National programme offering educational grants for lone parents

Barclaycard has 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.

Lone parents can apply for grants from £500 to £1000 between the submission period of 1st to 31st July. 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 educational grants will be made available through Family Action, which administers the education element of the Horizons programme - with Citizens Advice giving the money support, Gingerbread providing the employment support and One Parent Families Scotland providing employment and money support in Scotland. To date Barclaycard has invested over £7 million in the entire Horizons programme helping over 450,000 lone parents and their children through the employment, money and education support.

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: "In such a difficult financial and employment climate, where welfare reforms are increasing the pressure to move into work, lone parents need financial support and creative solutions to overcome such barriers to learning and training as course costs, travel, childcare costs and costs for equipment. That's why the Barclaycard Horizons Your Education programme is so innovative."

Dent concludes: "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."

The Horizons Education Fund aims to support lone parents who have the motivation, determination and ability to improve their employment prospects. To be eligible, applicants need to be a lone parent that has sole responsibility for dependent children and who lives alone with their children. Candidates interested in finding out more information on eligibility and application processes can call the Horizons Helpline 020 241 7639 daily from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday 27th June until Friday 2nd September inclusive. Alternatively please contact horizons@family-action.org.uk or apply for a grant via the Barclaycard Horizons website: yourhorizons.com.

All grant applications will be assessed during the week beginning 22nd August 2011 and applicants will be informed by email of decision made on the 31st August 2011.