Help with college hardship money

The concern is that some students will be unable to afford to study

The body that funds England's colleges is underwriting their efforts to provide emergency payments to students.

Problems at the firm running education maintenance allowances mean 150,000 youngsters are not getting them.

They are entitled to means-tested payments of up to £30 a week, to help to keep them studying.

Now the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is supporting colleges making hardship payments to students who would struggle to attend without the money.

Chief executive Mark Haysom said: "Less well-off students starting courses without funding is simply not acceptable.

"We've arranged for colleges to have access to funds as a matter of urgency so that no student in this situation will lose out."

'Distressing'

He said the company hired to process the applications, Liberata, had now taken on an extra 460 staff to speed up the manual application process as a matter of urgency, following problems with the IT system and helpline.

Insiders have claimed to BBC News that "reams of applications" are piled up at Liberata's offices in Darlington, Co Durham, in an atmosphere of confusion.

Mr Haysom said: "This is a very regrettable and distressing situation. It is a matter of the utmost priority to resolve this issue swiftly.

"The funds are available for those in hardship who would not be able to attend or participate effectively as a result, such as not being able to pay for public transport, books, meals, or essential course equipment."

He said further education colleges across the country, which attract the majority of students in receipt of EMA, were being contacted about the offer.

The LSC was also monitoring the situation in schools and independent providers, he said.

Delays

Liberata has said that it and the LSC are committed to ensuring young people eligible for EMAs receive their entitlements as rapidly as possible, and to clear the backlog of applications by the end of September.

It said 157,000 applications had been fully assessed but 150,000 learners were experiencing delays caused by technical problems, specifically with its helpline.

"Liberata has hired hundreds of additional staff to speed up the application process until these issues are resolved."

Liberata has a six-year contract worth £80m to deliver EMAs and other projects for the LSC. It is an outsourcing company, with a majority stake owned by a private equity company with offices in the United States.

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