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Investigating the Needs of Women in Education

In addition to giving grants to women in education, ENEF funds research and pilot projects to monitor the changing landscape of student funding and its impact on adult women learners. These projects inform the grant-giving policies of the Fund and also have relevance for other funders and for Government.

Elizabeth Nuffield FE Grants

Fifteen Colleges of Further Education nationwide have been awarded a total of £246,000 by ENEF for the 2007/08 academic year. The money will be used to help women studying on Access and other level 3 courses via Elizabeth Nuffield FE Grants, worth up to £1,000 each. ENEF has appointed an FE Co-ordinator to manage the scheme during its first year.

‘Care Matters’. The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004: a Practical Guide

Adult learners who are caring for a disabled child or other family member face continuing challenges over accessing the support they need. This practical guide explains the responsibilities and duties of local authorities in the light of recent legislation and proposes strategies to help them meet their new obligations to carers.

Research into funding available for women in education

Many women contacting the Fund for information about ENEF awards have reported the considerable difficulty they have experienced in finding out about other sources of support for their studies. To mark its 50th anniversary the Fund has decided to research other organisations funding women in education and training. The initial aims of the survey are to establish whom these funds support and how much they give in grants or loans; to bring together these organisations to discuss areas of mutual interest; and to explore the possibility of creating a single, easily accessible web-based resource for women seeking funding for educational purposes.

Elizabeth Nuffield College Discretionary Fund

At a time when statutory support for Further Education has been considerably reduced, the ENEF Commitee has decided once again to offer support to adult women learners in FE, although in a necessarily limited way due to budgetary constraints. A pilot project in collaboration with five London colleges of Further Education aims to help women learners in unexpected financial need, and to learn what kind of needs arise that might impact on the student’s ability to complete her course.

Improving access and support for adult learners caring for disabled children or other family members

The Government’s Childcare Bill places a legal duty on local authorities to ensure there is sufficient childcare in their area to meet the needs of working families and families with disabled children. There still remains a strong need for the Government to be persuaded to provide access to family care not just for employment purposes but also for learning or training. Dr Philippa Russell has been awarded a grant to set up a demonstration pilot project to improve access to, and information about, care facilities for adult learners who are also caring for a disabled relative. The project’s main aims are to provide a model of good practice that can be replicated elsewhere, and to produce a practical guide for Local Authorities to assist them in implementing their new duties.

A guide to support for adult learners caring for disabled children or other family members

Published in 2005, covers the full range of education and training options, and sources of support, for adult learners in England who are also family carers.

Last Updated Mon, 10 September 2007