Support
A safe and supportive experience for all our learners.
Starting or returning to education as an adult is a big step. Whether you’re gaining new skills, changing careers, progressing at work or working towards a personal goal, we’re here to help you succeed.
We understand that life outside college can sometimes affect your learning. Work, family responsibilities, finances, health, relationships or other challenges can make studying more difficult.
You don’t need to know what support you need before you ask. Our support teams are here to listen, talk things through, and help you find the right support at the right time.
Everyone has the right to feel safe at when they’re studying, at home, at work, in their community and online.
If something is worrying you or making you feel unsafe, talk to us. This could include bullying, harassment, abuse, exploitation, domestic abuse, relationship concerns, online safety, scams or pressure from others.
We will listen, take your concerns seriously and help you access the right support.
Need help now?
- Email: safe@activatelearning.ac.uk
- Phone: 01865 550401
- Monday–Thursday: 8:30am–5:00pm
- Friday: 8:30am–4:30pm
- Speak to any member of staff
If there is an emergency or someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
Being online is part of everyday life, whether you’re studying, working, socialising or accessing services.
Take care with your personal information, use strong passwords, be alert to scams and suspicious messages, and think carefully about what you share online.
If something online makes you feel uncomfortable, worried or unsafe, you can talk to us. This might include online harassment, scams, harmful content, pressure from others or someone sharing your information or images without your permission.
Balancing learning with work, family and everyday life can sometimes feel overwhelming. If you’re struggling, support is available.
Depending on your needs, we can offer:
- Counselling – free counselling for personal concerns, stress, relationships, anxiety and other challenges.
- Wellbeing support – short-term support with issues such as anxiety, panic attacks, low mood and self-esteem.
- Mental Health First Aid – many members of staff are trained to provide initial support and help you find the right next step.
Speak to Student Support to find out what is available, or access wellbeing and counselling support through ALO.
Everyone learns differently. Our Learning Support Team can help if you have a learning difficulty, disability, or other additional learning need.
Support can include:
- Support in lessons
- Study and revision strategies
- Organisation and time management
- Support with reading, writing or communication
- Assistive technology and other learning strategies
The team will work with you to identify and remove barriers to learning wherever possible.
If you have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), our team can work with you, your tutors and other professionals to make sure appropriate support is in place.
If you have previously received exam support, or think you may need it, speak to Learning Support as early as possible. Depending on your needs and exam board requirements, this could include extra time, rest breaks, a reader or scribe, use of a laptop, or a smaller/quiet exam room.
Contact Learning Support: gss@activatelearning.ac.uk
Care experience can apply to people of any age. You may be care-experienced if you have spent time in the care of a local authority at any point in your life. This could include living in foster care, residential care or with a guardian.
You do not need to be a young person or currently receiving support to be care-experienced. Your experiences of care may continue to affect you, even if you left care some time ago. You can be care-experienced at any age, including as an adult learner.
Care leaver is a specific term used for young people aged 16–25 who have been in care. If you are aged 16–25 and are a care leaver, you may be entitled to additional practical, financial or other support.
This may include:
- A named person who can help coordinate your support.
- Advice about financial support.
- Help with practical issues such as accommodation, travel or balancing responsibilities.
- Working with other professionals involved in your support, where appropriate and with your involvement.
Whether you are care-experienced, a care leaver, or simply want to find out more, you can talk to us about the support available at any time.
There are also organisations that provide advice, advocacy, financial support, mentoring and opportunities for care-experienced young people and adults, including:
- Become – Advice, mentoring, and inspiration for care-experienced young people.
- Propel by Become – Find info on university, college, funding and support for care leavers.
- Propel into Work – Career and employability support for care-experienced young people.
- National Youth Advocacy Service – Advocacy and independent advice for young people, including care leavers.
- Care Leaver Covenant – National opportunities, training, and discounts for care leavers aged 16–25.
- Rees Foundation – Practical support, grants, and community connections for care-experienced adults.
- Amazing Apprenticeships – A guide to apprenticeships for care-experienced people.
- Local Authority Care Leaver Offers – Explore your local area’s support for housing, education, and finance.
- National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) – University access, progression, and wellbeing resources for care-experienced students.
What happens outside college can sometimes affect how you feel, your attendance or your ability to focus on your studies. Whether you’re balancing work and family responsibilities, travelling for work or study, or dealing with difficulties at home, we’re here to support you.
If your course or work takes you to unfamiliar places, it’s important to think about your safety.
- Be aware of your surroundings and plan journeys where possible.
- Keep important contact details with you.
- Follow relevant workplace or local safety guidance.
- Check trusted sources for local safety information or travel disruption, such as GOV.UK, your local council or local police updates.
Respect, Inclusion and Prevent
We want Activate Learning to be a safe, respectful and inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and able to be themselves.
We promote democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. We also have a responsibility under the Prevent Duty to help protect people from being drawn into terrorism or extremist ideologies.
If you are concerned about something you see or hear (whether this relates to harmful attitudes, extremism, radicalisation or someone's safety) talk to a member of staff or the Safeguarding Team. You don't need to be certain that something is wrong before raising a concern.
For further information, visit Act Early and Counter Terrorism Policing.
There can be many reasons why attendance becomes difficult, including anxiety, financial or travel difficulties, caring responsibilities, health concerns, problems at home or feeling overwhelmed.
Please speak to your tutor or Student Support as early as possible. We can work with you to understand what is happening and identify ways to help.
Need to report an absence?
- Call: 0800 612 6008 and follow the automated phone system
- Use: the website chatbot, available 24/7
Whether you have a clear career goal, want to progress in your current job or are not sure what you want to do next, our qualified and impartial Careers Advisers can help.
They can help you to make informed decisions about your next steps, create a CV or prepare for an interview.
Use the booking links on the Careers section of ALO, meetings can be offered onsite or online via Microsoft Teams.
The National Careers Service provides free careers advice and guidance for anyone over the age of 19. Visit the website National Careers Service website or call 0800 100 900.
Financial Support for students aged 19+
Your future is worth investing in. Discover the funding options available.
Fees and payment
Find out if you have to pay fees for your course, and how to pay them, by clicking on the boxes below.
Please note: The information below relates to the 26/27 academic year.
We will only accept payment in person by card.
If, at the start of your course, you are aged 19–24 with an Education Health Care Plan, you are unlikely to pay any tuition fees for our funded programmes.
There may be additional charges for materials, trips, and kit to enhance your learning experience. These are kept to a minimum. If you are not a UK citizen, you can use the UKCISA website to confirm if you need to pay an ‘overseas’ fee.
If you are enrolling on one of our courses that are not funded, such as our leisure courses, you will be required to pay the course fee in full.
If you are aged 19 years or older, living in England (but not in a devolved region) and do not have one of the following visa types then you will be eligible for ‘home fees’:
- Student or graduate visa
- Holiday/visitor visa
- Skilled worker, health care worker, temporary worker, Global mobility or scale-up visa
- A visa that imposes restrictions on study
If you live in one of the following devolved areas, you will NOT be eligible for ‘home fees’ via Activate Learning:
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority
- Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
- Tees Valley Combined Authority
- West Midlands Combined Authority
- West of England Combined Authority
- West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- North East Mayoral Combined Authority
- South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
- East Midlands Combined County Authority
- York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority
- Cornwall Council
- Hull and East Yorkshire
- Lancashire Combined Authority
- Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority
- Devon and Torbay Combined Authority
- Buckinghamshire Council
- Warwickshire County Council
If you are eligible for ‘home’ fees and are enrolling on a funded course, you might not have to pay fees on a funded course if you are:
- Earning less than £26,800* gross per year from either employment or self-employment.
- Unemployed and using the course to help you gain employment.
- Aged between 19 and 23, enrolling on a full level 2 course, where this is your first full level 2.
(*£28,860 if you live in the Greater London Authority)
Contact us before enrolling to find out if your course is eligible.
English and Maths qualifications
If you are eligible for ‘home’ fees, you will not have to pay fees for English and maths courses at level 2 or below if you do not have a GCSE grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) in the same subject or an equivalent qualification (including overseas qualifications) or if you have been initially assessed as working below a grade 4 at GCSE in the same subject.
Community Wellbeing or non-accredited Employability courses
Some of our Community Wellbeing and Employability courses are free of charge for all learners who are eligible for ‘home’ fees. Where a fee is charged, you will not have to pay a fee if you are:
- Earning less than £26,800 gross per year from either employment or self-employment
- Not working
If you are aged 19 years or older, living in England (but not in a devolved region) and do not have one of the following visa types then you will be eligible for ‘home fees’:
- Student or graduate visa
- Holiday/visitor visa
- Skilled worker, health care worker, temporary worker, Global mobility or scale-up visa
- A visa that imposes restrictions on study
If you live in one of the following devolved areas, you will NOT be eligible for ‘home fees’ via Activate Learning:
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority
- Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
- Tees Valley Combined Authority
- West Midlands Combined Authority
- West of England Combined Authority
- West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- North East Mayoral Combined Authority
- South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
- East Midlands Combined County Authority
- York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority
- Cornwall Council
- Hull and East Yorkshire
- Lancashire Combined Authority
- Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority
- Devon and Torbay Combined Authority
- Buckinghamshire Council
- Warwickshire County Counc
If you are eligible for ‘home’ fees and are enrolling on a funded course, you might not have to pay fees on a funded course if you are:
- Aged between 19 and 23, enrolling on a full level 3 course, where this is your first full level 3.
- Enrolling on a ‘Free Courses for Jobs’ course and earning less than £26,800* gross per year from either employment or self-employment.
- Enrolling on a ‘Free Courses for Jobs’ course and using the course to help you gain employment.
(*£28,860 if you live in the Greater London Authority)
Contact us before enrolling to find out if your course is eligible.
Please note: The fees quoted on our website for level 3 programmes are an annual fee, which may not be split evenly between the two academic years. We recommend that students deciding to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to pay for their course apply for a loan to cover both years, ensuring the funds are secured at the start of the programme. Please contact us if you require more information about our course fees.
Advanced Learner Loan
If you are studying on a full-time Level 3 or 4 programme (not as part of an apprenticeship), you may be eligible to apply for a loan to help you pay your tuition fees. These loans are not means-tested or subject to credit checks, and you start repaying the loan when you earn over £27,295 per year.
Loans for Access to Higher Education programmes are cleared if you go on to complete a higher education programme with the support of a higher education student loan.
For more information regarding eligibility criteria, please visit www.gov.uk/advanced-learning-loans
Please note: The following area is only for those with an offer for a course delivered at our colleges. For access online, a link will be sent with your joining instructions.
If your course is eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan, your course is non-funded, so you are not eligible for bursary funding until you have confirmation of the loan. You may apply to get financial support from the Loan Bursary Fund after you've received a letter approving your bursary.
Bursary funds cannot support course fees if you are eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan.
If you are aged between 19-23 when you start your programme, this is your first full Level 2 or 3 qualification, and your programme is eligible, you may not have to pay fees. Contact us to find out if you're eligible before enrolling.
If you are studying on a full-time Level 3 or 4 programme or apprenticeship, you are eligible to apply for a loan to help you pay your tuition fees. These loans are not means-tested or subject to credit checks, and you start repaying the loan when you earn over £27,295 per year.
Loans for Access to Higher Education programmes are cleared if you go on to complete a higher education programme with the support of a higher education student loan.
For more information regarding eligibility criteria, please visit the government website.
Please note that the following area is only for those with an offer for a course at our colleges. For access online, a link will be sent with your joining instructions.
See our HE page for financial support information.
Flexible government-funded loans for Level 4–6 qualifications and short courses, allowing you to study at your own pace, build career-focused skills, and access learning that fits around work and life commitments. Learn more about LLE
I’ve been working as a mechanic for a long time, but after taking up a new hobby in woodwork, I realised I wanted to try and pursue that as a career. I’ve really enjoyed working with other people and giving support to my classmates. I’m now trying to get into the teaching side of things, as I’ve found it really rewarding.Neil, Furniture at Oxford
Our learning locations
There's plenty to discover at your local Activate Learning College and beyond in your community
