Dennis Turner Hardship Fund

Fund is now open for all eligible students

Access to Dennis Turner during current IT issue

The fund and all its specific bursaries are still available for students to apply for.

You can still quickly and easily book an appointment via our online booking systems. 

 

To book an appointment please click the link: Funding Support Team Drop-in Booking – choose the appointment you want from the available dates and times

 

  • A virtual booking would be if you need help with an application form, applying for the hardship fund or Student Finance for example.  This will allow you to attend using your home devices to enable us to help you more easily. The virtual meeting will be via Teams so please ensure you are logged on using the Teams app on a PC/Laptop/Tablet.  You can get help with using Teams to share screens, which you may find useful for this meeting, at Show your screen during a meeting.

  • If you book a phone appointment please note that at the allotted time you will receive a call from with an Unknown Number or 01902 32 1000.  Please ensure you answer promptly as we will not leave a voicemail.  Make sure that, if driving, you park safely and have put your hand brake on before you answer the call.

 

To book an appointment using the above booking system you will need to be signed in to your office.com using your university email and IT password.  If you cannot access this please drop money@wlv.ac.uk an email (including your student number) to explain and we will sort something out for you.

 

Alternatively, during March we are available on campus between 10am and 12pm as follows:

 

  • Mondays - City Campus (Wolverhampton) in the Library
  • Tuesdays - City Campus (Wolverhampton) in the Library & Telford Campus in ASK/Library
  • Wednesdays – Walsall Campus in ASK/Library
  • Thursdays - Walsall Campus in ASK/Library

 

Please be as clear as to why you need the appointment. 

During the current IT issue please know that the fund and all its specific bursaries are still available for students to apply for. 

 

For the additional specific bursaries, such as support paying for an SpLD assessment or the £200 computing costs for the DSA, please see the appropriate information under Specific Bursaries below as these are still valid.

 

If you are looking to apply to the hardship fund itself, whilst access to e:Vision is not available, please email money@wlv.ac.uk with the following information:

 

  • Student number:
  • University email address:
  • Whether you are a UK/Home or International student:
    • If UK/Home and you are eligible for Student Finance please also provide your customer reference number:

  • Course title:
  • Level of study (L3, L4, L5, etc):
  • Mode of study (full or part-time):
  • Start date of course (MM/YY):

 

A member of the team will then send you the appropriate link to apply.

The Dennis Turner Hardship Fund can be accessed* confidentially by any students, home or international, who are struggling to make ends meet.  The fund is not classed as public money and does not affect the visa status of international students. These hardship funds are non-repayable, and can provide a short-term solution to students in this position.  Processing timescales can be from 2 to 4 working weeks, rising to 8 working weeks depending on volume of applications**.

The Dennis Turner Hardship Fund (DTHF) will open on 30th October 2023 and the closing date is 19th April 2024 (including reassessments)The final uploading of evidence is 30th April 2024. 

During these difficult times please remember that there is additional Government assistance available.  Please visit https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/ for more information.

*Apprenticeship students, those studying stand-alone modules, distance learners (as stated in the actual course title including online only courses) and TNE (International students who are studying in their home country) are not eligible

** These processing times are also dependant upon correct completion of form and provision of all relevant evidence. 

Please note that it clearly shows a confirmation message upon submission and will send you a confirmation email to your university email address. 

For a more in depth explanation of the evidence you may need to supply, including tips on how to do this, please see our What evidence is required? page.

Please note - hardship funds cannot be used to pay tuition fees.

See the Hardship Fund FAQs below for more information about how to apply. 

Hardship Fund FAQs

All current (i.e. enrolled) students, home and international, including those studying at partner institutions are eligible to apply for the hardship fund.

UK/Home Students can apply to the Hardship Fund if you:

  • have taken up and are in receipt of all statutory support that is available i.e. Maintenance Loan/Tuition Fee Loan/NHS Bursary 
  • Postgraduate students must have paid, or made arrangements to pay, their tuition fees. 


International and EU Students

You should have made provisions to pay your tuition fees and cover basic living costs before you commenced your studies if it is a condition of your visa. 

You can apply to the Hardship Fund if you have had a significant change in circumstances since enrolling on the course, and are struggling to cope financially. Applying for the Hardship Fund does not affect your visa status.

 

Who is not eligible?

  • Unfortunately, the fund is for current students only and cannot support students who are pre-entry, those on apprenticeships, TNE courses, or stand-alone modules.
  • University funding and bursaries cannot help towards your tuition fees.

 To request to negotiate a payment plan for your tuition fees, please contact incomesection@wlv.ac.uk (with your student number).

The fund opens from October and closes by the end of April every year, or until the funds are depleted, whichever is the sooner.

When the fund is open, you can request to apply via e:Vision.  

  1. Click on the My Finance button on your Homepage
  2. Click on Scholarships and Bursaries
  3. Click on Apply for the Dennis Turner Fund

This will then send you to the link for the online form which you will have to be signed into your University account to access.  

You will need to be signed in to your office.com account using your university credentials (university email and IT password).

If you have any issues with this, please email us at money@wlv.ac.uk with your student number and a brief description of your issue and we will try our best to get this sorted.

Please make sure you have all relevant evidence saved and ready to upload in the correct format (preferably pdf) before you apply.  You will not be able to complete the application without it.  

You can leave the application at any time, and it will temporarily keep your information to continue later.

For a more in depth explanation of the evidence you may need to supply, including tips on how to do this, please see our What evidence is required? page.

Please note - hardship funds cannot be used to pay tuition fees.

Help and support for applying can be found via:

Please note: you can only submit this form once, so please ensure you have answered all questions accurately and provided all relevant evidence before you click the submit button.

When we allocate awards, we are asked to give priority to the following groups:

  • Students with children
  • Disabled students (especially where DSA is unable to meet particular costs)
  • Students who have entered higher education from care for the period of time spanning their 16th birthday (regardless of age now)
  • Students who are 18 to 24 and have no communicative relationship with either living biological parent, or often their wider family
  • Students from Foyers or who are homeless
  • Students from low income families
  • Students receiving the final year loan rate 
  • Students whose courses have additional costs (for example, final year Arts students have to buy materials for their "show")
  • Students who suffer unforeseen change of circumstances during their studies

If you are not in one of the priority groups you can still apply but you must provide as much evidence as possible to show why you have a particular need.

 

If you are successful, your award/instalments will be paid into your WLV Wallet account.  Further instalments may be subject to you seeking advice from the Advice and Representation Centre (ARC) of the Students' Union or Citizens' Advice Bureau.

Once awarded, you will receive an email from the WLV Wallet Team containing instructions on how to access these funds including how to transfer as much or as little as you want into the bank account of your choice.  

Instructions on how to withdraw your funds as cash can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNBySjlvJ_w&t

If you have any queries about the physical payment or how to access it, please contact the WLV-Wallet team at student.info@wlv-wallet.co.uk as we do not have access to this.

Specific bursaries available

Please check here to see if you are eligible to apply (UK/Home students only) 

What is a Care Leaver?

A student who has entered higher education from care for the period of time spanning their 16th birthday (regardless of age now). 

We have a dedicated team who provide ongoing support, advice and guidance throughout your student journey, from making an application to Wolverhampton through to graduation.  They can also provide a link between the University, your local authority and/or your Care Leaving Team.

As a care leaver you may be eligible for one of our Access Bursaries which take the form of a cash payment paid over two years.

How to register as a Care Leaver (if you have not done so already):

To register as a Care Leaver simply complete the online consent form at: www.wlv.ac.uk/care which will include uploading relevant evidence (below):

  • Letter from your Leaving Care Team - confirming your Care Leaver status 
  • Student Finance - current Student Finance Notification letter (all pages) which can be downloaded directly from your Student Finance online account under Letters and Emails - click the link then download the PDF to save and then upload to your application

Please note that you will have to complete a consent form every year to ensure your details are kept up-to-date.

Additional funding

You may also be eligible to receive a bursary in each year of study (this money does not have to be repaid) which will automatically be allocated once your registration/consent form is processed every year.

This award will be released for payment through your WLV Wallet account.  Please click this link for more information on the WLV Wallet itself.

You will receive an email from the WLV Wallet Team containing instructions on how to access these funds including how to transfer as much or as little as you want into the bank account of your choice.  

Instructions on how to withdraw your funds as cash can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNBySjlvJ_w&t

If you have any queries about the physical payment or how to access it, please contact the WLV-Wallet team at student.info@wlv-wallet.co.uk as we do not have access to this.

Once you have submitted let us know by emailing cl_estranged@wlv.ac.uk (with your student number) and we will take it from there. 

For details of additional support available please visit the Support for care leavers and estranged students web page (www.wlv.ac.uk/care) or drop an email to cl_estranged@wlv.ac.uk (with your student number).

Who can be classed as estranged?

A student who has entered higher education who does not have a family support network, who are 18 to 24 and have no communicative relationship with either living biological parent, or often their wider family.

We have a dedicated team who provide ongoing support, advice and guidance throughout your student journey, from making an application to Wolverhampton through to graduation. 

All new starters may be eligible for one of our Access Bursaries which take the form of a cash payment paid over two years.

How to register as estranged (if you have not done so already):

To register as estranged simply complete the online consent form at: www.wlv.ac.uk/care which will include uploading relevant evidence (below):

  • 3rd party evidence to show that you are estranged and have no contact with either of your parents (unless previously supplied)
  • Student Finance - current Student Finance Notification letter (all pages) which can be downloaded directly from your Student Finance online account under Letters and Emails - click the link then download the PDF to save and then upload to your application

Please note that you will have to complete a consent form every year to ensure your details are kept up-to-date.

Additional funding:

You may also be eligible to receive a bursary in each year of study (this money does not have to be repaid but is subject to engagement with your studies) which will automatically be allocated once your registration/consent form is processed every year.

This award will be released for payment through your WLV Wallet account.  Please click this link for more information on the WLV Wallet itself.

You will receive an email from the WLV Wallet Team containing instructions on how to access these funds including how to transfer as much or as little as you want into the bank account of your choice.  

Instructions on how to withdraw your funds as cash can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNBySjlvJ_w&t

If you have any queries about the physical payment or how to access it, please contact the WLV-Wallet team at student.info@wlv-wallet.co.uk as we do not have access to this.

Once you have submitted let us know by emailing cl_estranged@wlv.ac.uk (with your student number) and we will take it from there. 

For details of additional support available please visit the Support for care leavers and estranged students web page (www.wlv.ac.uk/care) or drop an email to cl_estranged@wlv.ac.uk (with your student number).

Who can apply for this funding?

A student who is in receipt of help via the DSA for computer equipment but have to pay the 1st £200 themselves.

NB: if you are an Apprentice student you are NOT eligible to apply for Dennis Turner, but other funds may be available.  Please contact disability-inclusion@wlv.ac.uk (with your student number) stating that you are an Apprentice and would like to discuss support with an advisor.

How to apply:

To get help paying for the £200 towards your equipment costs through DSA simply complete the online application for, click the link: Support for DSA Computing Equipment form 2023/24  

You will need to be logged in to office.com via your University account (university email address and IT password).  You will also need to upload the following evidence:

  • DSA Letter – you can download this from your Student Finance online account under Your inbox - click the link to view the DSA2 letter then download it to save and then upload to your application

Have the evidence ready so that you can upload it during the application process (you will not be able to submit your application without it).

Please email us once you have submitted this form.

This award will be released for payment through your WLV Wallet account.  Please click this link for more information on the WLV Wallet itself.

You will receive an email from the WLV Wallet Team containing instructions on how to access these funds including how to transfer as much or as little as you want into the bank account of your choice.  

Instructions on how to withdraw your funds as cash can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNBySjlvJ_w&t

If you have any queries about the physical payment or how to access it, please contact the WLV-Wallet team at student.info@wlv-wallet.co.uk as we do not have access to this.

Who can apply for this funding?

A student who needs help to pay for a full SpLD assessment.  The Dennis Turner Fund can help with up to £400 towards that cost.

NB: if you are an Apprentice student you are NOT eligible to apply for Dennis Turner but other funds may be available.   Please contact disability-inclusion@wlv.ac.uk (with your student number) stating that you are an Apprentice and would like to discuss support with an advisor.

To book an appointment:

If you need assistance to find an assessor please use the link https://www.patoss-dyslexia.org/Tutor-Index-Landing   

Before you can view assessors you will need to

  • Register on the website, please click onto green ‘login’ button (top right hand side),
  • Click onto ‘Register as Individual’ button,
  • Complete your details as requested. You will then be able to log in.
  • ‘Find a Tutor/Assessor’ tab. The search engine will provide you with a list of assessors. 
  • Book your assessment directly with Assessor

Assessments are carried out externally and can cost from £350 - £750 so it may be advisable to look around for the best price.

If you have not yet had the assessment/to help pay for an appointment

We can offer an Emergency Loan for up to £400 to pay towards an assessment. 

This is a loan will need to be repaid but, as long as you have provided the full report of the assessment or appropriate receipt showing the assessment has been paid, it can be repaid on your behalf.

If you have had the assessment or/and received the report

Please ensure you upload a copy of your report in a helpcall via the ASK@WLV tab on your e:Vision account to ensure any support you are eligible for can be put in place as soon as possible.


Even though you may still need to apply to the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA), the Disability & Inclusion Team may be able to put interim support in place whilst this is completed.

To apply for this support:

Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD) Assessment Support Request Form 23/24

You will need to be logged in to office.com via your university account (university email address and IT password).  You will also need to upload the following evidence:

  • FOR THE LOAN - evidence that you require a full assessment - could be an initial report or email showing you have an appointment booked that clearly shows your name, the date of the assessment and, preferably, how much it will cost
  • IF YOU’VE PAID/ALREADY ATTENDED - Evidence that you have attended an assessment - could be the full report or a payment receipt clearly showing you have paid (this must clearly show your name, the name of the assessor, the date of the assessment, how much was paid and the payment date)

Please note that you can only upload the following file types: Word; Excel; PDF or an image.

Once you have submitted your form, as long the evidence you have provided is suitable the payment will be released for payment through your WLV Wallet account.  

You will receive an email from the WLV Wallet Team containing instructions on how to access these funds including how to transfer as much or as little as you want into the bank account of your choice.  

Instructions on how to withdraw your funds as cash can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNBySjlvJ_w&t

If you have any queries about the physical payment or how to access it, please contact the WLV-Wallet team at student.info@wlv-wallet.co.uk as we do not have access to this.

Please email money@wlv.ac.uk (including your student number) once you have submitted this form.

You MUST provide us with the copy of the full assessment or receipt of payment, or you will be liable to pay back the loan and may lose IT facilities.

Help and Support

Book a drop-in appointment with a member of the Funding Team

If you need support with your application, or for advice on funding you can now book a drop-in appointment to speak with a member of the Funding Team by clicking the above link.

You can quickly and easily book an appointment via our online booking systems.  You can choose whether to have a face-to-face, virtual (via Teams) or phone appointment.

  • A virtual booking would be if you need help with an application form, applying for the hardship fund or Student Finance for example.  This will allow you to attend using your home devices to enable us to help you more easily. 

  • If you book a phone appointment please note that at the allotted time you will receive a call from with an Unknown Number or 01902 32 1000.  Please ensure you answer promptly as we will not leave a voicemail.  Make sure that, if driving, you park safely and have put your hand brake on before you answer the call.

  • A face-to-face would be more useful if we needed to ring Student Finance with you to sort out your funding or if you wish to speak about your circumstance in a more confidential manner than being at home would allow.  To attend a Face-2-Face appointment, 5 minutes before the booked time please go to MD083, opposite the ASK@WLV office in the Ambika Paul (MD) building corridor, next to Harrison Library, and they will let us know you have arrived.

Please complete the online form where you can easily choose a suitable day and time. Please be as clear as you can in the description box as to why you need the appointment.  You will need to be signed in to your office.com using your university email and IT password.  If you cannot access this please drop money@wlv.ac.uk an email (including your student number) to explain and we will sort something out for you.

Once booked you will receive a confirmation email which you can link to your calendar. You will also receive a reminder email the day before, if applicable, your appointment and a text message reminder if you add your mobile phone number.

You can book a slot up to one hour prior to the time available or up to 2 weeks in advance.

If there are no suitable slots available please email money@wlv.ac.uk with your student number clearly stating why you need a slot as soon as possible and the team will do their best to accommodate you.

Please note: there are only limited slots available and we will work on a first come, first served basis.

Please keep the confirmation email in case you need to reschedule or cancel the appointment. If we need to reschedule or cancel the appointment for any reason we will do our utmost to inform you as soon as we can and offer you an alternative.

The virtual drop-in is via Teams so make sure you are logged into the Teams app on a PC/Laptop/Tablet.  This will allow for screen sharing should you need us to help with applications.

For help sharing your screen please have a look at Share content in a meeting in Teams

You can also get in contact:

by email: money@wlv.ac.uk 

or call the helpline: 01902 321070

Make sure you include your student number in all emails to the University.

In the event that you find yourself in a financial emergency please get in touch at the details above. Please provide your full namestudent number and a brief statement of your individual circumstances and we will advise you. This may include referral to food banks. 

If your circumstances are getting worse, please remember the other resources that you have to hand. 

Students’ Union’s Advice and Representation Centre (ARC) - speak with a Student Money Advisor - complete their enquiry form at https://www.wolvesunion.org/advice/enquiry/

Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) - https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ can offer additional financial advice, including whether you are in receipt of the maximum benefits you may be eligible for. 

Government’s Help for Households campaign – see what support is available to help with the cost of living and find out how to save money with their energy saving tips - https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/

Mental Health & Money Advice – helping you understand, manage & improve your mental health and money issues - https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/

Stepchange – https://www.stepchange.org/ - they offer free, flexible debt advice that is based on a comprehensive assessment of your situation. They will then provide practical help and support for however long it’s needed.