The UPCA Welfare Fund provides financial support to eligible UPCA members experiencing unexpected financial hardship.
UPCA is a not-for-profit membership association. Each year, a proportion of its surplus budget is set aside to support members who experience unforeseen financial difficulties that may affect their ability to continue their training or professional practice.
The fund is intended to help members facing an unexpected change in circumstances. It is not intended to top up course fees or cover training costs and associated expenses that should have been budgeted for before commencing training.
Important: Please read before applying
The UPCA Welfare Fund offers a one-off payment. Members may only receive financial support from the fund once.The maximum award is £500.
All applications are considered individually and are assessed against the Welfare Fund criteria.
Who can apply?
The UPCA Welfare Fund is available to the following members:
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Trainee Members: Members, normally in years 3 and 4 of a UPCA-approved course, who are experiencing unexpected financial hardship that may prevent them from completing their training.
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Clinical Members: UPCA Clinical Members experiencing unexpected financial hardship that affects their financial circumstances or professional practice.
Examples of unexpected financial hardship may include an unplanned change in circumstances due to ill-health, a family emergency or an involuntary reduction in income.
Applicants should explain their individual circumstances and how the financial hardship has affected, or is likely to affect, their ability to continue their training or professional practice.
What can the Welfare Fund help with?
The fund may contribute towards essential costs where unexpected financial hardship would otherwise make it difficult for a member to continue their training or meet their financial obligations.
The fund is not intended to cover routine course fees or other foreseeable training costs that should have been planned for before starting a course.
The maximum amount that may be awarded is £500. Applicants should request the minimum amount of funding they need and provide a breakdown of the costs involved.
All applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, and an award is not guaranteed.
How do I apply?
To apply, please download and complete the UPCA Welfare Fund Application Form and email it to administration@upca.org.uk, together with any supporting information requested.
Your application should include:
- A supporting statement explaining why you are applying and what has caused the unexpected change in your financial circumstances.
- A breakdown of the amount requested, including any unexpected additional expenses that are affecting your ability to complete your course or meet your financial obligations.
- Details of the impact of the hardship, including anything else you would like the committee to consider.
- Course leader details: Trainees and students applying for support are expected to have discussed their circumstances with their course leader. Please provide the course leader’s email address.
Please state the minimum amount of funding you require, up to a maximum of £500.
How are applications assessed?
Applications are considered as quickly as possible by the UPCA Welfare Fund Committee. Each application is assessed individually against the fund’s criteria.
If your application is successful, the UPCA administrator will contact you to request the bank details needed to transfer the award. Where an award is made as a bursary, the course leader will also be informed.
Confidentiality and data protection
Applications will be viewed by the UPCA administrator and the UPCA Welfare Fund Committee so that they can be assessed and processed. UPCA’s accountant or auditor may also request access to an application to verify payments made from the fund.
UPCA handles applications confidentially and processes personal information in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). Records of applications will be stored securely on the applicant’s file held by UPCA.
If you would like to discuss your circumstances before applying, please contact the UPCA Membership Team.