Support your household's wellbeing with a grant designed to promote your health and happiness.

In addition to our wellbeing support, if you are eligible, you may receive one wellbeing grant per calendar year per household. 

Please take a look at our range of wellbeing grants below. We can only consider one category per application per calendar year (e.g., holiday or gym membership).

Many of these are available without means-testing or providing detailed financial information. We ask that you tell us about any savings you have over £16,000 if you are a property owner, or £200,000 if you do not have a property.

Holidays

We recognise the need for clergy and their families to spend quality time outside the parish for rest and quality time with family. Retirees, separated spouses/civil partners and widow(er)s are also welcome to apply.

Depending on your household composition, we can provide grants towards the cost of an annual holiday up to a maximum of £2,000.

For adults, up to £500, as part of a family holiday

  • Spouse, parent or carers over the age of 25
  • Adult children (18-25) with long-term health and/or care needs
  • Adult children (25+) with long-term health and/or care needs

For single adults, including single parents, up to £750 due to single supplements.

For children, up to £300, as part of a family holiday

  • Children under 18 years old
  • Adult children aged 18-25 (in full-time education, not including post-graduate Masters or PhDs)

For families or individuals with long-term health and/or care needs, we can consider holiday costs up to £3,000 as suitable holidays cost more. This will usually apply if you are in receipt of ill-health state benefits.

If you would prefer to say at home and enjoy family days out, we can provide a grant of £1,000.

 

Holiday documentation

Please provide with your application quotes/estimates for:

  • Accommodation
  • Travel
  • Days out
  • When you intend to go and details of immediate family members within your party
  • Your verification document(s)

Notes

  • You are responsible for making travel insurance arrangements
  • We can't fund a holiday which you have already taken
  • If your holiday is above the maximum we can support, we will ensure that you are able to fund the difference as we cannot fund trips that may incur debts

Retreats

Grants are available towards the cost of a wellbeing or spiritual retreat for clergy (stipendiary or self-supporting) and retired clergy. We can also help couples and families to take a retreat together.

As a family, for adults, up to £500 per adult

  • Spouses, partners and carers over the age of 25
  • Adult children (18-25) who have chronic health and/or care needs
  • Adult children (25+) who have chronic health and/or care needs

As a family, for children, up to £300 per child

  • Children under 18 years old
  • Adult children in full-time education (not including post-graduate Masters or PhDs)

On your own, up to £750 per adult for single applicants, parents and those wishing to retreat alone.

For families or individuals with chronic health and/or care needs, we can consider retreat costs up to the maximum £2,000, as suitable retreats may cost more.

If you are a permanent wheelchair user, and/or require a carer to accompany a family member on holiday, please consider applying under ‘respite breaks’. We appreciate that such breaks can result in additional costs in finding suitable disabled facilities. If you are eligible to apply under ‘respite breaks’, we can consider funding up to £3,000.

 

Retreat documentation

Please provide with your application quotes/estimates for:

  • Accommodation
  • Travel
  • Days out
  • When you intend to go and details of immediate family members within your party
  • Your verification document(s)

Notes

  • You are responsible for making travel insurance arrangements
  • If your retreat is above the maximum we can support, we will ensure that you are able to fund the difference as we cannot fund trips that may incur debts
  • Where possible, please apply before booking your retreat, but we do understand some retreats may be required in urgent circumstances. Please apply within 3 months of taking the retreat.

Respite breaks

Specifically for carers and their families with high-level care needs in the household to:

  • Have a break from day-to-day routines
  • A chance to enjoy new experiences and meet new people
  • Time to rest and recharge batteries
  • Improve your health and wellbeing
  • Have a holiday experience but with extra care/nursing facilities available

These grants are available for single households, couples or larger families. We will consider the associated costs of a break, depending on your needs, with maximum grants available up to £3,000.

Respite breaks can be any of the following:

Please consider contacting your local authority to enquire about funding for respite care for either the carer or the person being cared for. Carers should have an NHS carer’s assessment and the cared for should have an NHS needs assessment.

For those who are unable to physically leave home for an extended period of time, our carer's support under Wellbeing support may be more suitable.

 

Respite breaks documentation

Please provide with your application:

  • A quote for your preferred break and any associated care costs, eg. accommodation, travel, days out and insurance
  • Your verification document(s)

Note We would generally expect the applicant/carer to be in receipt of disability/carers benefits (eg. DLA/PIP/ESA, Carer's Allowance or Carer's element of Universal Credit). However, we are able to consider families who may not qualify for such benefits where there is strong evidence of health or care needs.

Sabbaticals

We welcome applications for funding to support a sabbatical, up to £1,000. Do please include details of how you wish to spend your sabbatical in your application. To discuss your circumstances in confidence please contact the grants team by email on grants@clergysupport.org.uk

Please apply in advance of your planned sabbatical (eg itinerary - including dates, quotes and estimated costs for accommodation, travel and sustenance. We cannot consider supporting a sabbatical if you have already completed it.

For applicants with chronic health and/or care needs, we can consider sabbatical costs up to £2,000.

 

Sabbaticals documentation

Please provide with your application:

You may also want to consider:

Fitness and leisure activities

Exercise and social interaction can help to promote physical health, overall mood, boost immunity, help with sleep and general wellbeing.

We can help with funding activities which promote health, increase social interaction (hobbies) and reduce isolation, up to £1,000 per year.

For example:

  • Bikes
  • Exercise classes
  • Gym memberships (or digital fitness subscriptions)
  • Home gym equipment
  • Evening classes
  • Weight-loss groups

We are unable to consider funding if you have already committed to join a membership or purchased the equipment.

 

Fitness and leisure activities documentation

Please provide with your application:

First baby grant

If you are expecting your first child, including adoption, you may apply for a grant of £1,000 towards the costs.

We would ask you please include a copy of the child’s birth or adoption certificate, within 12 months of their birth or adoption.

Alternatively, you can apply in advance of the birth with supporting evidence in the form of a MAT B1 certificate signed by a registered doctor or midwife.

 

First baby documentation

Please provide with your application:

  • Copy of the child’s birth or adoption certificate, within 12 months of their birth or adoption OR MAT B1 certificate
  • Your verification document(s)

Education and skills courses

Skills-based training course

Former clergy, current and former spouses/partners, widow(er)s of clergy can choose to attend a skills-based training course that helps to expand future employment prospects. This is for courses where the costs are paid up-front and no student finance is available.

We may also consider funding initial set-up costs towards equipment for a non-ordained spouse/partner to start a new business.

Tuition fees for children

We may be able to help with extra tuition fees for children (18 or under) who may be struggling with their education.

 

Educations and skills courses documentation

Please provide with your application:

Note: Education and skills grants are not available to those who have left ministry to pursue another career path.

Before you apply

To progress any application, we need the support document(s) listed above in the category type above and your verification document(s). Without these, we can't reach a decision.

The video shows you how to successfully:

  • register on the application system
  • take screenshots (Mac, PC, Phones and Tablets)
  • get a copy of your stipend that isn't blank
  • attach supporting documents to your application

Applying and Screenshots

How to apply

Please ensure that you apply for one support category per application and provide the requested documents.

Please contact a member of the grants team to discuss your situation in confidence before you make an application.

Also, please check that you are eligible for a wellbeing grant:

Check your eligibility

Apply

You may also find the questions and guidance helpful.