Education Supporter - Autumn 2022

Education Supporter

The magazine from

Autumn 2022

Easing education staff into the new school year Inside this issue: A special partnership which will benefit you, our loyal supporters

Welcome and thank you So here we are, back into a brand new school year. I find myself reflecting on 2021-22 and feeling humbled by the incredible work of education staff who kept children and young people learning.

The move out of the crisis phase of the pandemic into something new required commitment, patience and creativity in spades. The education staff responded with typical heart.

Children and young people continued to arrive in schools and education institutions, carrying the weight of learning loss and the effects of prolonged periods of isolation and separation from their support networks. The impact on children and young people’s mental health has rightly been a focus for everyone. Less well recognised is the way in which education staff have been a consistent caring presence, playing a significant role in children’s recovery and growth.

Education staff often pick up the pieces around the chronically under-supported parts of our health and social systems.

Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), social services and the police are stretched and underfunded, leaving teachers and education staff to pick up social, emotional and safeguarding challenges that other parts of the public sector no longer reliably can.

Let me be clear. Giving teachers and education staff more training to continue to take on these responsibilities is not the answer. That is a broadening our definition of a teacher by stealth. They are not therapists or social workers, and nor should they be expected to be. It is by directly addressing social inequalities, and letting teachers teach, that we are best placed to keep children and young people engaged, learning and energised for the future.

I am mindful that it can be easy to fall into a despairing narrative about an emotionally 2

exhausted and despondent teaching workforce. But this is far from the whole picture. There is much to be uplifted by in the sector’s response to the challenges of recent years. We know from our own research that educators are guided by a clear sense of purpose. Education staff remain connected to that purpose, despite the upheaval they’ve faced. This is what enables them to make a difference in communities across the country. I know that children, young people and adult learners will continue to be well served by talented education professionals. I find this to be a source of great hope as we forge ahead.

Education Support remains committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the education workforce. As well as communicating the tough realities faced by the workforce to government and the wider public, I want to be a source of inspiration, hope and optimism for everyone working in the sector. It is my ambition that teachers and all education staff will turn to Education Support for new ideas and an uplifting boost that will help them through their day, and remind them why they fell in love with teaching in the first place. With your support, we are working hard to earn this role with teachers, lecturers, leaders and support staff.

Thank you, as always – by donating to us you are working alongside us to influence change and to provide incredibly powerful support. We appreciate you more than you can imagine.

Sending you my best wishes,

Sinéad Mc Brearty CEO, Education Support

Contents Our new partnership knows no bounds

4&5

The lives you’ve changed – Sophie’s story

6&7

The lives you’ve changed – Katy’s story

8&9

The lives you’ve changed – Alan’s story

10 & 11

Your voice – Cyrilla’s story

12 & 13

The lives you’ve changed – Kirstey’s story

14 & 15

Strides Against Stress

16 & 17

Break-time

18

Donation form

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Please remember the helpline is there for you even if you’re retired or no longer work in education.

Keep in touch Address

40A Drayton Park, London, N5 1EW

Phone

020 7697 2750 (general enquiries)

Helpline

08000 562 561 (free, confidential 24/7 helpline)

Email

fundraising@edsupport.org.uk

Website

educationsupport.org.uk 3

Our new partnership knows no bounds…

We’re absolutely delighted to have been chosen to partner with an exclusive membership club – Boundless – and to be able to pass on this incredible opportunity to you, our loyal supporters.

Boundless is a membership club for people working in or retired from the civil service and public sector who are looking for inspiration on how to make the most out of their free time while also saving money. With a heritage and expertise dating back more than 98 years, Boundless offers its 165,000 members deals on hundreds of unique experiences, events, volunteer activities and days out.

By joining Boundless, you’re also helping Education Support as they’re going to donate £5 to us for every new member we recruit.

On top of some great benefits, Boundless brings members together through shared events. You can join regular live online masterclasses, including an introduction to birdwatching with BBC Springwatch’s Gillian Burke and a Japanese cookery tutorial. They also have local volunteer-led social events and exclusive member days to popular attractions including WWT wetland sites, Longleat and RHS Bridgewater.

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They also help members discover new places, with a choice of three holiday properties in the UK selected to provide first-rate hospitality.

Plus, members can save up to 20% on public prices all year round.

Boundless delivers activities and amazing days out that make it more affordable to be much more adventurous. As they have partnered with over 180 well-known brands, members have access to exclusive deals and discounts to do more with your friends and family, for less.

Join Boundless for just £32 a year, and save £245* on family outings all year round.

Become a Boundless member and they will donate £5 to Education Support.

Visit boundless.co.uk/ES or call 0800 669944 quoting ‘Education Support’ to join and find out more.

What’s included in membership?

For just £32 a year: Unlimited access to Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Wakehurst

Unlimited access to all 10 Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Sites

-U nlimited Boundless admission to Kew

-U nlimited free admission for Boundless members

- 50% off for one additional adult

-F ree admission for one additional adult

- Free admission for up to five children

-F ree admission for up to six kids

- 10% discount in the Kew shop online and in-store

- 10 sites across the UK

Gardens & Wakehurst

12-month membership to Dine - Save up to 50% at thousands of restaurants - Save 25% on your total bill - 2for1 offers on meals

12-month membership with Kids Pass -K ids go free deals at aquariums, restaurants and more -U p to 57% off days out and UK attractions -S ave at Edinburgh Zoo, Bluereef Aquarium, Flamingo Land

Terms and conditions *Saving based on comparable membership deal at WWT, RGB Kew, Kids Pass access and Dine access.

Terms and conditions apply. Visit boundless.co.uk **Boundless will make a £5 charitable donation to Education Support for every new member that joins Boundless. To be eligible new members must

join Boundless via boundless.co.uk/es or by calling Boundless membership services and quoting ‘Education Support’. A new Boundless member is someone who hasn’t previously been a Boundless member. Offer valid until 31 December 2022. Boundless reserve the right to withdraw the offer at any time.

Lines open from 8 - 6 Monday to Friday, 9 - 5

The lives you’ve changed

Sophie’s story We are often moved to tears by the pleas for help that we receive for our grants, but one in particular stood out for us over the past few months

Here’s what 26-year-old teaching assistant Sophie said in her application: “I work full time to provide for my little boy (4-year-old Adam). I do not have any financial support other than benefits. As a single parent finances are really tight for me and bills such as rent/food/gas/electricity must come first. Once everything is paid out I am not left with very much, that’s why this grant would really help me in order to give my son the room he deserves.

During my relationship with my ex-partner, I suffered a lot of emotional abuse. Now that I have left him I am starting out from scratch, as he kept control of my finances. He took a lot of items from my house as he had paid for them.

He took my son’s bed and bedroom furniture along with my bedroom furniture.

I do not wish to have contact with him, as he is long gone out of our lives, so I would like to

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replace these items myself, I just need some help as a stepping stone. I am slowly but surely trying to get my life back on track by myself.

This grant would mean I could put a bed back in my son’s room along with bedding so he no longer has to share my bed and can have him his own room again. I would also buy bedroom furniture (wardrobes) so that we could store our clothes properly. I am currently using the floor to store our clothes.

This grant would be the bridge I need to get control back of my life. I am in a much better place now, I am just struggling with the cost of making my son’s room a happy place for him again.”

Thanks to the generosity of you, our donors, we were delighted to help Sophie and Adam with the cost of some new furniture.

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We caught up with Sophie recently and she sent us a photo of Adam’s new room.

Although she wanted to remain anonymous because of her ex-partner, she was happy for us to share the photo with you. Thank you so much from Sophie, Adam and from us for making this possible.

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The lives you’ve changed Katy’s story Katy Roberts wrote to us following her successful grant application, but this letter is really to all of you, who enable us to help people like Katy at their most difficult times. Thank you from us, and from Katy.

“I wish to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation for the recent support of your organisation, in particular the grants caseworker who dealt directly with my emails and application.”

“I had lived at my prior home, with two young children, for ten years and in April we were given sudden and unexpected noticed to move home as our landlord had decided to sell. This was a significant shock as we had only just signed a new 12-month contract in February! I had no idea that section 21, no fault evictions, were possible and to say that the news was devastating was a complete understatement.”

“I had recently gone through a divorce which left me significantly in debt, I thought the new contract was reassurance that I would be secure in my home for another year, I was mistaken.

When we received the news that we had two months to move I was extremely worried - I needed to find somewhere that I could afford, keep my boys in their current school and still commute to work. Financially, I did not have sufficient funds saved to cover moving, a deposit and a first month’s rent up front - we very much live payday-to-payday.”

“After contacting your organisation to explore the options for support, I was told that there 8

was a five to six week turnaround time. Initially this was not a problem. However, the move came around faster as we had the opportunity to leave earlier if we found somewhere suitable, which we did. It was an extremely stressful time because the housing market is moving so quickly at the moment, properties were being listed and lettings agreed on the same day. I contacted the grants team and they were able to expediate the turnaround time for my application. I was overjoyed that we were offered support for the deposit and removal costs. I had managed to scrape together money for the month’s rent up front but I did not have the rest of the funds myself, so to say that your organisation offered me a lifeline is complete reality.”

“You were amazing in helping us, organising the funds to be paid promptly and were incredibly reassuring, I cannot offer more sincere thanks for this.”

“Throughout the move I had to work full-time, I am a primary teacher and I contractually only get one day off to move home. This was such a stressful time for me but knowing we had financial support from yourselves took away one stress and made moving a possibility. Without your help we may well be homeless at this point.”

“We have moved to a lovely, modern apartment.

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My children are happy, settled and able to continue at their primary school and attending their normal Cubs/Beavers groups. I have been able to continue at work throughout and had the reassurance that money was not going to prevent us finding a new home.”

myself in a more fortunate financial position, I will certainly try to donate to your organisation so that someone else may benefit from the support you offer.”

“I am sincerely grateful for the support of your organisation and wanted to express my thanks to all who made the support possible. If I ever find

Kind regards,

“Thank you all so very, very much.

Katy Roberts”

Katy’s boys were very happy to see the size of their new lounge!

Our financial grants are available to all current and former education staff in financial crisis. Don’t struggle alone – find out if we can help you by visiting educationsupport.org.uk/grants

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The lives you’ve changed Alan’s story Welsh primary headteacher Alan was about to leave teaching after more than 20 years in the profession.

He was very disillusioned and couldn’t see himself ever returning to the classroom, after a period of severe stress and sick leave.

Thanks to your support, he found the light at the end of the tunnel.

“I have been a teacher for 24 years and a deputy head then head for the past 18. Apart from breaking my leg I have never taken any time off work. Then in August 2017 I had to go on sick leave due to severe stress. We’d had an Estyn inspection that didn’t go very well and then the roof blew off the building in a storm. It all culminated in me feeling such severe stress that I was forced to prioritise my health over my career.”

“I knew if I returned I couldn’t be a head teacher.

But I wasn’t sure I could ever return to the chalk face and began talks with my union for a redundancy package.”

“My income took a significant drop and my financial situation became desperate. Then someone in my union mentioned Education Support. I got in touch with their grants team.

This was really challenging for me as I have always been able to support myself and my family. I have a wife who works in hospitality and our two children - a girl aged 11 and a boy aged 10.

“Fortunately the process was painless. I found the grants caseworker very pleasant and easy to talk to. He totally understood my situation.”

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“Now the financial burden has been temporarily removed it’s given me some space to think about the future. I felt like I’d been treated very badly by my school after previously making so many sacrifices for it.”

“Now I see there is light at the end of the tunnel and I’ve gone back as a supply teacher. Asking for help was something completely out of my comfort zone. I should’ve realised sooner that work was having a negative effect on my health.”

“I feel I am coming out of it now. The darkest days are over. At one time I didn’t ever see myself being involved in the education sector again, but know I know it’s where I want to be.

I’ve had some fantastic times as a teacher and I’m glad I can still make a contribution.”

“I’m so very grateful to Education Support.

It’s very humbling to find out that other people are willing to help. I had seen my GP and a counsellor but they’re always extremely busy and don’t have as much time for you as you need. The emotional support from Education Support really helped.”

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“I wish when I’d been a head teacher helping out stressed teachers that I’d known about Education Support as I would’ve definitely told them to get in touch. I’m so glad it exists for teachers and all education staff. It really made

all the difference to my life and my family’s at a time when I just couldn’t see a way out.

Thank you for supporting them so that they were there for me and my family.”

Our financial grants are available to all current and former education staff in financial crisis. Don’t struggle alone – find out if we can help you by visiting educationsupport.org.uk/grants 11

Your voice The influence of a good teacher Cyrilla’s story We were so moved by Cyrilla’s story, we wanted to share it with you. It illustrates how important the role of a teacher is in our lives and how they really do shape our view of ourselves and influence our future.

“I spent most of my school days feeling – and being – a complete nobody and an utter failure at everything. I could read fluently aged three and when I went to school at just over four they gave me books with three words on a page. I hated playing in the sand and water and wanted to do ‘work’. Something in me shut down and my school career after that was a disaster. I was a massive underachiever.”

“The first teacher who meant anything to me was Mrs Townsend. She read us the beginning of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, then said, ‘If you want to find out what happens next, you’re going to have to get the book and read it for yourselves.’ She was the first person that told my mum I would make a good teacher.”

“The second was Mrs Pollon – my English teacher in what is now Y13. English was the only subject that I was OK at. We had a dreadful teacher for the first year of sixth form and I think we all failed the endof-year exams. After she left, Mrs Pollon arrived.

She was unlike anyone I’d met before. For the first time, I felt a real enthusiasm for the subject.”

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“Because I couldn’t think of anything else to do, and because two teachers had said I’d make a good teacher, I went to teacher training college. I never passed a single maths test and didn’t even take the ‘O’ Level because I had zero hope! When I went for the college interview they made me take a maths test which – surprise, surprise - I failed. But I was then interviewed by the Dean, a lovely lady called Hilda Tall. I remember liking her immediately – and I can only think that she saw something in me – because they overlooked the maths and offered me a place.”

“My early teaching practices were a disaster because I knew nothing and just wanted to hide in a corner. I gradually realised I had to try to grow a personality from somewhere. That was another shock – to discover that I not only had a personality, but that it was a very strong and humorous one, and that I had the ability to connect deeply with the children. I ended up being one of 20 (out of 200) who got a distinction for their final teaching practice. Unbelievable!”

“I’d been teaching for two years when I fell into the job of Music Co-ordinator. I played the piano badly and had grown up with the unshakeable belief that I wasn’t at all musical. My Head – very keen on music herself and, again, someone who saw something in me - sent me on a Kodály course, and my whole world started to change. Here was an amazing way, not only to teach music, but to learn it myself in a way that completely made sense.”

“I worked the rest of my school career as a music specialist. I trained wonderful choirs who won festivals and who sang at The Royal Albert Hall, Festival Hall and the Fairfield Halls. In December 2021 I left the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where I had taught 4-11 year olds for 34 years. I so miss the children.”

“In my career I’ve taught many high profile students.

I achieved my Advanced Kodály Musicianship Diploma with a high distinction and was asked to start teaching adult beginners. I have taught musicianship, conducting and methodology to adults since 1991. I was a tutor, trustee, course designer, course administrator, course marker, newsletter editor and wore many more hats at the British Kodály Academy for many years. I’m the co-author of the Jolly Music scheme for primary schools. I’ve written many articles for magazines and journals. I’ve run courses for adults all over the world.”

“I now manage a group of passionate music educators (we all have strong feelings about education in general and are gearing up for a revolution against the current education system and all the damage it does) called The Phoenix Collective. We run online courses for adults – mostly, but not exclusively, teachers.”

“Although I’ve just had my ‘state pension’ birthday, my passion remains undimmed and I shall carry on doing it until they carry me out feet first! I am passionate about the development of the individual; helping people discover who they truly are; letting people develop in their own time and in their own way; the power of kindness and empathy; relating to every single person who comes before me (regardless of their age) as the diverse and unique human being that they are; developing selfconfidence and self-esteem.”

“When I left Guildhall, a colleague wrote this about me: ‘There is nothing that goes unnoticed by Cyrilla in

the Junior Guildhall programme. She knows the place inside out and the place has got a special connection to her. This connection is magical. What is her magic? Her magic is that she listens. She listens to each and every child, she listens to their answers, their singing, their opinion, their questions.

She feels their moods, can almost read their minds.

Her listening makes her the best teacher ever.

Everybody will progress in her class, nobody goes unnoticed, nobody is left behind. She is smart, witty, funny and empathetic. Everything you learn from her will be ingrained in your mind forever. Good luck to Cyrilla with her new projects, with her new direction. We will keep up the good work with all she taught and showed us and with her great ‘Jolly Music’ legacy.’

“Gulp! It just goes to show how we can all change each other’s lives. And how important it is to have people in life who can see your potential and help you develop it. I am still gobsmacked by what I have achieved, given my ‘I’m nothing and a nobody’ start.”

“If it hadn’t been for my first head seeing *something* in me, and sending me on that first Kodály course, my life would have been so different.

And if I hadn’t worked for the best Head ever – John Statton, I’m eternally grateful to you – who just let me be, who let me teach whatever I wanted, who gave me the space to discover what worked with the children and what didn’t – I couldn’t have written Jolly Music and I would never have really understood the whole learning process.”

“I’m afraid I hate the education system with a passion! It was never perfect, but now it is truly horrendous – my heart breaks when I see the damage that is being done to children, parents and teachers. It’s time we started to let people be.

It’s time we stopped relying on extrinsic motivators.

It’s time we trusted people to be able to develop in their own time and in their own way. It’s time we had a radical rethink about what is REALLY important in this oh-so-short time that we have on this little planet. And it really is time that the little boy stood up and shouted, “But the emperor isn’t wearing any clothes!”

“All the very best. Cyrilla Rowsell” www.phoenixcpd.co.uk

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The lives you’ve changed Kirstey’s story Kirstey has been teaching for twelve years and has been a headteacher for seven. When Covid hit, Kirstey recognised the impact that running a school during the pandemic was having on all aspects of her life. She took part in our peer support sessions with headteachers across the country to get support.

“I’m from an ex-mining village and I left school at 16. I had a decent job but people didn’t expect me to suddenly change it and get into teaching.

My dad died when I was 21. I asked myself then, ‘what am I doing and where am I going with my life?’. With life and other work experience behind me, I decided to become a teacher. I wanted, and still want, to make a difference every day.

I don’t think there’s another job like it - where you get to be a part of something so important and see the changes and the difference you and your school can make to a child. Don’t get me wrong, it’s very challenging and it’s definitely a vocation – but it’s so rewarding.”

“I’d been a headteacher of almost five years when Covid hit, but nothing could prepare you for that. It hasn’t been easy or enjoyable at all; in fact it’s been incredibly tough. I just had to remember that so much of what was happening was out of my hands – and get on with the bits I could have an impact on.”

“I’d already done some work with Education Support before. We’d had a restructure so we wanted to make sure staff were supported through that, and I’d been part of a local peer support group with other heads. The offer I was sent this time round was different; it was a

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national peer support group for headteachers, during the pandemic. I thought this was brilliant.”

“It was so useful to see how other people were tackling things and to learn new strategies for dealing with the challenges we were facing; it was so reassuring to realise that we were all in the same boat.”

“Talking things through with people I didn’t know, in a different part of the country, worked really well. For me, this made it easier to be honest and say how I was really feeling. Having a facilitator was amazing - he gave us a focus, drew us together and really helped to make us think. He also took the time to speak with us all before the group sessions started which meant you joined the first session feeling comfortable.

We talked about the challenges we were facing, and the things we were learning or changing too.”

“As a headteacher, the buck stops with you.

You need to think about everyone in your school’s wellbeing and that often comes first.

But we need to look after ourselves too, or we’re no good to anyone.”

“I’ve used some of the practical exercises with my senior leadership team and adopted some

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of the strategies we talked about for self care.

We spent time talking about things like the importance of sleep and exercise and I’m actively doing more and trying to model good wellbeing behaviour for other staff to see and follow. It helped me realise how important planning for self care and wellbeing is; it won’t happen if we don’t do it deliberately and making sure we have a good work life balance and spending time with family is a priority.”

“I would happily have attended more sessions and continued in my group; they were excellent and it all worked really well. I would absolutely recommend taking part in sessions like these if you get the chance.”

To find out more about our peer support sessions, please visit educationsupport.org. uk/leaders

Are you a headteacher or deputy head in England or Wales? Would you like access to services focussed on improving mental health and wellbeing?

Please visit educationsupport.org.uk/leaders for further information

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Fabulous Fundraisers: Making Strides Against Stress in schools!

We know that stress - the feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure, is particularly high amongst those working in education settings. In fact, our 2021 Teacher Wellbeing Index showed that 82% of teachers and education staff described themselves as stressed.

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Exercise reduces stress hormones (like cortisol) while increasing endorphins, giving you a natural boost. Research has shown that gentle repetitive exercise, such as walking, running or cycling are good stress relievers.

That’s why we decided to launch Strides Against Stress in 2021 - aimed at getting people moving with the challenge of 30 miles throughout the month of April, all in aid of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our nation’s hard-working education staff.

Strides has been running for two years now, and we’ve had hundreds of amazing fundraisers clock up the miles while raising awareness of mental health and wellbeing in the education sector. One superstar supporter – Dawn – used the challenge to motivate herself to get fit, boost her own wellbeing and switch up her morning commute to school…

“I became the acting headteacher of my wonderful school at the start of the pandemic.

It was going through a period of significant challenge and change and so was I! “A year later, after being appointed as headteacher, the challenges kept on coming but my resilience levels were seriously depleted from facing the relentless challenge of change leadership in the midst of a pandemic. I tried to dig deeper

but it grew harder to find a way through.

I stopped cycling because I felt so tired.

I began to doubt whether I was the right person for the job. I was close to burningout. I signed up for Education Support’s peer support programme which made me realise how much I had neglected my own mental wellbeing, and the realisation that I had stopped proactively doing the things that helped me keep myself well.”

“I saw Strides Against Stress on Twitter and immediately signed up for it. Initially, I saw this as an opportunity to raise funds for the organisation that had helped me, but it gave me a much-needed challenge to motivate me as I worked towards increasing my own health and wellbeing.”

“The fabulous staff, families and governors at my school all supported my fundraising.

This increased awareness of the important work of Education Support across my school community and communicated a strong message about the benefits of exercise for mental health as well as physical health.”

“I’m proud to say I exceeded my fundraising target and achieved my personal goal of 150 miles in April 2022. Since completing the challenge, I’ve continued cycling to school each day and I continue to cycle at weekends to keep healthy for myself, my family and my school community. And I’m still the headteacher of my wonderful school!”

Fancy joining in the fun?

Strides Against Stress will return next year, with the challenge taking place in April to coincide with Stress Awareness Month.

We encourage any kind of stride – walk the dog, a ramble with the [grand]kids, hit the saddle, pogostick down the street….the possibilities are endless!

Help us to raise funds to support our essential mental health and wellbeing services, and give your own wellbeing a boost next spring!

For further information, or you’d like to sign up for updates when we release news of the event, below or send an email to strides@fundraising.org.uk, and we’ll be in touch soon!

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Taking care of your own wellbeing often means finding a helpful diversion and having a bit of fun.

Which is why we always include a quiz for you.

Good luck!

Break-time 1. Which year did Mark Zuckerberg invent Facebook?

2. What is the term for a positive electrode?

3. Which is the 3rd largest of the Channel Islands?

4. How many Kings of England have been called Phillip?

5. How many dots are used in each letter in the Braille system?

6. Which movie won the Oscar for best actor, director and cinematography in 2016?

10. Who provided Nick Wilde’s voice in the 2016 movie Zootopia?

11. In which Puccini opera does Mimi appear?

12. How is 77 represented in Roman numerals?

13. Who is the patron saint of music?

14. What type of creature is a Pacific sea wasp?

15. Kiss Me Kate is a musical version of which play

by Shakespeare?

7. Which female-named hurricane devastated New Orleans in 2005?

8. Where on a horse is the coffin joint?

9. Who is Reg Dwight better known as?

Click here for answers 18

Let us know how you did or make a suggestion for the next issue by emailing us at magazine@edsupport.org.uk

We know you already support us. But if you’d like to and feel able to send a gift, thank you so much. We promise to put it to good use as always. £25 could help fund a place to sleep An increasing number of education staff apply for a grant because they’re facing the threat of losing their home. Some even spend nights sleeping in a car. Your donation could make sure they have a bed for the night.

More than half of the grants we awarded last year were to people facing a housing crisis.

£50 could help someone at risk of suicide Every day, two people calling our helpline are assessed to be at risk of suicide. Your donation could make sure we’re there to answer those desperate calls.

Our dedicated 24/7 helpline team handles more than 9,000 conversations every year.

£150 could provide household essentials Many teachers or people working in education come to us when they can’t afford to replace or fix essential items in the home during times of financial struggle. Your gift could replace a vital kitchen appliance or even a bed to make life easier for them and their family.

In the past three years, we have awarded more than £90,000 in grants to replace or repair essential household goods.

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