In the academic year 2023/24, the Skills and Education Group Foundation awarded £116,000 in grants, benefitting 3,580 learners in the UK.  We also awarded international grants and donations to learners in Sri Lanka and the Tara Foundation in Malaysia.

The majority of UK applications from learners for financial support in the academic year 2023/24 were for travel costs (50%), computers, phones and laptops (49%), and course tools and texts (32%).

Financial pressure and low income topped the reasons cited for support being necessary, and most of those who applied were Level 3 students (35%), followed by those at Level 2 (19%).

Applications came from learners on health and science courses, which include nursing (12%), and IT and computing courses, which include cyber security (11%).

A significant proportion of applicants were in full-time education and part-time employment (34%), and the majority were 16 – 25 years old (55%). Most applicants were female, and most were from areas ranked amongst the most deprived in the country, with 61% categorising themselves as white British.

A growth in certain requests has also been really noticeable. For example, we’ve seen a significant rise in requests for support with childcare – up from 6% of applications in 2022/23 to 13% in 2023/24 – suggesting there is an increasing number of parents trying to get back into education and finding that balance challenging.

Our core mission at Skills and Education Group is to increase social mobility. The fact that 35% of applications came from level 3 students means the Foundation’s offer successfully targets those at the gateway of skilled work or higher education, aligning the Foundation’s work perfectly with the group’s core mission.

We were also encouraged by the number of applications coming from the most deprived areas in the country – meaning we are putting our money where it’s needed most. Of course we all wish there was no need for a Foundation like ours – but while there is, I’m proud that we’re getting it right.