For this blog post Paul Riley, our media and comms organiser for UNISON Northern sat down, albeit through a camera, with Maria Alberts. Branch Secretary of Gateshead Healthcare Branch to talk about one of the fantastic benefits UNISON offers to members – the welfare charity, There for you.
PR: Hi Maria, thank you taking time out of your day to speak to me today.
MA: You’re welcome.
PR: So, we are here to talk about UNISON welfare and there for you, but first can you tell us about what got you involved in UNISON?
MA: I got involved in UNISON when a colleague in a previous job was not being treated very well. I felt I needed to support them, so I offered support and some advice to the member of staff. There was a UNISON rep around at the time, who noticed, and they asked me if I wanted to get involved and that’s it.
PR: When you became involved in UNISON what was it that made you want to get involved in there for you?
MA: Because I like helping members, I could see the struggles that members were having. If you’ve got a member who is down on their luck with no idea what’s around the corner, to be able to help that member is phenomenal. I have since became the Chair of the Regional Welfare Committee too, UNISON Welfare is a big part of my role in UNISON.
PR: I can understand where you’re coming from about helping UNISON members, before I started working for UNISON, I was a welfare officer my old branch and it was heart breaking seeing members coming to UNISON with real financial pressure and was so good that UNISON was able to help them.
PR: On that could you give us an overview on what There for you offers to members.
MA: Relationship breakups, if someone has had to leave their home and has nothing, sometime suffering domestic abuse we might be able to offer them grants to help get them on their feet. Bereavement is another thing we could help with, such as funeral costs. Long term illness with wellbeing breaks. Household appliances, we see people whose fridge has broken down and they can’t afford to replace it. It’s all means tested of course but there is so much we can look at to try and help.
We also offer general financial advice, debt advice, benefits advice there are tools to help with budgeting too. I think a lot people don’t realise just how much There for you offers.
PR There are also the time limited grants too, such as school uniform grants, winter fuel grants and of course the COVID response fund.
MA: That’s needed more now we’ve seen so many business going bust, it only takes one person to lose their job and it just throws that whole household into despair.
PR: What would you say are the biggest reasons people are accessing there for you now?
MA: COVID is probably the biggest reason, lots of our members have had seen their household income reduced and are struggling to pay everyday bills. There are still people who are so embarrassed to come forward and I have to say to them, you’re paying for a service, that what you pay your subs for it’s a safety blanket when you need that help.
PR: There can be a hesitancy when reaching out for financial support but we both know that when anyone reaches out it’s treated in the strictest of confidence and it’s very much about what they want to do. It’s one of the many benefits of being a UNISON member so never worry about getting in touch if they need support.
PR: If someone does want to ask for support from there for you, what’s the best way for them to get in touch?
MA: Members can either go direct to the welfare team based in our national office, to the branch or speak to the branch welfare officer but if they would rather not speak to the branch, they can speak to our national welfare team.
PR: If it’s one of the short-term grants such as the winter fuel grant, which launches at the end of the month, it’s usually a form or applying online isn’t it?
MA: Yes, it is and often I’ll help members with the form when they apply, it is just between the member and it is all confidential.
PR: If someone wants to become a Welfare officer what would you say to them?
MA: Oh yes of course, I would defiantly say, put yourself forward, become a welfare officer. It has its pros and cons but there is a lot of good and it is very rewarding when you’ve helped someone. As a trade union we are very lucky to have such a good service for members and I can’t stress that enough, it is a safety blanket for members.
PR: There is the fundraising part of there for you too, branches can take part in the that?
MA: Yes, branches should register for the lottery to help raise money, our branch has won, and we were able to put some money back into there for you and the rest was used on our members.
PR: With it being a registered charity, anyone can do other fundraising, runs, walks etc it’s all done through Just Giving I believe, it’s well worth helping the charity.
MA: It absolutely is, and I’m sure branches would be more than happy to support any fundraising.
PR: Okay Maria that’s it, thanks again for your time
MA No problem, thanks Paul