Students may be eligible for a discretionary local authority grant. Contact the education department of your local council.
 
National or local charitable trusts may help finance your course, information on these can be found via the internet or larger public libraries. "The Guide to Major Trusts for Individuals in Need", "Directory of Grant Making Trusts" and "Grants Register" are useful publications to help find an appropriate charitable trust.
 
The government offers Career Development Loans (CDL), deferred repayments bank loans to assist your studies. The Learning and Skills Council and three major banks (Barclays bank, The Co-operative bank and RBS bank) work in partnership to offer students the opportunity for a CDL.
 
Web-site address: direct.gov.uk/cdi or call 0800 585 505 or Student Finance Direct studentfinancedirect.co.uk