The Bring Back EMA campaign invites politicians, trade unionists, public figures, organisations and prominent campaigners to support our campaign.

Please send messages of support to info@bringbackema.org.uk and we will publish them on this website.

"Nothing summed up the slamming of the door in the faces of hundreds of thousands of working class young people more than the scrapping of EMA.

Now more than ever we need to step up the fight to bring back EMA and fight for young people's futures."

“The EMA had a transformative impact for young people, particularly in inner city communities like mine.

The scrapping of this support was a vicious attack on the aspirations of young people in some of the poorest parts of society.

Bringing back EMA would help the next generation have the opportunity to access education and fulfil their potential.”

"The abolition of the EMA was one of the first major attacks on ordinary people by the Con-Dem coalition of millionaires, and forms part of a programme of cuts that will amount to the wholesale dismemberment of the welfare state. As with the entire Con-Dem programme, the abolition of EMA benefits the rich (through reduced taxation) by hammering the poor (through reduced subsidy). The Coalition of Resistance therefore welcomes the launch of the Bring Back EMA Campaign and will give full support to its activities."

“EMA provided a lifeline to thousands of students in families on low incomes. The Government’s decision to abolish it was unfair and wrong and I am delighted to see young people campaigning for its restoration. I would like to offer my support to the Bring Back EMA campaign and wish you every success in your fight.”

"Education should be a freedom of choice for all not a privilege for the wealthy. The slashing of EMA combined with tripling of tuition fees has forced the poorest, disproportionately Black, out of education at a time when over 1 million young people are unemployed and 50% of young Black people are unemployed. Politicians and pundits have the audacity to describe young people as a 'lost generation' when it is not that they are lost but that they have been failed by government.

Child poverty is increasing everyday with more and more families forced into destitution struggling just to provide food on the table and a roof over their heads with no spare money for education. EMA was a lifeline to many poor young people in further education. It's not acceptable to limit the life chances of some young people just because they are not the daughters and sons of millionaires. I give my full support to the campaign."

“I am not just calling for the return of EMA, I am demanding it. EMA was a bit of an educational lifeline for many young people in my community. We need that support back if we expect to have the educated and trained workforce that will turn this recession round.”


  

"The coalition government made a huge mistake when it abolished the Education Maintenance Allowance in 2010. The scheme was highly effective at ensuring regular attendance, boosting grades and keeping young people in education - especially those from poorer backgrounds. 

The alternative to the EMA - the age 16-19 bursary scheme - is problematic as students cannot apply for bursaries until they are already enrolled. This creates uncertainty as young people do not know whether or not they will receive a bursary as they apply for post-16 education, and if they are awarded one, what its value will be.

I am supporting this campaign as EMA has proven itself one of the most effective ways of widening participation in education. It also represents good value for money as it boosts the career prospects of         thousands of young people, enabling them to reap the financial rewards as well as contributing more to society."

“The abolition of EMA was a disgraceful act by a government more concerned to reduce
taxes on the very rich than to help students from low income families to pursue their education."

"Britain’s biggest pensioner organisation, the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) welcomes the campaign to restore the EMA as an important step in making sure that further education is available to the widest possible number of students. It is vital that we do not let politicians, think tanks or others  in the media divide up the generations by trying to blame one age group for the problems of the other. Young and older people actually have a number of very similar concerns and that is why our Generations United campaign – which links students with workers and pensioners is so important. We must be clear that the divisions in our society are between the rich and the rest of us – not young and old. Together we can defend public services and the welfare state."