WELCOME TO NUH-UNISON'S BRANCH WELFARE PAGE

My name is Bob Young and I am the Branch Welfare Officer for the Nottingham University Hospitals Branch of UNISON and I would like to welcome you to the branch's UNISON Welfare web page.

UNISON Welfare is a registered charity (No 1023552) that offers a unique confidential service offering advice and support exclusively for UNISON members and their families on a wide range of issues including:

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

BREAKS AND HOLIDAYS
WELLBEING BREAKS
We are aware of the pressures on UNISON members and the many obstacles to achieving a happy and healthy work life balance. Our well being breaks can provide welcome relief from the stresses of daily life and the space and time to reflect away from difficult or depressing circumstances.

We can help with all or part of the costs of a break depending on your financial situation.

The wellbeing breaks include:

• Family holidays and outings
• 'Get Well' breaks
• Breaks in other special circumstances e.g. for carers and following bereavement

The breaks are delivered in partnership with the Family Holiday Association, a national charity that specialises in providing holidays for families in need. For example, they can arrange a stay in self-catering accommodation in a chalet or caravan at selected UK holiday centres. UNISON’s award winning Croyde Bay Holiday Village in Devon is a popular destination with members. Alternatively, you can organise accommodation of your own choosing in the UK.


FAMILY HOLIDAYS
They are designed to provide a holiday for members and their families who are experiencing difficult circumstances and who have not had a holiday for at least four years.

Although the holidays are normally for one week we recognise that family circumstances sometimes mean a shorter break of three or four nights is preferred. We can also help with day trips or leisure outings.

GET WELL BREAKS
Our get well breaks are designed to support any members with or without children, or their dependants, who are recovering from illness (including stress), accident or an operation and who are not in need of nursing care.

We recognise that ill health can sometimes impact on the whole family and that there will be occasions when it will be beneficial for the person who is ill and the whole family to get away together.

The service is flexible depending on your needs with a choice of accommodation such as hotels and guest houses or traditional convalescent facilities and shorter breaks.


OTHER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
We can provide respite breaks for carers with day to day responsibility for a disabled dependant and breaks following bereavement of a partner or dependant child. Breaks are also available for those with a terminal illness.

This is only a summary of the information available. Please refer to the wellbeing breaks application form and accompanying guidance notes (See Below) before making your application.

APPLICATION FORMS AND GUIDANCE NOTES

Full Colour Wellbeing Breaks Application Form and Guidance Notes.
Printer-Friendly Application Form.
Printer-Friendly Guidance Notes.

UNISON WELFARE DEBTLINE AND ONLINE DEBTCLINIC

Many people fall into debt at some point in their lives. Sometimes all it takes is a small change in circumstances to tip the balance and turn a manageable situation into a debt problem.

At UNISON Welfare we are used to helping members who are struggling to cope with the stress and worry of debt. Through our partners at Payplan we can provide you with free and confidential advice to help clear your debts.

With Payplan's debt management plan you get:

• Reduction of multiple debts to a single payment
• Choice of payment methods including PayPoint cash option
• An assigned case officer to call for advice throughout the repayment programme
• Supported self-help if you prefer
• A completely free service with no hidden charges

Payplan's debt management plan is paid for by the credit industry so every penny of your repayments goes towards your debts unlike some debt management companies who charge a fee.

This is just one of the ways they can help and you will be offered a solution that best meets your individual circumstances.

Payplan's advisers are aware of the types of grant that UNISON Welfare can offer and will refer you to us if they think we can help to ease your situation.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Applying for financial help

If you, or a colleague you know, is in need and you think we might be able to help with a grant, please contact your branch welfare officer or branch secretary in the first instance, however please see below:

Your application will be reviewed by a caseworker at National Office who will make a recommendation. Part of the form is for your UNISON branch to complete but, if you are unable to make contact with them or for personal reasons do not wish to involve them, you may send the form direct to UNISON Welfare. Applications are normally processed within two weeks on receipt at national office if all the necessary information has been provided. In exceptional cases we can reach a decision more quickly.

If you are experiencing difficulty in getting hold of your branch welfare officer or branch you can contact us directly for an application form at national office Email welfare@unison.co.uk or Tel: 020 7551 1620

There is no guarantee that financial help will be offered as grants are subject to our criteria and charitable objectives being met but every year hundreds of UNISON members and their families benefit in this way.

CONTACT DETAILS & LINKS

Contact Bob Young the Branch Welfare Officer for confidential advice, information, or an informal chat on:

ALL CORRESPONDENCE AND CONVERSATIONS WILL BE TREATED WITH THE UTMOST DISCRETION AND IN THE STRICTEST OF CONFIDENCE.

Or alternatively if I am unavailable you can telephone the UNISON Welfare Debtline on:

UNISON Welfare Debtclinic, the online version of our debt advice service, contains advice and debt information and outlines some of the main debt problems. There are also diagnostic tools to help you set up the best recovery plan for your particular problem. Like UNISON Welfare Debtline the service is completely free to UNISON members: