Who We Help & How

We help a wide range of professions in the education sector

From the classroom to the dinner hall, our grants reach the people who keep education running.

Teachers

Lunch Supervisors

Nursery Workers

Teaching Assistants

Retired School Workers

Can I apply?

If you have worked in the education of children and young people under 19 in the UK for at least five years, and are facing financial hardship because of an unexpected life event, you are eligible to apply.
Eligible roles include teacher, teaching assistant, early years' practitioner, administrator, receptionist, management, HR, facilities and pastoral care.
You can apply whether you are currently working, retired, unemployed or have moved into a different career.
The five years of employment do not need to be continuous.
You must have experienced an unexpected change in circumstances that has caused financial difficulty within the last 12 months.

When might we be able to help?

Something unexpected must have happened in the last 12 months, for example:

Bereavement
Serious illness or injury
Mental health crisis or worsening mental health condition
Sudden loss of income
Relationship breakdown or domestic abuse
Loss of home or significant change in living circumstances
Bankruptcy recommended by a specialist adviser

What we fund

We provide one-off grants designed to help people through a tough time. This can include:

Household essentials such as food, toiletries, cleaning products and utility bills
Housing costs including rent, mortgage and council tax to prevent homelessness
Essential household items such as furniture, white goods, bedding and clothing
Essential home repairs and specialist-recommended adaptations
Essential transport costs for health, mobility, education or employment
Funeral expenses
Bankruptcy fees if recommended by a specialist adviser
Costs for things not available on the NHS but essential to health or recovery
Essential costs related to terminal illness

What we don't fund

Credit card debts, payday loans, personal loans, overdrafts or interest charges
Loans from family or friends
Legal fees or representation
Visa or immigration costs
House purchases
Non-essential home improvements
Car purchases
Private medical treatment (except in limited circumstances)
Fertility treatment
Fines or legal penalties
Private education, education or training fees
Business costs, ongoing payments or reimbursement for items already purchased

Financial eligibility

Household income should generally be below the UK Minimum Income Standard, or it should be clear that an unexpected loss of income has created an unmanageable deficit budget.
Household capital — savings and assets excluding your home — must be below £6,000.
Applicants should have explored benefits, allowances and other statutory support available to them.
TST looks at household income when assessing applications and needs to see full household income and expenditure declared and evidenced through Open Banking or bank statements.

Why was my application declined?

A grant may be declined for the following reasons; however, this is not an exhaustive list:

You have received a grant from us before
You cannot satisfactorily prove five years' employment in education
There is no evidence of an unexpected event that has caused financial hardship within the last 12 months
Your non-priority debts are significant, and you have not sought debt advice
You fail to disclose a source of income such as an earned income or an occupational pension
You withhold details of a bank account, in yours or your partner's name
You have money, savings and/or investments of over £6,000
There is evidence of gambling or significant non-essential expenditure
You do not disclose all occupants in the household
You have asked for help with something we do not fund (e.g. legal fees, credit card help)
We cannot prove your identity or there are irregularities in your application
We consider that an applicant is deliberately using false information to attempt to defraud the charity

TST assesses all applications received; however, we reserve the right to decline an application. Our grant funds are limited, and grants are awarded at the charity's discretion. The decision of the Trustees is final.

Ready to apply?

If you're not sure whether you qualify, just ask. We respond to every application within two working days.

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