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What funding assistance is available?

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There are a variety of funding assistance opportunities available, including vouchers, tax credit, and salary sacrifice schemes. You can find out more about these by contacting the relevant service.


Child Tax Credit

Financial Assistance: Working Tax Credit (including childcare element)
Provider: HM Revenue & Customs
0345 300 3900
hmrc.gov.uk
gov.uk/contact-student-finance-england


Tax Free Childcare

Tax Free Childcare is a government–backed scheme which helps parents with the cost of childcare. The scheme, which launched in April 2017, gives eligible families the opportunity to get up to £500 every 3 months (£2,000 a year) for each child to help with the cost of childcare.

If you are eligible for Tax-Free Childcare, the government will pay £2 for every £8 you pay your childcare provider via an online account.

Please visit the website – www.childcarechoices.gov.uk for further information and to apply.


Universal Funding

Early Years Funding is available in Sunderland for all children the term after their third birthday, until they go to school. The funding is for a maximum of 15 hours per week of free education. This is claimed by the childcare provider on your behalf and then deducted from your childcare fees.

30 hours funded places may be available for working parents. Please visit the childcare choices website for further information on eligibility at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk


Salary Sacrifice Scheme (University of Sunderland staff)

The scheme allows you to pay your childcare fees directly from your gross salary, before tax and national insurance deductions. For further information about this scheme, please contact:

Department: Human Resources
Business: University of Sunderland
Telephone: 0191 515 2468


Student Finance England

Financial Assistance: Childcare Grant
Eligible full-time home students can receive up to 85% of their registered childcare costs. Please see more information about the Childcare Grant on the gov.uk website.

0300 100 0607


University of Sunderland Student Financial Guidance Team

Financial Assistance: Information and Guidance on student finance matters 
Provider: University of Sunderland – Student Financial Guidance Team, Student Journey
The team can give you guidance on any aspect of finance while you are a student, including eligibility to UK Student Finance grants and loans, state benefits for those who remain eligible, and help in accessing other funding such as the University’s Student Support Fund

You can contact the team on 0191 515 2284 or  studentfinancialguidance@sunderland.ac.uk.


Families Information Service

Provider: Families Information Service
Telephone: 0191 520 5505
Website address: www.familiesinfoservice.com

Published: 16 December 2022