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The £3,000 care leavers' apprenticeship bursary

If you're under 25 and have been in care, you could get a £3,000 bursary when you start an apprenticeship in England. Who's eligible, how it's paid and how to claim it.

  • Applies to England
  • Reviewed
  • Reading time 2 min

The short answer

If you're in care or have been in care, and you're under 25 when you start an apprenticeship in England, you could get a £3,000 bursary (for starts from 1 August 2023). It's paid in three £1,000 instalments in your first year, through your training provider. Talk to your training provider to claim it.

Key figures

Care leavers' bursary for apprentices who started on or after 1 August 2023
£3,000
Source: Apprenticeships.gov.uk
Paid around 3 months, 6 months and within 12 months of starting
3 × £1,000
Source: Apprenticeships.gov.uk
You must be under 25 when you start your apprenticeship to be eligible
Under 25
Source: Apprenticeships.gov.uk
Your benefits aren't affected by apprentice financial support as long as your savings are below this
£6,000
Source: Apprenticeships.gov.uk

If you’re in care or have been in care, there’s extra money available when you start an apprenticeship in England. Many people who could get it don’t know it exists.

How much you can get

When you started Bursary
On or after 1 August 2023 £3,000
Before 1 August 2023 £1,000

Who’s eligible

You need to be:

  • under 25 when you start your apprenticeship, and
  • an eligible child, a relevant child or a former relevant child. These are legal terms for young people who are, or have been, in the care of a local authority.

How it’s paid

Your training provider receives the bursary and passes it to you. The £3,000 comes in three instalments:

  1. £1,000 around 3 months after you start
  2. £1,000 around 6 months after you start
  3. £1,000 within 12 months of starting

The exact dates can depend on how long your apprenticeship is. You can only get the bursary once, and you can’t claim it after you’ve finished.

How to claim

Talk to your training provider. They claim it for you, and you won’t have to give them details about your care experience. They’ll also ask whether you’re happy for them to share your care leaver status with your employer. You don’t have to, but if you do, your employer can get extra funding to help support you. If a payment doesn’t arrive, ask your training provider first.

Other support

  • Your local council has a legal duty to support care leavers until 25. That can include help with costs like a passport for your job. Contact the council where you were in care.
  • Benefits aren’t affected by financial support you get as an apprentice, as long as your savings are under £6,000.
  • Funding for your employer. For employers that don’t pay the apprenticeship levy, the government fully funds training for apprentices aged 22 to 24 who have been in care. Our guide to who pays for apprenticeships explains this.

This is on top of your wage, which must be at least the apprentice minimum wage.

Summary

  • Care-experienced apprentices in England who are under 25 when they start can get a £3,000 bursary.
  • It's paid in three £1,000 instalments in your first year, through your training provider.
  • Your training provider claims it for you, and you don't have to give them details about your care experience.
  • Your local council also has a legal duty to support care leavers until 25.

Questions you might have

How much is the care leavers' bursary for apprentices?

£3,000 if you started your apprenticeship on or after 1 August 2023, or £1,000 if you started before then.

Who can get the apprenticeship care leavers' bursary?

You must be under 25 when you start your apprenticeship, and be an eligible child, a relevant child or a former relevant child, which are legal terms for young people who are or have been in care.

How do I claim the care leavers' bursary?

Talk to your training provider, because they claim it for you. You won't have to give them details about your care experience. They'll also ask if you're happy to share your status with your employer, which you don't have to do.

When is the care leavers' bursary paid?

In three £1,000 instalments: around 3 months, around 6 months and within 12 months of starting. The dates can depend on how long your apprenticeship is. You can only get it once, and not after you've finished.

Will the bursary affect my benefits?

The government says your benefits won't be affected by financial support you claim as an apprentice, as long as your total savings are less than £6,000.

Sources and review

Last reviewed . Details can change after this date, so check the official source before you rely on them.

  1. Get £3,000 if you've been in care Apprenticeships.gov.uk (Department for Education) · accessed
  2. Become an apprentice: what you'll get GOV.UK · accessed
  3. Funding an apprenticeship for non levy employers Apprenticeships.gov.uk (Department for Education) · accessed

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