EMA

I think The EMA scheme should get quanlitative data instead of quantitative. They should highlight how much they need, highlight what they need it for etc.

I'm not against EMA, my friend is using it for his trip to the USA in October.. it's not fair he misses out really is it

If kids drop out of college and start peeling potatoes for money instead of gaining the skills and knowledge that education will bring them, then in 10 years time when all potatoes are all peeled by machines, these kids will not have the skills to find them a sustainable job.

Well yeah exactly, if it's important for his course he should be able to go. The trouble with getting qualitative data is that you would have to go around asking every student what they thought of it and what they spend it on etc. some people easily forget and others might just lie about it because they can't be bothered so there are issues with that but I can see where you're coming from.

Yes you can apply straight to the funds but very few people get this and, in many cases I have seen, they never give the correct amount.
Also they will mainly only fund bus fares. Which is no use to many, they wont fund things like text books, stationary or trips.

And they did not make any effort to inform us of this fund either. IMO they should keep their fund and provide us with the neccessary stationary/text books rather than provide bus funds for people who could easily walk or get a lift in.

I'm not saying that there aren't people who come from low-income homes. Pretty much everyone in my school would have fallen into that bracket. I'm asking why they don't get part time jobs like we used to back in the day

I think you've misinterpreted what I said. I'm not suggesting kids drop out of college to get crappy jobs. I peeled potatoes part time while I was in school so that I could afford to go to school and get the skills I needed to find a better job. That's my point - tell the kids to get part time jobs rather than just hand them cash.

As an aside - it was a machine that peeled the potatoes, but I had to operate the machine

Well as I said to the other girl who described her situation, I would not have a problem with targeted support for the few people that need it and have absolutely no other option, but that would include far fewer people than just everyone whose parents earn less than an arbitrary threshold. To claim JSA you have to show that you're actively looking for work. I don't see why the same can't apply to EMA

... but with no regard to the fact that it's not needed by many of the people that receive it. It seems to work the wrong way around. Rather than it being a case of "here's some money just in case you have a bus fare to pay", it should be "Go to school, try to pay your own way - with part time work if necessary - and only if you absolutely cannot do so due to circumstances outside your control, there is support available"

rather than provide bus funds for people who could easily walk or get a lift in.

It's £30 a week maximum plus bonuses. I believe it adds up to around £1000 per year, but I'm not sure. That's a large amount of money for someone that age, no?

I would've assumed it was obvious that I didn't get it and therefore I'm bitter. My personal feelings are irrelevant though, nothing I've said isn't true - it is abused and it is there to keep people off JSA. In fact it'd be even more apparent that's the truth if I was getting it, as I would personally be abusing it. It helps some people, for sure, but it's very poorly targeted.

You assume they could easily walk or get a life.
Many people do not fall into either of those categories.

what about people who use it for a good purpose? I used it to fund a tutor for my further maths on the lead up to the exams (self taught the rest). I wouldn't have my A grade if it wasn't for EMA

Why should someone from a less well off background have to try, end up suffering, and then have to claim to the government when those from more well off families enjoy a life of luxury at sixth form?

But why should you get a tutor funded by the goverment when many people cannot afford one . EMA should be for the essentials eg bus far , or uniform

You assume they could easily walk or get a lift
Many people do not fall into either of those categories.

Note the user said "easily", meaning they realised that this may not be the case for everyone. Certainly in my sixth form centre people were in walking distance.

Plus some people don't walk when they really could. I consider anything up to 4 miles to be reasonable walking distance, as it takes about an hour. When I worked I used to walk about that distance to my office. Now I'm studying at a Uni which is about 2 miles away from me, and I walk there every day.