NEU Trust Fund | National Education Union

What is the NEU Trust Fund?

The NEU Trust Fund Limited gives confidential support and financial assistance. The Fund is there to assist members in times of illness or hardship. It can provide assistance to current members, former members and their dependants.

How can I help?

By donating £5 a year through your NEU subscription. Please tick the box on your NEU application or renewal form to donate to the Trust Fund to help us to support members in need. Alternatively, contact the membership team on 0345 811 8111 or [email protected].

Who is eligible to apply?

The Trust Fund can support current and former members of the NEU (and its legacy organisations) and their dependents (living in the household). Student members are not eligible to apply. Applicants should usually have been in full paying membership for at least 6 months.

How do you apply to the NEU Trust Fund?

Members as well as former members and dependents can apply by

• downloading an application form or

• emailing the Trust Fund at [email protected] and requesting an application form or

• writing to us at

The NEU Trust Fund, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD

and a copy can be posted to you.

What is the process for awarding grants?

An application form must be completed and bank statements for all accounts held by anyone who contributes to the running of the household submitted before a grant can be considered. Grants cannot be approved either by phone or without the trustees carefully considering a request for financial assistance. The application form and bank statements are checked for details of income/expenditure/savings/employment details/ household dependents and non-dependents.

What types of financial assistance can the Trust Fund provide?

Support is normally available when the household income (this is from all who contribute to the running of the household) is less than essential household expenditure. This may be due to an increase in general living expenses arising through illness, loss of employment, or relationship breakdowns. Savings will also be taken into consideration.

Awards can be

A one-off payment
- disability equipment,
- repairs and adaptations,
- white and brown goods replacements,
- vehicle adaptations or repairs,
- personal expenses (travels to hospital for frequent appointments as an example),
- short term respite care
- Book grants for dependent in full time or part time FE/HE
- Etc
Support can also be a monthly contribution towards household expenses because of the difficulties you are experiencing, this will be for a fixed period of time.
There may also be support for funeral expenses to supplement any Government funding.

Other sources of charitable support

In the event that your application to the Trust Fund is unsuccessful or you need further support, there are other charitable organisations that may, where applicable, be able to help:

Provides grants to education staff in financial difficulties. Examples include:

Council tax.

Mortgage payments.

Rent payments.

Payments for food.

Client group primarily consists of people who have formerly held occupations requiring a degree of responsibility and education, including Teachers in Higher, Further, Secondary, Primary, Nursery and Special Needs Education; Senior Administrators and Inspectors of Educational Establishments, Vocational and Industrial Trainers.

Applicants must be of British or Irish nationality, or residents of the United Kingdom or Ireland.

Can help people whose former careers have been interrupted or ended through circumstances beyond their control, such as through physical or mental illness, redundancy, family breakdown, or struggling with low income during retirement.

If you’ve worked or have retired from working in a school, a nursery or in any other education role with under 19’s for five years or more then Teaching Staff Trust is there for you. Their payments are to support you when something you couldn’t have anticipated happens. Among the people they’ve supported are nursery workers, teaching assistants and learning support staff, teachers, lunchtime supervisors, caretakers and school administrators.