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Financial Assistance for the Christmas Courses

The criteria and procedure for applying for financial assistance to the Friends of Bedfordshire Youth Music (FBYM) has changed for the forthcoming academic year (www.fbym.org.uk/grants).

Parents/carers of students taking part in Bedfordshire Music Trust courses with children entitled to Free School Meals or whose household annual income is below £16,000 can now benefit by applying for the full (100%) remission for these courses. In addition there is also support on a sliding scale to other families up to a household income of £24,000. In exceptional circumstances the Friends will support other children where there is an obvious need.

Applications for holiday courses must be made at least two weeks prior to the deadline dates published by the Bedfordshire Music Trust (BMT). For the forthcoming Christmas courses the deadline date for grant applications to the Friends is Friday 16^th November.

Grant applications should be made to the Friends before sending the course application to the Trust. The Friends will acknowledge receipt of grant applications by email; decisions taken by the Grants sub-committee will also be communicated by email no later than Friday 23^rd November.

Successful applicants will be told the amount of FBYM's contribution and will be supplied a reference number for use to complete BMT's course application form.

Evidence of income will be required for the first course attended in each academic year; for those entitled to Free School Meals a copy of the local authority confirmation letter will suffice. HMRC confirmation of Tax Credits showing the salary used to calculate the benefit shall suffice for other applicants. Other forms of evidence accepted may include confirmation letters of income support.

For subsequent courses in the academic year, the Grants Secretary will only require confirmation by applicants that financial circumstances have remained unchanged. On receipt of this confirmation the Grants Secretary will send the applicant a NEW reference number to use for the course application.

A summary of the procedure for grant applications for the Christmas courses is outlined below:

1. Request for funding with evidence should be sent to FBYM before Friday 16^th November
2. FBYM will confirm receipt of grant application by email
3. FBYM will confirm the decision by email with a reference number if needed
4. Applicant should now complete the course application form and send it to BMT with payment if required and the FBYM reference number to cover the outstanding balance

November 2, 2012 | Permalink | Comment