Our aim is to support those who are in most financial need attend; so if we are oversubscribed we will also take into account the number of financial hardship criteria that apply to the applicant.

Young people and adults applying to the fund must meet at least one of the criteria for financial hardship.

Evidence that can help us make the best judgement of ‘financial hardship’ would be if a family is in receipt of/eligible for one of the following:

• Total household income level below £20,000 
• Young carer (recognised by relevant authorities)
• Looked after child (in care)
• Free school meals* or pupil premium funding
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related employment and support allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and annual income does not exceed £16,190 as assessed by HMRC
• Working tax credit
• Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payment  (related to the young person or parent)
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

*Free school meals are provided to all pupils in the lower years of primary schools in England and Wales, so the other indicators are more valid in these circumstances.