There for You (UNISON Welfare)

There for You, formerly UNISON Welfare, is the charitable arm of the UNISON trade union, with roots spanning nearly 120 years, governed by volunteer trustees from the union's executive and welfare officers. Its core mission is to alleviate poverty and personal hardship among UNISON members and their financial dependents facing crises like redundancy, illness, bereavement, disability, or domestic abuse. Emphasizing dignity, empowerment, confidentiality, and resilience, it provides holistic support beyond grants—including loans, budgeting advice, debt referrals, foodbank links, and wellbeing breaks—to foster self-sufficiency and access to statutory benefits.

The fund prioritizes direct relief through one-off grants for essentials like household items, utility bills, urgent repairs, disability aids, funeral costs, hospital travel, and priority debts, alongside special schemes such as winter fuel allowances, school uniform grants (£75 per child), and Seasonal Food Fund vouchers (£30 per person). It targets low-income working families, women (84% of recent applicants), and those in sudden hardship, with a focus on mental health, in-work poverty, and caring responsibilities across public sector occupations.

Eligibility is exclusive to current UNISON members (minimum four weeks' paid membership) or dependents/partners of deceased members, with no geographic restrictions across the UK; organizations and non-members are ineligible. Applications are unsolicited via downloadable form emailed or posted with supporting documents (bank statements, payslips, bills), accepted on a rolling basis for general aid (acknowledged in 5 days, prioritized by urgency), while special schemes open briefly (e.g., 24 hours) with set dates published online. Typical grants range £100-£500, rarely repeated or substantial.

Distinctively union-embedded with rapid, member-focused responses via branch networks, it avoids dependency through responsible grant-making, excludes capital/organizational costs, and promotes fundraising via lotteries and awareness campaigns.