Does your branch AGM agenda include a request for the branch to make a donation to There for You?
It is AGM season again, what better time to ask your branch to make a donation to There for You? We are UNISON’s unique welfare charity that provides advice, support and financial assistance to UNISON members in financial difficulty due to unforeseen circumstances.
In 2024, the charity again saw an increase in the number of applications received from members; and as you can see from the table below, we gave out more in grants than we received in donations in every single region. So, if your branch can help us with a donation now, we can continue to help members when they need it most.
April 6 benefit uprates. Could your members be missing out on statutory benefits?
Get them to check using the free, confidential, online UNISON benefits checker tool.
On 6 April 2025 statutory benefit amounts are set in increase. All members in receipt of benefits are advised to check to ensure that the uprates are applied correctly by the DWP.
Even if you have members who are not currently claiming benefits, or who are unsure if they would qualify for any statutory assistance, the free, confidential online benefits checker can help them identify what assistance may be available.
For members
All UNISON members have access to the free, confidential online benefits checker.
The checker itself is very quick and easy to use and can be found at this link: https://unison.entitledto.co.uk/
For the branch
We have produced some handy little wallet sized information cards with details of the link to the benefits checker, branches can order a maximum of 3 packs of these [108 cards in total] from the UNISON online catalogue at this link:
There for You benefits checker and budgeting tool business card – UNISON Shop
On one side the cards provide details of the link to the benefits checker and on the other side there is the link to the budgeting tool. So why not order them and have them available to hand out to members at your AGM, or to have available to distribute to members.
Step into Spring grant: New small grant programme
We are delighted to announce the launch of a new small grant programme this March – Step into Spring – providing a £30 voucher towards the cost of a pair of shoes for each eligible member of a household.
Grant programme will open on 20 March 2025 at 12 noon, for 24 hours.
Key features:
- £30 voucher for member, partner [where applicable], and dependent children [for which household is in receipt of Child Benefit].
- Launch date will be Thursday 20 March 2025 at midday and will remain open for 24 hours.
- Eligibility criteria for Spring Grant programme will be publicised online soon, so make sure to look out for full information when it is available.
So, the message now to members is check eligibility criteria as soon as it is published and save the date 20 March 2025 at 12 noon for a limited 24 hour period.