The educational and training grants will be made available through Family Action, which administers the education element of the Horizons programme – with Citizens Advice giving the money support, Gingerbread providing the employment support and One Parent Families Scotland providing employment and money support in Scotland. To date Barclaycard has invested over £7 million in the entire Horizons programme helping over 450,000 lone parents and their children through the employment, money and education support.
The grants, which are open for applications from July, will cover a range of funding needs for lone parents. This means grants are not only available for course fees but also for expenses such as childcare, books and transport.
Helen Dent CBE, Chief Executive of Family Action said: “In such a difficult financial and employment climate, where welfare reforms are increasing the pressure to move into work, lone parents need financial support and creative solutions to overcome such barriers to learning and training as course costs, travel, childcare costs and costs for equipment. That’s why the Barclaycard Horizons Your Education programme is so innovative.”
Dent concludes: “With financial support from us they can gain a qualification meaning they have greater chance of getting a job with prospects. At a time when funding is being cut elsewhere, we’re delighted to be working with Barclaycard to help ensure lone parents and their children have a brighter and more secure future.”
