If you're a carer and haven't had a paid job for a long time you may want to take a training course to learn new skills or improve your existing ones.
Some carers and former carers worry about whether they can afford to pay for a training course and the other costs associated with it, such as travel or childcare. However, there are many ways you can learn for free.
Learning for free
Many courses in literacy and numeracy that help with basic skills are free. Tuition fees for most courses leading to your first qualification equivalent to a GCSE or A level are also free. BBC Learning offers free online learning in basic skills and other courses. You can find out about English, maths and IT courses on Gov.uk.
Sources of funding
The Skills Funding Agency will pay the tuition costs for a range of courses if you're receiving the Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance (in the work-related activity group).
You may also qualify if you're not working and are part of a couple with someone who gets one of these benefits.
The tuition fees may also be paid if you are unemployed, getting any state benefit and doing a college course with the specific aim of getting into work.
It's best to check with the college before enrolling on a course to find out if the course you want to do is funded by the Skills Funding Agency. Even if you don't qualify for free tuition, the college may run a discount scheme that you may be eligible for.
Professional and Career Development Loans
You may also be eligible for a Professional and Career Development Loan. These are bank loans of between £300 and £10,000 to help you pay for the cost of learning that enhances your job skills or career prospects. For more information see the page on Help getting work.
Other funding
Tuition fees aren't the only costs you'll have to consider when planning to take a training course. Even if your tuition is paid for there may be other costs, such as examination fees, course registration fees, travel and childcare. You may be able to get help with these from the following sources:
- Discretionary support fund, which is given at the discretion of the college and can be used to cover costs such as equipment, tuition fees or childcare.
- Trust funds (grants from charities) such as Family Action or Turn 2 Us
- Care to Learn, which can help with childcare and travel costs if you're under 20
For more information about what funding you may be eligible for contact the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900.
