Hardship Funding

What is the Hardship Fund?

 The Hardship Fund is a discretionary source of financial help available to all families. The aim of the Fund is to help families who have difficulties in paying for: 

1. Curriculum trips, visits and year group residentials;

2. Uniform, shoes, or coats; 

3. Food;

4. Energy Bills;

5. Essential home appliances or beds (washing machines, ovens, fridges, tumble dryers)

The following examples cannot be supported by the Hardship Fund:

Repayment of loans

Bankruptcy fees

Holidays

Funeral expenses

Medical equipment

Computer equipment

Unspecified costs

Payments from the fund are discretionary and if awarded do not need to be repaid. 

The School will consider requests for hardship funding from the following groups of children: 

Children in receipt of free school meals; 

Children in families with very low incomes; 

Children with disabilities; 

Children who are or have been in care. 

Your child/ren may be eligible for grants from the hardship fund if: 

A household income of below £25,000; 

A student whose parents are currently claiming other means-tested benefits including Income Support, Working Tax Credit/ Child Tax Credit, Income Based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), who is not entitled to free school meals; 

At the discretion of the Headteacher, any family who does not fall under the categories listed above but consider themselves to be in financial hardship. 

Please note that proof of benefit is required if not already registered for Free School Meals or eligible for Pupil Premium.  Proof of benefit must have been issued within the last six months.

How to apply to the Hardships Fund

An application should be made through the Pastoral lead. The forms can be found on the school website which you are able to print and complete discretely, or you are able to email the school’s Pastoral lead, Mrs Jones via familiy@st-james.dudley.sch.uk.  The application will remain confidential and will be considered by the Pastoral lead and the Headteacher. If approved by the Headteacher, the application will be passed to the Finance Officer for processing. 

A family may be able to apply for hardship support at any time during the academic year. It may also be possible to apply more than once, but usually only where circumstances have not changed.  Families cannot appeal a decision not to award a hardship grant as the Headteacher’s decision is final.