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Wait, where is this quoted from if it's not the Rules, or do the Rules contradict themselves (not *entirely* an unprecedented situation...)?
(to be clear, I think you're right and this learner is categorically eligible, just want to get to the bottom of the confusion!)
It looks like that's from some old 16-19 Bursary guidance, which is different from the Apps Bursary guidance. The Apps guidance is:
106.2. A child in care is defined as
106.2.1 An eligible child – a young person who is 16 or 17 and who has been looked after by a UK local authority / health and social care trust for at least a period of 13 weeks since the age of 14 and who is still looked after;
106.2.2 A relevant child – a young person who is 16 or 17 who has left care within the UK after their 16th birthday and before leaving care was an eligible child; or
106.2.3 A former relevant child – a young person who is under the age of 25 who, before turning 18, was either an eligible or a relevant child.
So they have to have been in care for at least 13 weeks since they turned 14, but it doesn't matter when they first were in care. I guess it's just that young people who were in care before 14, but haven't been for more than 13 weeks since their 14th birthday aren't eligible. I actually think the meaning is the same for both, it's just that the non-Apps one is clumsily worded.
Thanks Steve & Ruth
It's in this year's guidance 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide: 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK - it clearly states began after the age of 14 as opposed to since the age of 14. I think the learner would be eligible but it's the use of 'began' that is throwing me.
In the initial query, I compared the apprenticeship guidance which stipulates since and makes more sense. Technically, if I have interpreted it correctly, if they were an apprentice, they would be eligible but for study programme, they wouldn't. I think that the guidance has been worded incorrectly, this has the potential to exclude care leavers.
CR
Care Leaver Eligibility - Study Programme Bursary
Created
Hi
Can you please help clarify the eligibility criteria for a young person who has been in care? We have a care leaver who has been in care prior to their 14th birthday (been in care from 2016-2025) and meet all other criteria e.g. 13 consecutive weeks and confirmation has been received from the local authority. After reviewing the guidance below, it suggests that this would only be eligible if the care began after the age of 14, whereas the apprenticeship funding rules states since the learner turned 14, which doesn't time limit eligibility from when care was accessed. I believe that this learner should be eligible for care leaver bursary and that the wording in the guidance 'began after' is incorrect. Can anyone help support this query please?
A ‘care leaver’ is defined as: