Fewer Young People in Wales Qualify for College Financial Support

Maddie initially withdrew from her A-level studies at sixth form because her part-time job was negatively impacting her academic performance and attendance. However, since re-enrolling in A-levels at college, she has been receiving the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), which has enabled her to concentrate on her coursework. She stated that the £40-a-week payment “lessens the concerns that I have about money,” allowing her to forgo a job while attending college. This comes as fewer 16 to 18-year-olds in Wales are now eligible for the means-tested benefit, as its income threshold has remained unchanged for 13 years. The Welsh government has indicated that it is evaluating whether to slightly increase the household income threshold for the allowance. Both college staff and students have advocated for a revision of the eligibility criteria to ensure more young individuals can access financial assistance. Maddie was prompted to apply for EMA upon resuming her studies last year at Coleg y Cymoedd, a further education college located in Nantgarw, Rhondda Cynon Taf. The 18-year-old would have qualified for EMA during her time in school sixth form but did not apply for it then. While a bus pass covers the expense of her 80-minute commute from her residence in Treorchy to the college campus, situated 15 miles (24km) away, Maddie noted numerous other expenditures. She explained, “I need to pick up food, books, stationery, pens, pencils… clothes in general and bags.” She added, “I don’t have to go and ask my parents for money which is more pressure on them. I’m pretty OK for things.” Reflecting on her previous experience, she stated, “In comparison, when I was going to sixth form I was putting a lot of pressure on my parents. I didn’t want to do that. I didn’t want to ask them for money for the things I needed for school. I started working because I felt pressured because I didn’t have enough money to support myself.” Maddie began “prioritising work over sixth form,” which led to difficulties managing her schoolwork and exams, a decline in her attendance, and ultimately her departure from studies. However, the additional financial assistance provided by EMA allowed her to leave her job, enabling her to say: “I had the time then to come into college and the time to revise.” Olwen, 17, a friend of Maddie’s, commented that she now recognizes the financial challenges faced by some of her peers at college. She remarked, “There were definitely people in my school that were struggling, but it didn’t click for me.” Olwen further observed, “I’ve seen that while there is more support here that’s easily accessible, it’s clear that there are more issues with transport and with food and supplies.” A report prepared for the Welsh government indicates that the number of students receiving EMA has decreased by over 50% since the 2010-11 academic year, falling from slightly over 36,000 to just above 16,000 by 2023-24. Jonathan Morgan, principal of Coleg y Cymoedd, stated that a decade ago, between 55% and 60% of students at the college received the allowance. He noted, “With the threshold being frozen, that’s continually being reduced and we are now down to around 40%.” Morgan highlighted the impact on students “on the borderline,” explaining, “They don’t quite make the EMA threshold and their families may earn just slightly over it. It would be absolutely key to supporting more learners if that threshold was looked at and a change made.” He also mentioned that council funding reductions could result in approximately 1,000 Coleg y Cymoedd students losing access to free transportation. The EMA is a payment distributed every two weeks to 16-18-year-olds who continue their education beyond the compulsory age. It is a means-tested benefit, with students qualifying if their household’s annual income is £20,817 or less for a single dependant, or up to £23,077 if there are additional dependants. The Welsh government raised the allowance from £30 to £40 per week in April 2023. While students in both sixth forms and further education colleges can claim it, 76% of approved claims during the 2023/24 academic year originated from colleges. Initially a UK-wide benefit, EMA was discontinued in England in 2011 and superseded by a bursary program. It remains active in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Cloie-May, 17, from Bangor, Gwynedd, finds that the additional support from EMA allows her to purchase a drink or snack from a vending machine with less concern about the expense. The Coleg Menai student explained, “When I’m in college I do performing arts so I will bring a water bottle with me, but if I want another drink I need to go to the vending machine. We do a lot of dancing so I need more than one drink and it can be a lot of money sometimes.” She added, “Normally I’m a person that really worries about everything. But when I’ve got EMA I know the money’s there for me when I need it.” Dr. Steffan Evans of the Bevan Foundation, an anti-poverty think tank, stated that EMA enables young individuals to continue their education “when they might otherwise have to go into low-paid work.” He noted that the frozen threshold has resulted in low-income families being excluded from receiving the benefit. Dr. Evans commented, “There will be young people who might now be dropping out of further education because whilst their family lives in poverty, they’ll no longer be deemed poor enough to get the real vital support that EMA provides – and that will be having a real squeeze on family incomes.” A review conducted for the Welsh government concluded that there is widespread agreement that the income threshold for EMA eligibility is currently insufficient and has not adjusted to account for increasing incomes and inflation. A spokesperson for the Welsh government confirmed that the review’s findings are under consideration, “including the recommendation that the household income threshold should be raised slightly.” The spokesperson also highlighted that EMA has been maintained in Wales, in contrast to England where it was abolished.