!
A busy, practical 16 week programme for anyone who loves working outdoors! You will work across the county and gain a national qualification in Land-based studies AS WELL AS a CSCS Certificate (Health & Safety) AND a First Aid Certificate. All great stuff to put on your CV! As an added incentive The Green Team are also offering either: a course of driving lessons, compulsory basic training for mopeds or motorbikes, a tool package, further qualifications, high street vouchers or travel expenses!
The programme starts on 2nd October with interviews being held next week - Monday 23rd and Wednesday 25th September
For further information or to arrange an interview please call:
Chris Houghton on 01582 720147/07889755981 or email chris.houghton@groundwork.org.uk
POSTER ATTACHED

MESSAGE FROM THE BEEHIVE SURE START CHILDREN'S CENTRE
Hello, 

I work at The Beehive Children's Centre on Westfield Road, Dunstable as a Dads and young parents support worker. 

I just wanted to inform you that alongside "First Place Training" we are providing a "Young dads to be", "Young mums to be" and "Parents with Prospects course" for young people ideally aged 14-18 here at the centre. The courses aim to provide knowledge and support for expectant parents on what to expect approaching and upon arrival of their new baby. The prospects course allows young people whom are already parents the chance to learn how to keep their children safe and well, how to communicate effectively and much more.
Interested? Please call......

Emma Phillips 

Dads worker 

The Beehive Sure Start Children's Centre,

Westfield Road,

Dunstable,

Tel:01582 699092

INFORMATION ABOUT GRANTS FOR HE STUDENTS
I've attached an excellent document from www.moneysavingexpert.com regarding grants for students in Higher Education.
DOCUMENT ATTACHED

Jobhunting?

Some websites we use for job hunting are: www.indeed.co.uk , www.jobsearchdirect.gov.uk , www.jobstoday.co.uk , www.hertsjobs16to19.org  - jobs and training for young people in Hertfordshire - Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Watford etc, www.facebook.com - search jobs in Houghton Regis, Dunstable & Luton, http://www.youth.luton.gov.uk/13.cfm?p=845&nav=jobs_home_body_title 

Want to combine a qualification and a job?  Think about Apprenticeships!

www.apprenticeships.org.uk  - the only place you need to look for apprenticeships as ALL apprenticeships HAVE to appear on this national website.  You will need to register, but you can then search according to what you're looking for and where you can get to. 

Remember, an apprenticeship IS a job - so great to have a salary AND a qualification AND a job at the end of it!  Although lots of people think the pay is bad; this is not always true - average pay is approx £150 a week!
Central Bedfordshire have three Business Apprenticeships coming up in Shefford. If you're interested and would like to see the details ahead of them being posted on the apprenticeship website, please drop me a line!

A WORD ABOUT CENTRE PARCS
If you read last week's email, you'll know that Centre Parcs are recruiting staff for next year at their new centre in Woburn Forest. I have been informed that you should not be deterred from applying because of transport difficulties. The company is aware that it is a tricky area to access by public transport and this issue is 'being explored'. So apply anyway - you have nothing to lose!
http://www.centerparcscareers.co.uk/content.asp?pageId=644


Good Luck!

Regards,
Karen, Lynne and Julie

Finally some useful info on Finances......What is a grant?

A grant is money, or a voucher, that contributes towards the cost of you buying something. Although it may not cover the full cost of the item, meaning you’ll have to cough up the rest yourself, it is almost always completely free. Grants are usually offered to encourage people to do or buy something they wouldn’t normally consider.

Bottom of Form

The Top Education Grants

Check the following ways to help with costs or fund your learning to see if you might be eligible...

Hidden scholarship and funding

If you're going to uni there are loads of hidden sources of cash available, often less about academic ability and more about things like religion, geographic location or parental occupation.

·         Educational Grants Service: This service offers students, especially disadvantaged ones, guidance and advice to enable them to secure funding for education and training. Its site, part of Family Action, has a searchable database of over 30 educational trusts.

·         Postgraduate Funding: There's less help available for people wanting to do a second or third degree - normal student loans aren't available, so consequently it can be difficult to fund studies. Postgrad Solutions has created an "Ultimate Postgraduate Student Funding Guide" which signposts place to find postgrad education funding.

·         Scholarship search: There's some nifty search tools on the Scholarship Search and Student cashpoint websites, including bursaries, scholarships and award funding students can apply for. You'd be surprised what's available. Some are very specific, aimed at students according to religion, location, parental occupation and many more.

·         Study in Europe: If you want to study part of your degree in one of 33 participating European countries, grants are available from the British Council as part of theErasmus scheme.

Here are some examples of grants to give you inspiration...

I managed to get a journalism course funded through a new deal advisor at the job centre after I was turned down for another grant. It was a long process and I had to prove that the course would lead to gainful employment but I was persistent and got a grant for £3,000. It's worth asking the job centre "is there any way I can get help to pay for this course?"

I was sponsored £1,000 towards the cost of a Legal Studies course by a small charity. Just need to find the rest now...

Quick Stats: Who can apply? Varies What’s the maximum award? Varies What does it cover? Help towards tuition fees and/or general funding to help you be able to study

Standard student MoneySaving

No-one in the UK should be put off studying because of potential student debt. Done right, it's very different to normal debt. It's only repaid when you finish studying, and if you don't earn enough when you leave (and of course one reason for studying is to enable you to earn more) you don't have to pay for it. Types of funding are as follows:

·         Student loans: Most UK higher education students are eligible for a student loan.

·         Maintenance grant: Students in England are also eligible for a grant of around £3,000 to help with living costs if their parents earn under £25,000. For more info and details of the grants in Wales, Scotland and NI see the guides below.

Full details in the Student Finance 2011 and Student Finance 2012 guides.

Quick Stats: Who can apply? Loans: Everyone / Grants: Familes earning under £25,000What’s the maximum award? Around £3,000 What does it cover? Help towards tuition fees and/or living costs

Further education loans for the over 24's

If you live in the UK and you're 24 or over, you can apply for a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan to help with college or training tuition costs.

To be eligibile, you'll need to be studying a 'level 3 or 4' course - these include A levels, Access to Higher Education Diplomas and also covers many apprenticeships. You also need to have lived in the UK for the last three years.

There's no credit check to get the loan, and it doesn't depend on your household income. How much you get depends on what you're studying and what your college charges in tuition fees. The minimum loan is £300. The loan will be paid directly to the college.

There's also a 24+ Advanced Learning Loans Bursary Fund, which you can apply to if you need learning help, or to cover childcare or residential costs.

If you're studying an Access to Higher Education diploma, then go on to complete a higher education course, your 24+ Advanced Learning Loan is written off.

You start paying the loan back when you earn £21,000 a year or more. Interest is charged at RPI+3% while you're studying, then at RPI.

Quick Stats: Who can apply? Anyone 24+ studying an eligible course
What’s the maximum award? Depends. What does it cover? Tuition fees

Learning accounts for Scottish adults

If you live in Scotland and earn less than £22,000 a year, you could get some funding from ILA Scotland.

This provides a grant of £200 towards the cost of learning something new at any approved learning provider, including learning centres, local colleges, universities and private training companies.

Quick Stats: Who can apply? Adults in Scotland What’s the maximum award? £200What does it cover? General funding to help you study

Local council grants

There may also be grants to advance your education available from your local council. As councils can offer different funding, search for details on its website or contact them to ask for more information. To find your local council’s details enter your postcode on the Gov.UKwebsite.

Quick Stats: Who can apply? Varies What’s the maximum award? Varies What does it cover? Depends on the type of grant available

Free short courses

If you're not looking to take an in-depth or long term course, there are thousands of short courses happening all over the UK. Many free courses can depend on where you live, but there are a few schemes that run throughout the country. Plus ...

Over 50 and interested in setting up your own business?

The Prince’s Initiative, a charity that supports people who are out of work or facing redundancy, provides a 'Preparing to Run Your Own Business Course' for the over 50s. It's free but does require an £80 deposit which is refunded on completion.

The course runs all over the UK and includes areas such as marketing and finance. For more information, or to book a place, see the prime website or call 0845 862 2023.

Quick Stats: Who can apply? Over 50s What’s the maximum award? n/a What does it cover? 6-7 week course with 3 training days and coursework

Want to improve your maths and English skills?

If you’ve ever wanted to improve your Maths and English skills, virtually every college in the country offers free courses to help you from basic literacy and numeracy up to GCSE level. Check on the National Careers Service website or call 0800 100 900 for classes in your area.

Try this online quiz from Move On and on the BBC SkillsWisesite to see if you could improve your skills.

Quick Stats: Who can apply? Anyone What’s the maximum award? n/a What does it cover? Free daytime and evening classes in Maths and English (reading, writing)

Need help getting started online?

If you’d like to learn more about using a computer, or want to introduce the internet to a friend or a family member, the UK Online centre community network has a free short course to help get people started using computers and the internet, called Online Basics. You can do the course at home, or at a local UK Online centre.

8 million people in the UK, mostly the over 65s or those out of work, have never used the internet. If you'd like to help someone get started using the internet the Go On Give An Hour website has some great tips.

Quick Stats: Who can apply? Anyone What’s the maximum award? n/a What does it cover? Free online courses to help you, or friends and family, use the web

Want to learn a language?

There are plenty of places which'll teach you a language for a fee, yet you needn't pay a penny. There are a host of completely free websites and online tools which cater for every learning style.

See the Learn a Language for Free guide for a full run down of some of the best.

Quick Stats: Who can apply? Anyone What’s the maximum award? n/a What does it cover? Free online websites to help you learn a foreign langauge.