Our charity is perhaps best known for the emotional support helpline that provides people working in education with 24/7 access to fully qualified counsellors. But we also support those in education who need immediate financial help. The demand for the latter service is soaring.
Our financial grants service awards small grants for people working in education who need immediate assistance. The service holds up a disquieting mirror to how people working in schools, no matter their job role, have been touched by the same uncertainty and precariousness that they’re helping children and young people navigate.
We’ve seen a 60 per cent rise in applications for financial support compared to last year. Previously, housing costs were the top reason for applying. Now we’re seeing more and more people in need of money for the weekly food shop or petrol to get to work.
Teachers need financial support
We’re also hearing from more people affected by domestic violence and abuse, and relationship breakdowns, which can have dire consequences for families’ financial and emotional stability.
A job in education used to mean a certain level of status and financial stability, but for those raising a family on a single income after a relationship breakdown, or young people trying to make a start on their own, this is no longer a guarantee.
We have seen classroom teachers, supply teachers, teaching assistants and even headteachers approach us in anguish to ask for help to pay for food, energy bills or white goods that they can’t afford to repair.
Everyone is feeling the financial pinch and that makes it difficult to appeal to colleagues working in education for their support. But the sad fact is that we cannot keep up with the demand for our services.
We have temporarily reduced the maximum amount we can award, in order to help more people working in education. We have redirected funds from other sources, but this isn’t sustainable in the long term.
Support needed
We have just made the difficult decision to pause all new grant applications for August, to try to manage our capacity to support over the whole financial year.
The need is overwhelming, and unfortunately, our donor base is dwindling just as demand for our services is at an all-time high.
I know that not everyone in the sector is able to help. But if you are in a position to support your colleagues working in education, there has never been a better moment to set up a regular donation. By giving a regular gift to Education Support, you can help us to remain a steadfast source of support for teachers, support staff and school leaders long into the future.
I know it’s hard for everyone in the sector, so I do not ask lightly, but I hope that for some of you donating to this cause is a possibility you’ll consider.
Sinéad Mc Brearty is CEO of Education Support
