More teachers and education professionals turned to the Teacher Support Network Group for assistance between April and June than during the same time last year, the charity has reported.

Statistics from their second quarterly report of 2008 show that the Group experienced 26,569 interactions with users during the three-month period, compared to 22,817 the same time last year and 23,032 between January and March 2008.

Figures published today also reveal that the credit crunch is still having a widespread effect on those working within the sector, with money, grant and loan enquiries making up 26 per cent of the calls they received. Headteachers specifically are also feeling the financial strain, with money representing an increasingly likely cause for them to contact the charity.

The report also details how Newly Qualified Teachers are contacting the charity over career issues and describes a visit from the government's National Director for Health and Work, Dame Carol Black, to the charity's Contact Centre.

The Teacher Support Network Group incorporates its English services, Teacher Support Cymru, Teacher Support Scotland and the College and University Support Network.

Teacher Support Network Group Chief Executive Patrick Nash said: "The increase in use of our services reflects both the complex difficulties experienced by teachers and an increased awareness of our services.

"The credit crunch in particular continues to cause difficulties for a high number of education professionals. Through expert money advice and our provision of grants and loans to those in need of financial support, our charities are on hand to help more and more people working in education during these increasingly difficult times."