Hi Guys
" stand by to receive a download!lol"
Searching the ELCAS website under learning providers should enable you to search for your desired univeristy "they are all on there"
Regarding funding once you have gained a place at university getting tuition fee funding is relatively simple, and quick as it took only two weeks for my claim to be approved after having it signed at my learning centre. On a similar vein, if you have used some or all of your ELCAS Claims the government will still fund all the years of your degree as it comes under a separate scheme, however you cannot claim any ELC's after you degree is over.
One thing i am keen to stress is to not take what the education centre staff say as gospel, mainly cos in my experience a lot have no clue about the degree funding process...read the JSP on the ELCAS website and get the Gen from that, then you can debrief the educational staff if they try and give you a bum steer!!
On the subject of UCAS applications is would say that the most important aspect is to have an absolutely hoofing peronal statement, as you are so diffident to the applicants coming form either school or adult access courses. You will also be able to have a referee who will be able to back up you personal statement and validate your educational and technical ability in a way that no school or sixth form tutor would be able to do.
I have a BTEC from 2003 and I also did a terrorism studies certificate in 2011 which is first year UG level. I also have 8 C Grade GCSE'S and out of the 5 universities I applied to 4 gave me a place " i applied to Kings college London for a giggle!". With the experience and qualifications you describe and the fact that you are undertaking a maths A level, I would be surprised if all the universities you apply do do not offer you an unconditional place as they want mature students. You are also a less risky prospect than a school leaver and you have the all important " experience" which will give you a massive head start over an 18 year old undergraduate who believes he/she knows everything, and the consequences of not achieving you aim are a lot clearer too!
Mature students have the unique opportunity of being able to sell themselves to a university on more than just academic merit, where as a school leaver is just another student who may or may not make the most of their time at university!!
Gaining funding for accommodation and food though Student Finance England is also very simple and only took me 4 weeks to have that all confirmed. If you also add on the grants and bursaries available at all universities and you can be pretty well set :-)
Finally i would start picking up the phone and ringing universities about what they would accept on a UCAS application, what their mature student policy is and speak to the professors in charge of the courses you want to attend...as some universities either interview mature students or set them an assignment to prove their abilities " Sussex University asked me to write a 1500 word essay on globalisation".
All the info i have provided is current, and I hope it will make you breathe a little easier about your prospects for universitiy " THEY WANT PEOPLE LIKE YOU!", get yourself to uni and don't allow any 22 year guys who are pension trapped attempt to talk you out of it...YOU WILL BE THEIR BOSS WHEN THEY RETIRE!! ;-)
best of luck and any more info you need just ask :-)