Eligibility
The Staff Hardship Fund supports CareTech Holdings Limited staff (including those engaged via the company such as foster carers, teachers, etc) (including current staff and those who have recently left for reasons of ill health/sickness) who find themselves in significant financial hardship or at serious risk of becoming in significant financial hardship.
The aim is always to resolve the applicant’s predicament within the limits of the maximum award (£1500). Trustees must satisfy themselves that any award would make a long-term positive impact on the individual’s hardship.
As the funds used are for charitable purposes only, we are required to collect some information that may be considered sensitive. Please speak to a member of staff for a confidential conversation if you are unable to provide any of this information and we will advise you accordingly.
Level of support that can be provided
The Staff Hardship Fund will normally provide financial support to eligible applicants up to a maximum of £1500 (or the equivalent in your home currency). Applicants may make a maximum of one application per calendar year; in the event that the Fund is over-subscribed, preference will be given to those who have not previously received support through the Fund.
Other Options
Before applying to the Hardship Fund, individuals must have considered other options and where appropriate made use of other available support as well as sought support from their company and/or CareTech Holdings Limited.
Examples of when the Staff Hardship Fund could help
The Staff Hardship Fund is a discretionary fund and the independent trustees of the Foundation have the final decision as to who may receive a payment.
Below are examples of the type of situations that could give rise to financial needs that may be eligible for funding from the Hardship Fund. These are intended as a guide and are not exhaustive:
- A staff member with a serious/terminal illness who is unable to work for a long period of time resulting in financial difficulties. For example, a staff member is diagnosed with cancer and is not receiving sick pay or any other financial benefits and needs additional funds to support themselves and their family.
- Travel expenses which are unaffordable to visit a seriously ill family member in the United Kingdom. For example, a staff member’s child is receiving cancer treatment at a hospital and has considerable distance to travel to the hospital and the family are finding it hard to cover the costs for travel expenses and accommodation whilst also paying for the normal day to day living expenses.
- A staff member’s home is damaged due to a natural disaster (such as floods/fire) or unforeseen circumstances and is struggling to meet uninsured costs of establishing or re-establishing a habitable and safe residence. For example, due to local floods, a staff member has no home, clothes, food etc. and is unable or struggling to afford to buy replacement items or cover the cost of temporary accommodation.
- A staff member or family member dies leaving the family struggling to pay the total cost of the funeral.
- A staff member is in significant debt and unable to pay their mortgage or rent. So long as the individual has contacted their mortgage provider or landlord to review their monthly payments and considered all other ways they can be supported, the Foundation can provide one-off support to prevent the individual becoming homeless.
Exclusions
The list of exclusions below is used as a guide of what the Hardship Fund cannot be used for and is not intended to be comprehensive. Funding from the Hardship Fund will not be available for things such as:
- Luxury items or expenses (e.g. family holidays)
- Routine living expenses
- Reduced income due to a variance in your scheduled hours
- Other personal debts such as income tax, child support, credit and debit card, tuition etc
- Loss of or damage to your personal property that does not impact your safety, housing and ability to meet your monthly expenses
- Financial assistance that you are not obligated to repay
- Elective services (e.g. cosmetic procedures, fertility treatments)
- Payment of traffic or other related fines
- Private medical treatment
- Veterinary bills
- Debt management.
Please Note – Grants made for Staff Hardship are for charitable purposes only, they are not a replacement for funds owed to the individual by CareTech Holdings Limited.
For staff members applying from CareTech Holdings Limited sites outside of the UK, kindly note that whilst the application form will provide an opportunity to apply for a grant in your home currency, grants will always be awarded in Pound sterling. Due to this, please expect to see some small fluctuation in the level of grant that you receive in your home currencies. The Foundation team will be in touch to guide you through the procedures once the application has been received.
