Summer Assistance Fund

Page last updated:
26 Sep 2023

The Leeds Beckett Summer Assistance Fund provides financial support to some students over the summer, whilst our main Hardship Fund is closed.

This page explains eligibility, support available and link to the application form.

What is the Summer Assistance Fund?

The Summer Assistance Fund provides support for certain categories of student experiencing financial hardship over the summer.

The fund is not accessible to all students, but is restricted primarily to those;

  • whose courses continue over the summer with no break in study, and who haven’t already applied to the Hardship Fund, or
  • who are unable to receive parental support or work over the summer, whether for study, family or medical reasons

Assessments primarily look at relevant income and expenditure, providing a contribution towards identified shortfalls where applicable. Some non-standard awards can be made for emergency or additional needs in exceptional cases.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

A.

We will consider an application from you if you are a non-final year student and satisfy one of the following:

  • You have children
  • You are retaking/resitting elements of your course, either in or out of attendance across the summer
  • Your course continues over the summer with no break in study, providing you haven’t already applied to the Hardship Fund in the academic year just gone

  • You are ill or have a disability and are therefore unable to work, and for whom other benefits are not available
  • You are care experienced, a carer or you are estranged from your parents
  • If you are a final year student, you can apply if you are resitting exams over the summer period
A.

Students meeting the above eligibility criteria should click on this link to access the online application form.

Once you have submitted your online application along with your supporting documentation, we will assess your application. We aim to send confirmation of the outcome to your university email address within 10 working days, however during busy periods this may take longer.

A.

Where your statutory student funding has already been taken into account in a previous term-time assessment, we will not consider this again. We will take into account all other income.

If you are eligible for welfare benefits during the summer, we will include the relevant benefit figure in your assessment even if you are not yet in receipt of this.

A.

Where relevant, you will need to provide:

  • A confirmation letter / email from your School of how many credits you are resitting / repeating over the summer period
  • Bank statements for the previous month for all of your bank accounts, including savings accounts (and your partner’s accounts if applicable)
  • Documentation confirming your benefits or evidence to show you have applied for these
  • Details and evidence of any other income received over the summer
  • An up-to-date letter from your GP / Consultant to confirm any illness that prevents you from working over the summer period
  • Documentation from your GP / Disability Services / Support Worker (as applicable) to confirm your disability and to confirm you are unable to work over the summer
  • A letter from your social worker to confirm that as a care experienced student you do not have any other means of financial support over the summer
  • Any other supplementary evidence that you feel supports your application
A.

Support could include:

  • Help with your day-to-day living costs, such as food, travel and help with housing costs.
  • If you have an outstanding short-term loan from any previous academic year, we will ask you to discuss this with us. We may reduce any award if this is the case.

Note that we can only make awards if there are sufficient funds remaining.

Please also be aware that any award made is merely a contribution towards the above expenses. We emphasise that the fund generally cannot cover all of a student’s assumed shortfall.

Already applied or need more information?

If you have applied for the Summer Assistance Fund you can book an appointment to discuss your application and circumstances in more detail or, if you are having difficulty completing the application. Please use our contact details below to arrange your appointment.

If you have a query over the status of your application or would like more information about the fund, you don’t need to make an appointment and we can usually answer your questions over the phone or via email.

Please note that the Summer Assistance Fund is open from 1st June to 31st August 2023

Contact money advice

We offer advice about student funding, benefits, budgeting and debt, over the phone and at appointments. We run a Money Advice Line on 0113 812 5593. It is open Monday to Thursday between 10:00 and 12:00.

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