A new cost of living website and Financial Inclusion blog is available at:http://gov.scot/costoflivingsupport and also useful information for parents at: Financial Information | Parent Health and Wellbeing Information Site (glowscotland.org.uk)
Cost of the School Day
Kilmarnock Academy wants to make sure that all children are able to make the most of the school day and that no child misses out on anything where cost might be prohibitive. It is our goal to make our education provision equitable and accessible for ALL regardless of income or personal circumstances.
Your answers to the this survey will help us check whether school costs are causing any concerns for our families and young people and whether there is anything we can do to help out. Your voice is really important and we want to hear from as many parents, carers and young people as possible. We promise to listen to what is being said and take action where needed.
In aiming to achieve our equitable educational experience at Kilmarnock Academy, we want to ensure that we provide support and resources for families to alleviate the cost of the school day.
If you wish to make a request for support from the school or wish to report a concern regarding one of our families, please use the link below to submit a request. This will be dealt with sensitively and information will only be shared with your young person on request.
Financial Support for Families and Young People
At Kilmarnock Academy, we recognise that these are challenging time for many of our families. The following links provide details of the different supports available from East Ayrshire Council. This includes links to a variety of grants and information regarding employment services, public wifi, and how to access free sanitary products.
Turn2Us
The website https://www.turn2us.org.uk is a useful tool to see what support you may be entitled to. From support with cost of living, to seeing what financial support you could be entitled to, Turn2Us is a national charity who can provide financial help and signposting to grants, benefits and funds.
Use the benefit calculator, grant search or contact them directly for support through their helpline.
Scottish Child Bridging Payment
All children and young people who receive free school meals on the basis of low income or on local authority discretion to promote wellbeing are eligible Scottish Child Bridging Payment
Scottish Welfare Fund
A Crisis Grant aims to help people, who are on benefits or have a low income, who are in crisis because of a disaster or an emergency. Scottish Welfare Grant
Five Family Payments
If you are getting tax credits or certain benefits, you could be entitled to five family payments. https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/asset-storage/production/downloads/5-family-Payments-flyer-March-2022.pdf
Support with Energy Payments
Paying for electricity and gas can be really difficult at any time of year but as winter approaches the problems get worse. It pays to consider changing your energy supplier to one who can help with reducing fuel costs.
Lemon Aid Fuel Poverty services specialise in advising and helping customers reduce costs and offer the following advice on some energy issues that households commonly face. You can find out more using the link below: Lemonaid
Warm Home Discount Scheme
If you are on a low income you could get off money off your electricity bill for winter 2022 to 2023 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The scheme will reopen again in November 2022. The money is not paid to you – it’s a one-off discount on your energy bill, between October and March. You can still qualify for the discount if you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter. The discount will not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.
Follow the link below for full details including eligibility and links to providers’ websites. https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme
Benefit and Money Issues
EA Money | Advice & Information on Benefit and Money Issues.
EA Money provide residents in East Ayrshire with information, advice and support relating to welfare rights, benefits, energy, affordable money services, debts and more.
If you have a problem with:
- one or more debts that are causing you financial hardship
- paying your rent, facing the prospect of eviction
- energy costs such as gas and electricity
- challenging adverse benefit decisions and ensuring you are getting your full entitlement to benefits
- experiencing barriers to getting back into work
Citizens’ Advice
If money is something that is on your mind, Citizens’ Advice offer a great tool to help you look at increasing your income by checking you are claiming everything you are entitled to, reducing your bills and easing the cost of daily living. https://moneymap.scot/
Food Provision
Information about your local food community sites can be found below: Community Food Provision Sites
At Kilmarnock Academy, we are committed to ensure that no food goes to waste and can provide boxed food at the end of each school day on request. You can request a food box by submitting the Request for Support form. Request for Support
Free School Meals/ Clothing Grants 2022-23
Information on how to apply for Free School Meals and clothing grants can be found below: Free School Meals and Clothing Grants
Subsidised Transport 2022-23
East Ayrshire Council policy provides a subsidised transport service for school transport which is open to secondary pupils who live between 1 ½ and 3 miles from their catchment secondary school following a suitable walking route and who do not meet any additional criteria for free school transport. The service is subsidised by East Ayrshire Council, with members contributing by way of an annual fee at a fixed cost for the academic year. Discounts of up to 100% are available to children in receipt of free school meals and to families with more than one child. Subsidised School Transport Service
You can apply for school transport using the link: Apply for school transport
Education Maintenance Allowance 2022-23
If you decide to stay on at school from August 2022, you may be able to get an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).
EMA is a weekly payment of £30 for students who are planning to continue in post-compulsory education from August 2022.
You could receive EMA if:
- you were born between 1 March 2003 and 28 February 2007
- your household income is £24421 or below (for households with one dependent child)
- your household income is £26884 or below (for households with two or more dependent children)
- you are on a non-advanced further education course at school
You must attend all your course sessions and sign an EMA Learning Agreement with your school. This agreement will set out what is expected of you in terms of:
- attendance
- coursework
- progress
If your date of birth falls between 1 March 2003 and 30 September 2006 you may be eligible for an EMA form the start of the academic year 2022/23. If you are eligible for an EMA your application form must be submitted by 30 September 2022. If the application is received after this date the award will only be paid from the date the application is received by the EMA Section.
If your date of birth falls between 1 October 2006 and 28 February 2007 you may be eligible for an EMA from the start of the January term 2023. If you are eligible for an EMA your application must be submitted by 28 February 2023. If the application is received after this date the award will only be paid from the date the application is received by the EMA Section.
For session 2022/23 the cut-off date for processing application forms is 31 March 2023. No applications will be processed after this date.
You can apply for an EMA using the link below: Education Maintenance Allowance
Period Poverty
Scotland was the first country in the world to provide free sanitary products for all people who menstruate.
Kilmarnock Academy has supplies available to those who wish to take them. These can be collected from the girls’ toilets or the medical room.
KA Cares
At Kilmarnock Academy, we never stop caring and we recognise the importance that good personal hygiene has in contributing to a more positive image, improved mental health, and overall improved personal wellbeing. However, we recognise that not everyone has access to, or afford, basic hygiene products and can have a negative impact on attendance and attainment at school.
Therefore, care packages can be requested for any pupil. These will include shampoo, shower gel, deodorant and sanitary products. Requests can be made using the form below or speaking to your child’s Pupil Support Teacher. Request for Support
Clothing
At Kilmarnock Academy, we promote high standards of uniform and sustainability. We have a large clothing bank available of both new and pre-loved school clothing.
If you are requiring support with school uniform, please complete the form below. It would be helpful for you to provide sizes for your child/children and specify which items of clothing you require. Request for Support
The Kilmarnock Academy Community Cares
If you would like to support the Kilmarnock Academy school community, we would appreciate donations of the following:
- School Uniform- particularly school ties, school shoes, and PE kit
- School Bags
- School resources such as stationery and pencil cases
- Toiletries- shampoo, shower gel and deodorant
- Revision Materials
- Winter Coats
- Scarves/ Gloves/ Hats
- Board Games/Lego
- Children’s books
- Oct-Dec- Christmas Gifts for teenagers aged 12-18
If you would like to discuss any of the above, please contact the school and ask to speak to Mrs Fitzpatrick
