Cost of Living Support
With many UK households facing financial difficulties, cost of living has become a primary concern for families across the country.
One of the most effective ways to tackle the cost of living crisis in the long term is by improving household income, which education can help achieve. Fortunately, Rotherham College goes the extra mile to make education both flexible and affordable for learners of all ages.
Below is a list of the ways that you can get support to get the education you dream of without having to worry about the costs.
Bursaries
Student bursaries provide immediate relief to the financial conditions of the learners.
Keep an eye on the Student Support and Finance page for bursaries being offered that are applicable to you.
Student Finance
There are several ways to finance your studies when you enrol onto a college course. You pay all of these loans back in the future, once you have a full-time job and are reaping the benefits of your education. In some cases, the loan can be waived off as well.
Visit the Advanced Learner Loan page for more details. The best way to improve your chances to receive student finance is to apply early for the course of your choice.
Student Discounts
Student discount cards provide access to exclusive discounts on food and drink, tech, fashion, and even health and fitness. With options including the paid TOTUM card for extensive discounts, and the free digital UNiDAYS and Student Beans apps.
You may also be able to receive discounts in local business using your student ID card, so don’t forget your lanyard!
TOTUM Card
TOTUM is the UK’s #1 student discount card and app, offering access to over 600 discounts across various categories, including fashion, food and drink, tech, and travel. With TOTUM+, members can also earn cashback on everyday purchases and enjoy free proof-of-age ID accredited by PASS.
Student Beans
Student Beans is a student discount website offering deals from various popular brands. By verifying their student status, users can access exclusive discounts across categories such as fashion, health, travel, and technology. The platform also provides a mobile app for convenient access to deals on the go.
More information about Student Beans
UNiDAYS
UNiDAYS is a free digital platform providing exclusive student deals and benefits to a verified audience of over 29 million students. It offers discounts on more than 300 top brands across categories like fashion, technology, and food. Students can join UNiDAYS for free by registering with their personal email address and verifying their student status.
Food Banks and Community Shops
In urgent cases, weekly food parcels and essential items are available through local food banks or community shops.
Rotherham Food Bank:
https://rotherham.foodbank.org.uk/
Liberty Food & Baby Bank:
https://libertyrotherham.org/blog/liberty-food-baby-bank/
Transport Facilities
Travelling to College campuses is convenient using public or private transportation. There are parking sites at each campus for private vehicles as well. You can also buy travel passes to cut down the costs of commuting over a long period of time.
Alternatively, you can make use of the Student Bus Service and get an affordable pick-up and drop-off services from the nearest bus stop on the route.
Childcare Support
As per the Government Care to Learn initiative, you are eligible for childcare costs if you are aged below 20 and studying at a college. So, don’t let the worries of childcare stop you from completing the education levels you deserve.
Free Meals
Students are awarded a meal allowance of £4 per timetabled day to use on healthy meals. Learners can access a meal on college premises (allowance pre-loaded onto learner ID card) or meals maybe awarded using an alternative method.
You do need to apply for these, using our Student Financial Support application form and provide evidence of your income/benefits.
Health and Wellbeing
While studying at College, students can access 24/7 support through the Student Assistance Programme, including mental health, legal issues, and finances.
We have a dedicated Student Support team to help you with any problems or concerns related to your health and wellbeing. You have complete access to counselling and mentoring services while keeping safe with our stringent safeguarding policies.
Looked-after and leaving-care young persons are given special support on campus with concern for their wellbeing. Also, they are eligible for bursaries to help them in every way.
We take mental health very seriously and strive to provide an open environment where you can express your thoughts and emotions with complete freedom. Still, if there is any help you need on those lines, you can always access or other national counselling and support services for online mental health support as well.
Fitness and Sports
You can play a game of ping pong in our indoor sports area or participate in team sports in our regular sporting events aimed to engage students in healthy activities.
Find out what enrichment clubs and activities we offer.
Personal Care
Free sanitary products
We provide free sanitary products in all our campus toilets and receptions. Take what you need, whenever you need it.
Discounted hair and beauty treatments
Since our Colleges offer hair and beauty courses, we provide access to our high-value luxury salons for all your personal care needs with a student discount on top of the already affordable prices.
Visit Rotherham College’s Hair and Beauty Salon Innovate S65.
Free Distance Learning Courses
When it comes to learning, distance doesn’t matter. Even if you live far away from our Colleges, or do not want to travel, you can always get enrolled on our free Distance Learning Courses with a variety of courses to choose from including health and social care, mental health, education and training, nutrition and health and business management.
Rotherham Council’s Relief Efforts to Counter Cost of Living Crisis
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) is supporting the local community by distributing £25million into family budgets focusing these efforts towards those on the lowest incomes through;
- Government Energy support scheme
- Council Tax support schemes
- Holiday meal support for free school meals recipients
- Energy support schemes
- Crisis food support
- Targeted support to pensioners, care leavers
Money Matters
Many people are having difficulties due to the rising cost of living. You might not realise you’re entitled to some help.
You can find out about the range of local help that’s available, as well as national support, here: Money Matters website.
Warm Welcome
RMBC is working with partner organisations across Rotherham to ensure a ‘Warm Welcome’ for residents across a range of spaces across the borough.
Warm Welcome spaces will provide an opportunity for people to come together, share and use resources, with many spaces, such as our libraries, putting on additional activity sessions through the winter.
So don’t feel lonely this winter, just head out to the nearest Warm Welcome Spaces near you.