Purpose
The purpose of the Staff Association is to relieve cases of acute need, hardship or distress in staff members of LiFE Multi Academy Trust employed at its schools or within its central team, by supporting staff experiencing hardship through the evaluation of need and through a timely response to an application for a support grant.

Eligibility
We welcome applications for acute, short-term relief of financial need from current employees only of LiFE Multi Academy Trust working at any of our schools (Ashby School; Bosworth Academy; Braunstone Frith Primary Academy; Countesthorpe College; Desford Community Primary School; Dove Bank Primary School; Ibstock Community College; Ivanhoe School; Kingsway Primary School; The Winstanley School) or within the Central Team of the Trust.

What we can support
We can make one-off financial grants up to the value of £250 (dependent on need) for the short term relief of hardship. These grants do not require repayment and will not be subject to tax or
affect existing benefits in any way.

We can help with the cost of living including, but not limited to:

• Rental and/or mortgage costs

• Food costs

• Gas / Electricity costs

• Fuel costs to support employees commuting to and from work

• Costs incurred in sending your children to state schools such as transport and school uniform

What we cannot support
We are unable to support non-essential activity or expenditure, including but not limited to:

• Holidays

• Leisure fees or subscriptions

• Hobbies or sport fees

• Clothing (for adults)

General exclusions
Fundamentally the Association is set up to support the hardest hit employees with cost of living pressures. It is therefore agreed that any employee with earnings over £55,000pa (equivalent to a full time Grade 15) is automatically excluded from applying to this fund.

We would not consider repeat applications to this Association within a 12 month period, unless there has been a serious and unforeseen change or deterioration in circumstances or there is an ongoing situation that cannot be resolved readily.

People who are not employees of LiFE Multi Academy Trust either in the Central Trust team or employed at one of the schools listed above at the time of applying, are excluded from applying to this Association.

Employees who have given notice on their employment with LiFE Multi Academy Trust, or who have been given notice on their contract by LiFE Multi Academy Trust, are ineligible to apply for funds from this Association.

As you would expect, Headteachers and members of the LiFE Multi Academy Trust Executive Leadership Team are also ineligible to apply for support from this Association.

Donations

Donations to the Staff Association fund can be made via bank transfer please contact cheadley@lifemultiacademytrust.org.uk for further details.

Application process
There is an application form online, or you will be able to download this if you prefer. We can also supply application forms for the Association through the schools.

It is important that you tell us in as much detail as possible what has happened and why you need support from the Association. Please complete each part of the application form as fully as possible so that we can adequately assess each circumstance and request for support.

You will need to provide a copy of your most recent payslip to us together with an application form, to prove your identity and eligibility to apply for support from the Association.

If you are applying for support with specific bills, it would be very useful for you to provide a summary of what has happened and your latest bill. The more information that we have, the easier it will be to process your application in a timely way and to make a decision on how we can support you.

Our support is there to relieve the impact of short-term acute need and is a one-off payment. We would not usually consider repeat applications to this Association within a 12 month period, unless there has been a serious and unforeseen change or deterioration in circumstances.

Once the Association has received all the relevant information, we would hope to make a decision quickly within 2 weeks.

Application Form [Google Form] - Applications are now closed for the 22/23 academic year.  Applications will reopen in September 2023. 

Further Support

Please see below some external websites, organisations and charities that might be able to offer additional support. (LiFE Trust does not accept responsibility for content on external sites)

www.educationsupport.org.uk/get-help/help-for-you/financial-support/ – Financial grants service for teachers, teaching assistants, supply and support staff, lecturers and retired staff.

www.turn2us.org.uk – Turn2us is a national charity providing practical help to people who are struggling financially. We offer support to those of us facing financial shocks and together we challenge the systems and perceptions that cause financial insecurity.

www.teachingstafftrust.org.uk – If you’ve worked on a school, nursery or other education role with under 19 year olds for five years or more, the Teaching Staff Trust may be able to help. Among the people they’ve supported are nursery workers, teaching assistants, learning support staff, teachers, lunchtime supervisors, caretakers and school administrators.

www.gov.uk/cost-of-living

Help for Households – Get government cost of living support – The Government have listed all the support schemes available in a simple “checker”.

Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills – Citizens Advice can give help regarding grants from the Energy companies and also budget tools to support ongoing money management.

Money Saving Expert – Energy Help, Credit Cards, Flight Delays, Shopping and more

Remember, if you work term-time only, you are classed as part-time and this will affect applications. If you need help to work out what your Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) would be, please ask your Head Teacher or the Central HR Team. The more accurate the information that you give to these organisations, potentially, the more help that can be given.