What is this scheme?

•  ‘Changing Lives’ is a grant award scheme run by the homeless charity Crisis.

•  You have to be homeless or formerly homeless to apply

•  You can apply for up to £2500 towards the cost of course fees.

•  A grant can also be used for materials or equipment to help you complete a course

•  You do not have to repay these grants

Who can apply?

Applicants must be:

•  Single

•  Over 18

•  Living in secure accommodation. You cannot be sleeping rough or squatting. If you are settled in a hostel, living in supported housing or now living more independently, then you can qualify

•  Free from alcohol, drug or other substance misuse for at least 6 months before the application is made

•  Unemployed or earning less than £18,000 in London

•  Eligible to remain and work in the UK indefinitely

•  Working with a support worker for at least 6 months before the application

Which courses qualify?

•  Courses must be ‘accredited' which means they must lead to some sort of qualification

•  The course must also be linked directly to your career goal

•  Courses which are available for free do not qualify

•  General IT courses such as CLAIT or ECDL cannot be funded

•  You must not be eligible to pay for the course through some other public source, such as a government grant

•  Fees for university courses such as degrees cannot be covered

When can applications be made?

Applications are accepted three times a year between specific dates. These dates are publicized on the crisis website (see below)

How to apply

•  Application forms can be downloaded from crisis.org.uk – go to ‘What we do' – then go to – ‘Changing Lives Awards'.

•  However, the application must be made through an organization you are working with. This is because you will need a supporting statement from a support worker and because, if successful, any money must be paid through that organization.

•  The support worker can be any person who is working with you on a regular basis to improve your education, employability or living situation. It might typically be a keyworker, careers advisor or resettlement worker.

•  Along with the application form, it is also necessary to send a support worker's statement, details about the course you want to do, and quotations for any materials or equipment.

•  Decisions will be made approximately six weeks after the deadline date for applications

What are Crisis looking for?

To succeed with an application, Crisis are looking for:

•  Focus on your career goal

•  How well you have planned your progress in getting to your goal

•  Personal initiative, for example seeking advice

•  Motivation in pursuing your objectives

•  Evidence that you are taking responsibility for moving forward in your life

Further Informatiion

For general information on the scheme go to crisis.org.uk – then go to ‘What we do' – then go to – ‘Changing Lives Awards'.