Have you been experiencing financial difficulty as a student parent or carer due to the pandemic? Then have a look below to see if you are eligible for funding from the University.
Your current elected Part Time Officer for Student Parents and Carers, Maisie Lodge has been campaigning hard for additional support for Student Parent/Carers at the University of Derby. As a result of collating your feedback and raising it through the Union, to the University executive, Maisie will have some information for you all soon with regards to what existing policies and processes can be enacted for you at this time, to support you in your studies.
In addition to this, due to the focus that Maisie has highlighted on the challenges faced by Student Parents and Carers during the pandemic; the University has agreed to allocate a percentage of the money awarded by the Government for students in hardship, specifically to students who are parents or carers.
Any money allocated to you could be utilised towards:
purchasing a second device for your household,
upgrading your wifi contract during this time or
simply paying bills.
Nb. the money awarded to each student will be dependent on how many people apply to the fund.
So, if you are experiencing hardship due to the pandemic, that is compounded by the fact that you are a student parent or carer and have not already received an award from the COVID hardship fund, then read the detail published by the University below and follow the link to the application form to apply.
If anyone requires any support in applying, then please contact the Union Advice Service for impartial advice and guidance:
To be eligible to apply for this support, students must satisfy all of the following criteria:
- Be a UK, Undergrad or Postgrad student*
- Be enrolled in academic year 2020/21
- Level 4 or above (Foundation / Year 0 students are not eligible for the Government support)
- Be eligible for, have applied for and be in receipt of all available student funding (ie Student Loans, Grants for Dependants etc.)
- Have caring responsibilities (adult or child)
- Be experiencing significant financial difficulty due to COVID-19
*If you have already applied for support through the Additional Funding for Student Hardship scheme (Undergraduate or Postgraduate Fund), you cannot be eligible for this additional support.
If you are in receipt of your full entitlement of student funding, have caring responsibilities and are experiencing significant financial difficulty due to COVID-19, you can be eligible to receive support from this scheme.
Deadline for applying for funding is 5th march at 5.00pm.