Welfare

UNISON Welfare is UNISON’s registered charity, offering a confidential service of advice and support exclusively for UNISON members and their families:

  • Debt Advice
  • Listening and support
  • Financial assistance
  • Breaks and holidays
  • Personal advice

As a branch we are working on ideas for activities to help and support local branch members and their families. More details will be forthcoming soon.

If you need help or advice, please contact the branch welfare rep, branch secretary or your local rep in confidence, or use the links to the right to get more information.

How Does UNISON Welfare Operate?

At branch level there is either a designated Welfare Officer, or the Branch Secretary may handle the enquiries.

At Regional level there is a committee of lay members, with the regional staff providing a dedicated back-up role.

The team or committe can authorise expenditure to help those in need where this is outside of the remite of the National Welfare Organisation. An example could be the provision of a limited number of Christmas gifts.

Applications for assistance in cash or in kind are initially processed at a local branch level before UNISON Welface case workers make an assessment of need using a set criteria that must conform to the Charity Commissioner’s Regulations. Feedback on all decisions is received by the Welfare Committee on a quarterly basis.

Who Can Apply for Family Holidays?

Any member who is in need of financial assistance and whose family might benefit from a holiday through the wellbeing breaks project.

To be eligible for a grant the following criteria applies:

  • The family must not have had a family holiday in the last four years
  • They must be on low income and/or in receipt of State benefits
  • In the case of an only child, they must be at least three years of age at the time of the holiday
  • The family are in a real need of a break and experiencing difficulties or distress

Click here to read more about wellbeing breaks

Part and fully funded holiday to Croyde Bay, UNISON’s holiday village in Devon, can also be available. Croyde Bay is owned and operated by UNISON, and all members get a 10% discount.

The centre also run a ‘Holidays for All’ scheme that means hundreds of holidays every years are available at a 50% discount for low-paid UNISON members. This is separate to and different from the wellbeing breaks project.

Click here to read more about Croyde Bay

Debt Advice

Members and their dependants who are expering debt problems can get free, confidential and impartial debt advice.

More information about welfare at financial assistance can be found on the UNISON national website.