Barclaycard has recently announced that grant applications for its Horizons Education programme, which aims to provide funding to help lone parents back to work, is now open for eligible candidates to submit applications.
The grants are part of the award winning* Horizons programme, which is designed to help equip lone parents with the training and support to re-enter the labour market. Successful applicants will be notified by the 31st August 2011 following an assessment of needs by Family Action.
The grants 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. Studies of past recipients for the scheme, which has run since 2005, have shown that 94% of parents would have been unable to begin or complete a course without such funding, and 97% believed the grant had improved their employment prospects.**
Alan Ainsworth, Head of Public and Community Affairs, Barclaycard: “Lone parents have many plates to balance and we know that finding time, let alone the money, for training for a new job can be tough. We’re proud that through our Barclaycard Horizons programme we can provide this funding and help make such a difference to families across the UK.”
Helen Dent CBE, Chief Executive of Family Action said: “With financial support from us lone parents 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.”
