We offer financial support when something you couldn’t have anticipated happens and it causes financial hardship. If this is you and you’ve worked in any role in the education of under 19s in the UK for at least five years, we may be able to help.
Ready to apply? Use the Apply Now button below to go to Lightning Reach and complete your online application.
Got questions? Read the guidance below and get in touch.
Use the Apply Online button to complete your application online through our trusted partner Lightning or get in touch if you need help to complete the application. Ring on 01322 293822 or email enquiries@teachingstafftrust.org.uk.
You will need to provide proof of your eligible employment (P60s, payslips, contracts or a letter from school that span at least 5 years) and financial position (use Open Banking to connect your bank accounts). It’s important that you tell us what has happened to you and why you need financial support.
We also ask for evidence of your current circumstances to show what has happened in the last 12 months e.g. fit note, hospital letter, benefits notification, housing notices, court letters, correspondence with support worker, bills, invoices, quotations etc.
These documents should be uploaded securely to Lightning Reach. If you use OPen Banking and consent to an ID check through Lightning Reach we can process your application more quickly. If you don’t have online banking please supply your most recent monthly statement for all accounts in your household by uploading clear PDFs. We cannot accept screenshots of online or mobile banking.
We cannot assess your application until you provide your documents.
If you apply online and submit your application we’ll review it within five working days and contact you.
We will process your application. This means checking that you are eligible, looking at both your circumstances and your financial situation and then considering whether we can support you in the way you’ve asked. We may need to ask you for further information – please respond as quickly as possible a so that we can make a decision for you.
Once we have everything we will usually be able to let you know our decision within two weeks.
We will usually arrange for our payment to go directly to a supplier or service provider. We do make payments direct to applicants when it’s appropriate and we ask you to provide receipts for the goods or services supplied.
Our grants are intended to relieve the impact of something you couldn’t have expected to happen. We offer one-offer packages of financial support customised to your individual circumstances. The decision of the grants committee is final.
We usually do not accept repeat applications unless there has been a serious change or deterioration in circumstances. This is entirely at the Trustees’ discretion.
