27,000 interactions in charity’s first three years; grants awarded almost triple since summer 2008
College and University Support Network (CUSN) has supported staff in colleges and universities over 27,000 times over the last three years, figured released today show.
The charity, which aims to improve and enhance the wellbeing of all those working in adult, further and higher education, is celebrating its third birthday this week.
Support is provided via a range of formats, including their 24 hour Support Line, Online Support, such as email coaching, and the InfoCentre, which provides over 700 factsheets of advice and information via their website.
Figures from the charity's Termly Report show that whilst issues around health and wellbeing have remained the most common reason for people to get in touch, over three years CUSN has provided support on an ever-broadening range of issues.
The recession has ensured that financial assistance has become a more significant area of CUSN's work, with the charity awarding almost three times as many grants between May and August 2009 compared to the same period last year (up from £7,898 to £21,970).
Issues over working conditions, such as wide-spread problems with workload, now represent 14 per cent of enquiries, up from six per cent in spring 2008.
Problems with people and relationships, including the sinister spectre of bullying that blights far too many institutions, are now greater, representing 22 per cent of enquires compared to 11 per cent in summer 2008.
College and University Support Network Chief Executive, Julian Stanley, said: "We are very satisfied to have been able to provide assistance to so many people since the charity's launch. Through a diverse range of services staffed by trained advisors and counsellors and complementing the support offered by their union, we have been able to help thousands of staff members improve their working and personal lives.
"Nevertheless such a high demand for CUSN's services demonstrates the high level of need for support for those working in adult, further and higher education. Those who contact us tell us they are rarely alone in their institutions in experiencing difficulties. We hope that over the next three years we will be able to help even more college and university staff members overcome their problems and push the importance of wellbeing higher up the agenda within education."
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: "CUSN has provided three years' valuable support and advice for dedicated professionals and should be congratulated. Working in our universities and colleges can be stressful at times and it is vital that staff know they have UCU and CUSN to turn to if things do get too much."
For the College and University Support Network Press Office, contact Joe Williams on 02076 972 762, 07825 511 927 or joe.williams@teachersupport.info
Notes to Editors:
1. The College and University Support Network (CUSN) is a charity formed by the Teacher Support Network Group and the University and College Union (UCU) to improve the wellbeing of all staff members working adult, further and higher education.
2. CUSN's website is available at www.cusn.info
3. CUSN provides telephone and online services which offer both preventative and reactive support. Through coaching, counselling, information, money advice and financial support, the charity helps tens of thousands of teachers tackle personal and work-related issues each year.
4. Teacher Support Network is a group of charities dedicated to improving the wellbeing and effectiveness of training, serving and retired teachers and other education professionals.
5. UCU is the largest trade union and professional association for academics, lecturers, trainers, researchers and academic-related staff working in further and higher education throughout the UK.
6. The Group's Termly Report can be viewed here: http://teachersupport.info/qr/index.php
7. The Press Office at the College and University Support Network can provide journalists:
- Quotations, reaction and opinion on a broad-range of educational subjects from our Chief Executive, Julian Stanley. These will be based on regular contact with education professionals across the United Kingdom, detailed surveys and in depth research.
- Feature articles, opinion pieces and advice for publication.
- Data on issues effecting teachers generated from thousands of calls and emails to our Support Line and email coaching and advice services.
- Data and analysis from regularly-held surveys on issues affecting education professionals.
- Anonymous case studies from educational professionals detailing real-life situations, powerfully demonstrating how issues are affecting them.
- In some situations, education professionals willing to talk to the press directly, on a named or unnamed basis, about their experiences.
