Study

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. Visit Directgov for information on free learning options.

Sources of funding

The Skills Funding Agency will pay the tuition costs for a range of courses if you're receiving the following benefits:

• Jobseeker’s Allowance,
• Council Tax Benefit,
• Housing Benefit,
• Income Support,
• the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, or
• Working Tax Credit (as long as your household income is less than £15,050 a year).

You may also qualify if you're not working and are part of a couple with someone who gets one of the benefits or tax credits listed above.

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:

• The adult learning grant. This is a grant of up to £30 a week for full-time learners in England who are aged 19 and over and who are studying for a first full level 2 qualification. It's available through the Skills Funding Agency.
• The sixth form college childcare scheme. This is a scheme for parents aged 20 or over studying at a school sixth form or sixth form college. It's available through the Learner Support helpline on 0800 121 8989.
• If you're a young carer aged 16, 17 or 18 you could be eligible for an Education Maintenance Allowance of up to £30 a week while you study. Call the Education Maintenance Allowance helpline on 0800 121 8989 for more information.

For more information about what funding you may be eligible for contact Next Step on 0800 100 900.