A TEENAGER who applied for help with the cost of attending college received an unexpected bonus.

Loftus student Sarah Connelly was presented with £1,000 of computer equipment after signing up for an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

The 16-year-old, who is studying for a BTEC diploma in care at Redcar and Cleveland College, won the prize as part of a competition organised by Learning and Skills Council Tees Valley to promote the benefits of the education maintenance allowance.

Sarah has to make a 14-mile round trip bus journey to college every day and spends the majority of her £30 a week allowance on travelling. The computer will enable her to work on some of her assignments from home.

More than 5,500 young people across the Tees Valley have applied for the allowance.

The EMA is a weekly payment of up to £30 per week for young people who stay in further education. They may also receive bonuses of £100 if they remain on their course.

Sarah said: "The EMA is already proving to be really helpful as it means I can pay for things like travelling and have some money in my pocket. I can now better plan for the future and I hope, when I finish the BTEC introductory course, I can specialise in child care."