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Adult Learning Grant

Adult Learning Grant. An introduction to ALG. What is ALG?. ALG is a weekly payment of up to £30 to help with the cost of learning. Learners aged 19 or over are eligible to apply for ALG.

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Adult Learning Grant

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  1. Adult Learning Grant An introduction to ALG

  2. What is ALG? • ALG is a weekly payment of up to £30 to help with the cost of learning. • Learners aged 19 or over are eligible to apply for ALG. • Learners must be studying full-time for their first full level 2 or first full level 3 qualification. • Learner’s income, and that of any cohabiting partner, is assessed to find out if they are eligible. • ALG can be paid for up to three years. • Learners can work part-time and still claim ALG.

  3. The rationale behind ALG • Skills Strategy 21st Century Skills: Realising our Potential – July 2003. • FE White Paper Raising Skills: Improving Life Chances – March 2006. • PSA target to reduce the number of adults in the workforce who lack a level 2 qualification. • LSC and Leitch priority to increase skills at level 3 and above. • Level 3 skills – the lever to good employability, higher wages and personal fulfilment. • UK needs to improve its skills base in the global league tables to maintain prosperity. • Adults not in learning need help to remove the barriers to learning – including financial barriers.

  4. Who does ALG help? • ALG will help learners aged 19 plus, who didn’t get a full level 2 or level 3 qualification in their initial education and want to get the qualifications they need for their future careers. • ALG has helped over 43,000 learners to achieve their level 2 and/or level 3 qualification so far.

  5. What impact has ALG had? • Participation • 15% of learners say they definitely or probably would not have gone ahead with their course without ALG. • 80% of ALG learners are studying for level 3 qualifications. • 27% of ALG learners said they would have studied part-time without ALG.

  6. What impact has ALG had? • Retention • 17% of learners said they probably or definitely would have dropped out of the course without ALG. • On average 93% of ALG learners stay in learning. • Progression • Over 20% of ALG learners who study at level 2 go on to study at level 3.

  7. Other financial support • ALG can be combined with other funding, including Discretionary Support Funds, Care to Learn and adult education bursaries. • Learners may be eligible to receive low pay benefits whilst claiming ALG. • Learners are not eligible to receive ALG if they are claiming out of workorinactive benefits. This includes Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support and Employment and Support Allowance.

  8. Applying for ALG Learners must complete a paper application form and return it to the Helpline Assessment and Payment Body (HAPB). Learning providers should keep a supply of ALG application packs. Learners can also request one from the Learner Support Helpline – 0800 121 8989. To support their application, learners will need to supply: • evidence of their bank account details • income evidence for the 2008-09 tax year for them and their partner (if they have one), and • copies of any overseas qualification certificates (if they have any).

  9. How do I apply for ALG? • If learners are eligible for ALG, they will be sent a Notice of Entitlement (NoE) and a Learner Contract. This will detail how much the learner is entitled to. • Learners should take their NoE and Learner Contract to their learning provider who will use this to register them for ALG payments. • If learners are not entitled to ALG, they will be sent a letter explaining why.

  10. Role of learning providers • Help learners to understand their prior qualifications. • Check learners meet the residency criteria. • Provide advice and support to learners. • Maintain auditable learner attendance records. • Report weekly attendance to HAPB. • Deal with payment queries from learners. • Communicate change of circumstances to the HAPB.

  11. Role of partner agencies • Lots of individuals will have contact with potential ALG learners: • - student services at colleges - Connexions PAs - nextstep advisers - Jobcentre Plus advisers - local community groups, and - learndirect. • Ask a series of basic questions before introducing ALG to clients: • - age eligible? 19+ and of working age? - prior qualifications? - residency status? • Some clients may require help completing their forms. • Partnership working is key.

  12. Find out more • Visit www.direct.gov.uk/alg • Call 0845 600 7979 • ContactEmma Sowter – ALG Coordinator for Derbyshire • Tel: 01773 570 939 ext 373 • Email: emma.sowter@connexions-derbyshire.org

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