With the extra money, I can buy the materials that I need to complete my coursework, particularly books. I would definitely encourage other older students to apply for it. Fatou Gaye

This week marks the first anniversary of the national roll-out of the Adult Learning Grant (ALG), which offers people aged 19 and over up to £30 per week to go back to or continue in learning. Fatou Gaye, from Hackney used the ALG to keep her career plans on track.

At a time when financial pressures threatened to derail her plans, the ALG has helped Fatou continue her studies and stay on track for a career in the hotel industry, with a job in the hospitality sector during the 2012 Olympics as her first goal. Born in Gambia, Fatou, now 20, spent her infancy in Sweden and came to the UK three and a half years ago. She has been studying for a BTEC National qualification in Travel & Tourism at Hackney Community College, and began receiving the ALG last September.

Previously, she had been getting the Education Maintenance Allowance, but had passed the upper qualifying age and wondered how she could carry on in learning without further support. Fortunately, the ALG was available to her, and now, nearing the end of her course, Fatou will be going on to Thames Valley University to study hotel management. She dreams of owning a global hotel franchise. Before that, though, the opportunities created by the London Olympics have Fatou setting her sights on a job in hotel management during 2012.

While working to achieve the qualifications she needs to turn her dreams into reality, Fatou has been working part-time as a sales assistant. She admits it can be difficult to fit work in around her studies and credits the ALG with helping to ease the strain. Although she is entitled to use the grant money in any way she chooses, Fatou decided to use it strictly for study purposes. “The ALG has been a huge help to me in terms of my studies,” she said. “With the extra money, I can buy the materials that I need to complete my coursework, particularly books. I would definitely encourage other older students to apply for it.”

Hackney Community College principal Ian Ashman said: “The ALG gives students who could not otherwise afford it, the opportunity to study at college and succeed in life. It also benefits the college by helping us to retain our students. Fatou is incredibly motivated and has gained qualifications that will allow her to go on to higher education and increase her opportunities of working at the Olympics. "Since it was introduced, the ALG has provided financial support to 2,543 adult learners in London.

Take-up in the first year that the ALG has been available throughout the capital has exceeded expectations by 64 per cent, proving how popular the scheme has become in a relatively short time and the need it is meeting. David Hughes, Regional Director for the LSC in London, said: “It’s fantastic to see the impact the ALG is having and the helping hand it has given so many adults who might have been held back from learning by financial worries. Up to £30 a week can really make a difference when it comes to buying books and other course materials or paying for childcare.”


For further information on the Adult Learning Grant or to find out if you are eligble use the link below to visit the Directgov website.