How much will it cost?

A sudden change in Gemma Darlow’s family’s circumstances nearly spelled the end for her education.  The 17-year-old was left facing an uncertain future after her family home in Sheffield was repossessed. Her parents had got into financial difficulties when illness forced Gemma’s mother to give up work.  Money was so tight that Gemma even considered dropping out of college – abandoning her dreams of becoming a professional photographer – and getting a full-time job to support her family.

But she has been able to get back on track after receiving help in the form of an education maintenance allowance, a weekly payment designed to help students with the cost of learning.

“I told my mum I should leave college and get a job, so that we’d have some more money coming in,             but she didn’t want me to give up my education. She found that because of our financial                 situation, I was eligible for the EMA and encouraged me to apply.

  
   
I use the money to travel to and from college, and also for food and other expenses. I probably wouldn’t have been able to continue with my studies without it.”

The EMA is a weekly payment handed out to students depending on household income. The funding bands are £10, £20 and £30, and money is available for both academic and vocational study across the country. It aims to keep 16-to-19-year-olds in further education after their GCSEs, and students can even have a part-time job while claiming the EMA.

“I’m really enjoying my time at Longley Park, and I’m glad that I’ve been able to continue my studies – especially in photography. I love taking pictures, and my A2 course teaches us how to use different types of cameras and film, as well as digital photography software. It would be great to do it as a living, and I think that the EMA is giving me the chance to achieve that.”