Southwark's Educational Maintenance Supplement Boost for students on GCSE results day
Published 24 August 2011
On the day that thousands of GCSE students are due to get their results, Southwark Council has unveiled a ground breaking new scheme to encourage youngsters to stay on in education.
The new Southwark Educational Maintenance Supplement (SEMS) will be used to help those students who are most in financial need to remain in post sixteen education, supporting some of those who would have previously claimed the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) which is now being phased out nationally.
Southwark Council believes strongly in helping young people to fulfil their potential but recognises that young people are likely to be concerned about their personal finances if they stay on in education or training. The aim of the new supplement is to provide financial support to 16-18 year olds who meet certain criteria, such as being a Southwark resident, and will be available through the main schools, colleges or training providers attended by Southwark students. It will be up to those organisations to be responsible for distributing the funds to students later in the autumn. It will also be available through a central fund for Southwark residents studying elsewhere.
The SEMS is part of a £3m youth fund package that was launched this summer, believed to be the first scheme of its kind in the country to support young people to stay on in education and improve their job opportunities. Details of a scholarship scheme to pay university tuition fees have already received a warm welcome. And in a direct response to rising youth unemployment nationally, the fund will also help young people aged 16-24 who are leaving education and looking for jobs. Advisors will provide help with CVs and employment skills, offer valuable work experience and internships, and ongoing job brokerage. Overall the programme is designed to help around 6,000 young people over the next three years.
Catherine McDonald, Southwark Council cabinet member for children's services, said: "We believe that our young people deserve to be given the opportunity to fulfil their potential so that they have the best chance to get the skills and qualifications to succeed in life - regardless of their financial background.
"Nearly 4,000 of our young people currently depend on the Educational Maintenance Allowance, which the government is scrapping. This will mean many of our young people could struggle financially to stay on in sixth form and further education. Our Southwark Educational Maintenance Scheme will help thousands of our young people afford books, materials and other necessities to help them stay on."
