PLEASE NOTE THAT THE WECLP LEARNING SUPPORT FUND IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE DUE TO THE RECENT CUTS TO THE WESTER HAILES EDUCATION AND TRAINING MANAGERS' GROUP BUDGET 

 

 

West Edinburgh Community Learning Partnership

Learning Support Fund

   

Background

The West Edinburgh Community Learning Partnership (WECLP) receives funding from the Wester Hailes Education and Training Managers Group (WHETMG) for a Learning Support Fund, to improve access to education and training for West Edinburgh residents. 

 

Objectives

The Fund assists residents in the WECLP area (Baberton, Broomhouse, Calders, Longstone, Parkhead, Sighthill and Wester Hailes), who are prevented by financial barriers, or by disability, from accessing education or training which will improve their skills and knowledge and employability. 

   

Operational Procedures

 

Eligibility

All residents in the WECLP area, aged 16 or over, are eligible to apply to the Learning Support Fund for help to enable them to participate in learning opportunities.  Grants will only be paid to support individuals and not organisations. However, cheques will normally be made payable to an organisation on behalf of the individual.

  

Approved Expenditure

Grants will normally be awarded for the following purposes 

 

•  course and examination fees

•  assistance with travel costs within the City of Edinburgh and its environs

Conditions

• there will be an upper limit of £250 per applicant per year 
• applicants can receive a maximum of two consecutive years funding
• applicants must provide proof that a place has been offered by an education provider 
• applicants must provide proof of their address e.g. council tax, gas  or electricity bill 
•  awards will be made only where other sources of finance, including personal funds, are unavailable or inadequate to meet the agreed needs of the applicant 
• awards will only be made for specific and agreed expenditure items as outlined above 
•  quotes or costings must be provided by the applicant 
• an award in the form of a cheque will normally only be paid to the supplier of the service
•  in exceptional cases the individual will be reimbursed for expenditure but only on the presentation of a receipt to the WECLP 
• applicants must agree to participate in the evaluation process to ensure that the fund is meeting its objectives   

 

Administration Procedure

Application forms can be obtained from:

  

• Community Learning and Development Office, Harvesters Business Centre,
  75 Harvesters Way

    

• Jobcentre Plus, Wester Hailes Plaza

   

• Clovenstone Community Centre

   

• Sighthill Community Centre

   

• Community Empowerment Project

   

• The Broomhouse Centre

   

• Wester Hailes and Sighthill Libraries

   

• WHEC Community Education Office

   

• Stevenson College Student Finance Office

• West Edinburgh Voluntary Sector Forum, 22 Hailesland Place

 

• West Edinburgh Action, 16 Hailesland Place  

• downloaded from the www.westedinburgh.org.uk website   

    

Targeting

The WECLP will accept grant applications from all residents, aged 16 and over, who reside in the WECLP area. However it is anticipated that those most likely to receive funding will be from the categories listed below:

•   young people under 18 years of age who have left education
• people who are less advantaged in the community e.g. those from minority ethnic backgrounds, lone parents, people with a disability
• people whose job /career opportunities would be enhanced by attending a course

 

 

Tracking and Follow-up

It may also be possible to guide applicants to further help and support.  All successful applicants will be followed up at the three month stage to assess their progress with their course. 

  

Support Available

Support is available to applicants at every stage of the process.   Please contact Christine or Dinah on 458 5959.

  

  

Procedure

Applications will be accepted throughout the year and will be considered on their own merit.  All applications will be forwarded to members of the WECLP Learning Support Fund Panel.  The members of this Panel will make the final decisions on the awards.  The Panel will meet every two months on the following dates: 16^th May, 11^th July, 12^th September, 14^th November 2007, 9^th January and 12^th March 2008.   In exceptional circumstances, applications may be considered at times outwith the above dates.  All applicants will receive written confirmation of the outcome of their application within 14 days of the panel meeting.  If successful, the payment of approved grants will be made by Wester Hailes Education Centre Office.   If an application is unsuccessful, the applicant can follow the Appeals Procedure as detailed below. 

  

  

Appeals Procedure

Applicants can lodge a written appeal within 7 days of receiving written confirmation that their application has been unsuccessful. Their letter of appeal will be submitted to the Panel who will arrange a meeting of all members.  The Panel will evaluate the appeal and advise the applicant of their decision.  This decision will be final.

 

 

 

For further information, support and advice on the application procedure, please contact:-

 

Christine Vincenti or Dinah Pountain

Community Learning and Development

Harvesters Business Centre

75 Harvesters Way

EDINBURGH

EH14 3JH

 

Tel: 0131 458 5959

 

email: christine.vincenti@ea.edin.sch.uk

dinah.pountain@ea.edin.sch.uk

 

 

 

 

 

The Learning Support Fund was funded by the Wester Hailes Education and Training Managers Group