What is the Hardship Fund?
The Muslim Student Hardship Fund distributes grants specifically for students who are in Financial Hardship.
For example
Your student maintenance loan doesn’t cover your essential basic living expenses, or due to a one-off cost in exceptional circumstances
Who can apply? (Eligibility Criteria)
- Must be a Muslim living in the UK
- Must be studying a full or part-time course in a recognised institution in high school, further or higher education.
For high school students, a teacher must apply on behalf of the applicant.
- Living in the Greater Manchester area (or from Greater Manchester but studying outside of Greater Manchester).
- Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan.
How much help can I get?
Grants of up to £500 are available for eligible individuals. This may include reimbursement for the purchasing of items. Additionally, we may also signpost or refer you to other services or organisations that may be able to help you based on your situation.
To ensure that our hardship fund can assist those who need it most. We ask that applicants have explored all available options for support. Including those offered by their local institution and other referring services.
When can I apply?
The 2023 Hardship relief Fund is now open for new applications and will close on August 31st 2023. We may periodically have to close applications.
Priority will be given to:
- The most financially excluded people
- Items that will make the most difference
- Additional weight is given to those with caring responsibilities
What we fund:
- Basic living expenses (food, travel, clothing, utility bills)
- Education expenses (books, stationary, digital equipment, printing)
- Work expenses (uniform, interview clothes)
- Rent arrears where there is a clear and obvious risk of homelessness (For rent arrears involving a social landlord please outline what support has already been offered to your tenant
- Small Debts – for money owed on overdrafts, credit cards, and bank loans (as a result of the above, this will be done with the highest level of due diligence)
What we do NOT fund:
- Further or Higher education tuition fees
- Repayments of credit card debts-interest accrued
- Non-essential items (such as TV licences or TVs)
- Pet care
- Water bill arrears
- Renovations
- Applicants who are already on an IVA or debt management solution
- Unspecified costs (please be explicit in what you’re applying for and how much it will cost)
- Contribution to immigration
- To confirm that you can get help, we will look at how much money you have, your monthly income and living expenses on the form
How long will it take to get help?
The application form takes around 15 minutes to complete.
Once you have completed your application form and provided all the relevant additional documents, a decision regarding your application will be made within 5 working days.
If any further documents are required to review your application, you will have 10 working days to submit them from the day of notification. If this deadline is missed, then you may have to reapply for the grant.
What happens once I have applied?
The Grants Committee will review the application form and additional documents. If further documents are required, then you will have 10 working days to submit them from the day of notification. The awardees will rely on the assessment of your specific situation and take into consideration your monthly income, expenses and debts. Therefore you must ensure that you give as much information as possible and that the details you give are accurate. Applicants may be asked to attend a meeting to review their application. All the information given will be treated confidentially
Successful applicants will be notified of the outcome and arrangements will be made to provide the grant. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified and sent an explanatory letter.
What information and documents do I need to give?
- Photocopy or Picture of Identification – British Passport or British ID card
- Proof of Student Status – Enrolment letter to a recognised institution
- Depending on your situation, you will also need to give us one of the following documents:
- Debt documents – We will need statements or bills for any money you owe on credit cards or bank loans. We will need bills for the money you owe for gas and electricity. The documents must be dated within the last 3 months and show how much you owe.
- Supporting documents – reference proof of hardship from teacher etc
Award Reassessments
If your circumstances have changed you will be eligible to reapply and contact us for further support.
