Mike

Thanks for that early warning.  This was the first we had heard of it.  I
will now get on to the Health Authority in Blackpool.

Wendy Dunkley
UCN

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [log in to unmask]
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of M Milne-Picken
> Sent: 19 April 1999 18:14
> To: 'admin-health'; Admin Student
> Subject: NHS Student Grant Unit Roadshow
>
>
> Apologies for cross-posting.
>
> Of interest to: those in English HEIs dealing with degree courses in
> Nursing/Midwifery/Professions Allied to Medicine (the rest can ignore
> this message!)
>
> This is just to warn those dealing with student financial support
> arrangements - in case you don't already know - that the NHS Student
> Grants Unit (based in Blackpool) will be organising a regional series of
> 'roadshow' events in May to brief HEIs on the changes to the 'NHS
> Bursary Scheme' for 1999/00.  The proposed new scheme (2nd Edition) has
> already been distributed to Heads of Institutions by CVCP (from Michael
> Corin, letter dated 14 April) with a deadline for comment back to CVCP
> of 5 May.  The main changes are stated to involve travel disregards.
>
> However, not included in the document (as far as I can see) is that the
> NHS is moving to a system of 12 monthly rather than 3 termly payments of
> grants for degree students.  We have been allerted to this change and
> asked our view by our local consortium.  We have discussed this and
> agreed we are against it, on the grounds that it hits poor students
> hardest and is contrary to the widening participation agenda.  Degree
> students have received termly payments for nearly 40 years on the very
> good grounds that many payments by students are front-loaded to the
> start of terms/academic years - travel, rental/deposits on
> accommodation, purchase of learning materials/books etc.  Moving to 12
> monthly payments will severely disadvantage those totally dependent on
> the NHS grant/bursary, as compared to those with other sources of income
> (eg parents/spouses).  The argument that the NHS-funded students are, in
> the long term, better off than those with loans is hardly the point when
> you don't have enough cash to pay your rent!  Neither is the fact that
> Diploma/P2000 students are paid monthly particularly relevant, as
> typically they get double the amount of payment as those on degree
> courses and (typically) live at home - thus meaning they don't face the
> same extent of 'front-loading'.
>
> Our local NHS consortium claim that they have had different opinions,
> with some HEIs actually welcoming monthly payment of degree students
> (!).  If HEIs share our view that this change is contrary to the
> widening participation agenda, then they should write to their local
> consortium/copy to NHS Student Grants Unit asap.  However it is believed
> that the decision has been taken at the top level of the NHS and that it
> will take a significant groundswell of opposition to get it changed.  We
> are trying to consult our students this week, as we assume it will also
> apply to continuing students as well as new ones.
>
> If you have a view about this move to monthly payment (for or against),
> I'd be pleased to hear your comments (direct to me please so as not to
> clog up the list), and I will collate any responses I receive and
> circulate a summary before the roadshow takes place.  If I can get a
> list of 'roadshow' dates, I'll circulate them to these e-mail lists (the
> notice is likely to be very short).
>
> Mike Milne-Picken
> Head of Planning
> University of Central Lancashire
> [log in to unmask]
>
> PS The NHS Student Grants Unit is at Room 212, Government Buildings,
> Norcross, Blackpool FY5 3TA.  Tel: 01253 333207.
>



%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%