Covid-19 (Coronavirus) notice

The Teaching Staff Trust is trying to work normally through this period. If you are facing financial difficulties you can download and complete our application form from this website or you can complete a contact form and we will forward one to you as soon as we can. We won’t be answering the phone but you can leave a message which we’ll pick up and try to respond to you. You can email us at enquiries@teachingstafftrust.org.uk and we’ll reply as quickly as we can.

We do understand what a difficult time this is going to be for everyone and you might find that some of the following will give you advice and information that you need:

www.gov.uk/find-local-council - this website will help you to get in touch with your local council if you have immediate food, money or housing issues.

If you’re struggling with anxiety at the moment please look at www.anxietyuk.org.uk/ who have produced a useful guide - www.anxietyuk.org.uk/coronanxiety-support-resources/.

You can find out more about symptoms and advice about covid 19 at www.gov.uk/coronavirus and www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.

MIND have put together a helpful webpage with advice about self isolation - www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/.

ACAS have produced information for employers and employees which you might find helpful - www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus.

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Our History

TST took over from SGBI and merged with SOSS to become the charity it is today.  These were two charities who had assisted educators in financial difficulties for more than 200 years. Read about our history in the timeline below.

 

1797

The Society of Schoolmasters is founded by a group of influential schoolmasters to provide life assurance for its members and to set up a benevolent fund for those in poverty

1843

The Reverend David Laing - along with fellow philanthropists - sets up the Governesses' Benevolent Institution (GBI) for the 'assistance of governesses in illness, distress and old age'

1848

GBI founds Queen's College in Harley Street, London to provide education toward qualifications for governesses

1872

GBI establishes Queen Mary House for retired governesses at Chislehurst

1952

The Governesses' Benevolent Institution Act receives Royal Assent

1967

The Act is amended and the organisation is renamed the Schoolmistresses' and Governesses' Benevolent Institution

2015

Queen Mary house closes and SGBI moves to North West Kent

2017

SGBI transfers assets and charitable role to the Teaching Staff Trust (TST) which can make grants to a much wider range of people who work or have worked in education

2018

SOSS (founded in 1797 and the oldest charity of its kind in the country) merges with TST and transfers its assets and role to TST which is using them to increase the financial support it offers