School Uniform Grant launch: 1 June 2023

School uniform should be the least of a parent’s worries. That’s why UNISON’s very own charity, There for You, gives School Uniform Grants to members who need a helping hand in getting their kids kitted out for the new term.

The grant programme is limited to 2,000 applicants and will close once the maximum number of applications has been received. This is due to the limited amount in the School Uniform Grant Fund.

What’s new? 

We’ve been running online grant applications for a year, and this has been largely positively received by members. Some feedback specifically asked for the launch times to be adjusted to allow those with daytime commitments to be able to apply.

That’s why this year, we’re launching the school uniform grant during half term: on 1 June 2023. And releasing 1000 applications at 8.30am, and another 1000 applications at 5pm. So that members can apply when it works for them.

You spoke. We listened. 

Making welfare work for you.

How to apply 

All applications should be submitted online. Once launched, the application form will go live here: https://www.unison.org.uk/get-help/services-support/there-for-you/school-uniform-grant/

Those members who have access needs which mean that they can’t apply online, should contact UNISONdirect on 0800 0 857 857, whilst the grants are open; where our agents will be able to assist.

Criteria and who can apply 

This is a one-off grant of £50 per school aged child, up to a maximum of £150.

School Uniform Grant 2023

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be a UNISON member
• Have paid at least four weeks subscriptions at the time of applying. Subscriptions must be up to date.
• Not have received a grant through our main applications since 01 December 2023
• Not have received more than £750 in total if within the first year of membership
• Have savings (including the total rolling balance on current accounts) below £1,000 to qualify.
• Be financially responsible for school aged child(ren) and receiving Child Benefit for them. By school aged we mean children aged between 4-17 years old who will be returning to school in the autumn.

Only one application per household will be considered.

And EITHER:

• you are on a low income:
• Net household income* of no more than £26,000/year (£2,166.67/month)

OR:

 In receipt of means-tested benefits. This includes:

• Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Child and/or Working Tax Credits
• Pension Credit
• Means-tested Jobseekers Allowance
• Means-tested Employment Support Allowance
• Income Support

Acknowledging your wonderful branch donations 

On behalf of There for You and the very many members that your branch donations help, we would like to say a huge thank you for the kind donations received from branches.

In 2022 branch donations totalled £440,375. 

When we receive a donation, like the £2,000 presented by Coventry and Warwick Combined Healthcare Branch at Healthcare Conference from Marie and her colleagues; we like to send the branch an acknowledgement certificate to proudly display up on the workplace notice board.

To ensure that we can do this, we need you to ensure that you always include your branch code either in the description if you are sending us the donation electronically, or by writing it on the back of the cheque if that’s how you make your donation.

Come and Visit us at the There for You Stand at National Delegate Conference [NDC] where you could be a winner too

We don’t get out very much in the UNISON Welfare Team, so we are really looking forward to NDC week at ACC in Liverpool.  In addition to the There for You Annual General Meeting taking place on Tuesday 13 June at 12:45pm, we will be hosting an exhibition stand all week.

If you don’t already know us, come and meet us and find out how UNISON’s fantastic charity helps our members.

If you do know us, come by anyway and say hello and see what we are up to.

You could even be like Mike or Gamu who visited the There for You stand at Health Conference and won prizes in our raffle.

NDC Fundraiser Quiz Tuesday 13 June

A fun quiz evening at this year’s NDC.

Come and join us at Liverpool Revolution Albert Docks, L3 4AE to raise money for UNISON’s charity, There for You.

Teams of six, £10 per person. Please book and pay via Eventbrite.

Any questions please email l.everitt@unison.co.uk

Book your tickets here-

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/there-for-you-ndc-fundraiser-quiz-tickets-633930251447