A NEW one-year government trial will help support South Lakeland adults that are in low paid employment to access college courses.

Adults who earn less than £15,736.50 per year, can study a range of government-funded courses absolutely free.

The trial is in addition to other support available to adults, including funding for adults if any of the below apply to them:

• Receiving means-tested benefits

• Unemployed

• In a low-income household (under £30,000)

• Aged 19-23 with qualifications below Level 3 (A-Levels or equivalent)

• Do not have a Level 2 qualification (GCSE or equivalent) in English or Maths

Courses that could be free include Building Maintenance Skills, Film Making, Counselling Skills, Photography, IT User Skills, Graphic Design, Bookkeeping, Music Technology, Beauty Specialist Techniques, Fashion Design, Cosmetic Make-Up, Ceramics, Printmaking and more.

A range of Bike Maintenance courses are also free to all adults, delivered by Mapdec.

Adele Mundy, Student Services Manager at Kendal College, said: "The funding enables adults to access courses that may have been unaffordable previously due to course fees. As well as the fees being waived, there are funds to support with the costs of coming to College, e.g. childcare and transport. College is an adult learning environment, and it is fantastic that more adults are being given the opportunity to study here."