Childcare assistance during Coronavirus Pandemic

Childcare assistance during Coronavirus Pandemic

The University has established a Special Hardship Fund which can assist students who are facing financial hardship as a result of having to continue to pay all or part of their CHILDCARE COSTS during the Coronavirus pandemic. 

If you are having to pay full fees, partial fees or retainers from 1 April 2020 to your childcare provider during this period of closure, when your child/children are not attending their regular childcare facility, you can submit an application  for assistance.

The Eligibility Criteria for this special assistance fund are as follows:

  • You must be an active student
  • Your childcare must be Ofsted-registered and you must provide proof of your place and the cost during the closure period
  • Your childcare facility must be charging you full, partial or retainer fees from 1 April 2020 during the closure period
  •  You must provide full details of your income and expenditure (including grants/scholarships/sponsorship, income from family/friends, earnings, benefits, loans, savings or capital and University and College fees)
  • You must provide proof of any charges you have paid from 1 April 2020 via copies/screenshots of bank statements, credit card statements or bank transfer details.  If these are not currently available, you will need to send them via email to support your application as soon as you are able.

Every application will be considered on an individual basis based on the detailed information provided. 

The application rounds will take place monthly as follows: 9 May 2020 to 8 June 2020; 9 June 2020 to 8 July 2020; 9 July 2020 to 8 August 2020 and 9 August 2020 to 8 September 2020.  Should the closure period be extended beyond September 2020, then this scheme will be extended, funds permitting. 

The application form for EU and overseas students is here and the application form for home students is here.

Please email it with all relevant documentation to childcare@admin.cam.ac.uk

Please note: you must obtain your Tutor's signature before submitting your form.

Please do not send your application and documentation via the post as detailed at the foot of the Application Form due to remote working during the period of closure.

Your application and documentation will be considered after the closing date (8th of each month) and you will be contacted with a decision as soon as possible, but please bear in mind the monthly assessment process might take a couple of weeks to finalise. 

If you are awarded funds you will not be able to submit any further applications until after 1 September 2020.

If you have any queries, please email childcare@admin.cam.ac.uk