Educational Institute of Scotland Benevolent Funds

They fund emergency grants for day-to-day living costs, including urgent payments to prevent utility disconnection, rent arrears, eviction, salary arrestment, or homelessness. Support also covers basic household necessities during prolonged sick leave or family crises, and can be repeated for long-term illness or for the families of deceased members. The focus is on individual hardship arising from unexpected illness, long-term health problems, bereavement, sudden income loss, or detrimental financial changes. All support is for individuals in Scotland connected to the education sector.

Applications are open to current and former members of the Educational Institute of Scotland, including retired teachers and lecturers. Dependants such as widows, widowers, and families of members are also eligible. The fund is designed for individuals facing financial hardship due to health crises, bereavement, or income shocks. It is not available to organisations or for project-based work. Applicants must be based in Scotland and have a connection to the education profession through EIS membership.

The funds do not support projects, organisational costs, capital grants, or non-emergency needs. Their assistance is exclusively for individual hardship relief, not for programmatic or communal initiatives. They are not a general welfare fund but a targeted safety net for educators in crisis.

They provide rapid-response, needs-led grants, offering both one-off emergency payments and repeated support for ongoing crises such as long-term illness. The fund works confidentially and welcomes unsolicited applications from eligible individuals. Support is tailored to each person's circumstances, with a focus on dignified intervention.