Lucifer's advice is good. Get the alternative career, keep applying for the sponsorships. In a few years if you are not lucky with the sponsorships you'll have a good enough financial record to borrow any cash you haven't managed to save for self-sponsored training, and you'll have a fall back if things go pear-shaped.
The government isn't interested in paying to train pilots as there are so many people willing to open their own wallets to be one.
Good luck!
foggy (28, 6 years in IT, 6 months from CPL/IR)