OTHER TEA BREAK PAGES: Wales | Scotland

This November, we’re inviting you to be part of the Great Teachers’ Tea Break, in aid of Teacher Support Network.

Teaching can be tough – and it’s often difficult to find time in a busy school day to take a breather or catch up with colleagues. But we all need a break. So take a few moments this November to put your feet up, unwind and spend some time together.

It’s easy to take part. Just invite your colleagues to join you for tea and cakes and ask them for a £2 donation (or more, if they are feeling generous!) Every penny raised will help fund our vital support services for teachers. So, put the kettle on!

How can I get involved?
It’s really easy to get involved. Simply complete the registration form that will come up in a new window here, then set a date for your tea break!

Next, download our materials to promote your event and make sure it is a success.

DOWNLOADS: Tea Break Poster | Making it a success list | Relax & De-stress guide | Fundraising ideas | Gift-Aid Form | Fundraising collection box | Wheel of Wellbeing sheet (to be used with this survey)

How can I make our donations worth more?
Gift Aid it! You can increase the value of your donations by encouraging your colleagues to add their details to the gift aid form. All UK tax payers can use Gift Aid to increase the value of every £1 they donate by 25p – this won’t cost them a penny, as the extra 25p is donated by the Government. Once the form is completed, just return this to us, along with your donations.

Download and print this poster and include your tea break details in the space provided.

Where do I send the money?
Please send a cheque for the total amount to 40A Drayton Park, London, N5 1EW. All cheques should be made payable to Teacher Support Network. Alternatively, you can donate online, using your credit or debit card. Please remember to post your Gift Aid form too!

How your money will help
Teacher Support Network relies on individuals like yourself to fund our support services. We offer free and confidential advice to teachers, those that have left the profession and their family. This support is given through our factsheets at www.teachersupport.info, through online counselling, our 24/7 phone line - 08000 562 561 – and our financial grants.

Our services give vital help and support to teachers. But don’t just take our word for it...

This is the story of a 50 year old Maths teacher…
“I guess my job has always involved a lot of work but since about 2000 it’s rocketed. I’ve been Head of Department for 20-odd years, but the last few there just seems more and more to be done: implementing this, staying late for that. Even marking seems more arduous and time-consuming.

“I’d been soldiering on as much as possible. It was getting me down though. I had less time with my family just before my son went off to uni. I was feeling a bigger distance between the colleagues in the Maths Department and me.

“I started off on your website and found some ‘factsheets’ that were of real use to me. I started looking at the way I was spending time and how much I was getting done at particular times; lunch breaks for example compared with late at night. Eventually I spoke to the Support Line. I got on really well with the adviser and he was massively helpful. I went through the things I was trying to change and he talked me through more details. He also said that I needed to talk to my head about my workload so I could concentrate more on the Department and my own pupils. “Things are much better now. To use your phrase I’ve got a better ‘balance’ in my life now. It means a lot to me to be able to spend more ‘quality’ time with my family and I feel much more effective at work too.”

If you would like more information about the work of The Teacher Support Network please click here.

Attached file(s):
• Relax & De-stress
• Making it a success
• Fundraising ideas
• Gift-Aid Form
• Donation box
• TSN Tea Break Poster