Councillors are to submit a motion that will ensure that care experienced students will benefit from an increased bursary that they will be entitled to.
The Scottish Government have increased the Further Education and Higher Education bursary for Care Experienced students to £8,100 which is designed to provide financial support for travel, books and food.
There is concern that the increase may impact on other financial assistance a student may be entitled to from Renfrewshire Council. In some instances some students may receive, for example, Housing Benefit or a Council Tax rebate. The bursary increase may risk putting someone over a threshold and cause a student to lose some support.
That would have been an unintended consequence of a policy designed to offer support.
With that in mind SNP Group Councillors in Renfrewshire have submitted a motion to February’s full Council meeting which will ensure that the Scottish Government funded Care Experienced Bursary will not inadvertently impact on other financial assistance to which they may be entitled.
Cllr Marie McGurk, Convener of Communities, Housing and Planning, said: “The increased bursary from the Scottish Government is designed to support our care experienced students and when this this matter was brought to my attention I was happy to look at if further, and even happier to be in the position to make the required policy change.”
Cllr Jim Paterson, Convener of Education and Children’s Services, added: “I made a pledge to our care experienced young people that I would listen to them and this motion is just another example of the impact they can have when they approach this SNP administration. They should be extremely proud that by articulating their case to me they have helped shape Council policy to the benefit of some of our most vulnerable citizens.”
The motion to the full council should be submitted on Thursday, 28th February 2018 proposed by Cllr Marie McGurk, seconded by Cllr Jim Paterson.