The Career Support Fund (CSF) is a short-term fund that is designed to support employees whose careers have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It also incorporates the Returning Carers Scheme (RCS) for this academic year (2022-23). The RCS supports employees who have taken at least a 3-month career break due to caring responsibilities or have been working part-time or reduced hours because of caring responsibilities (equivalent to three months or more).
The CSF will be accessible to all employees who can evidence that their career has been or is being disrupted as a direct result of the pandemic, or due to a career break for caring responsibilities under the terms of the RCS. Funding through the CSF can be used to mitigate past adverse impact or potential anticipated future adverse career impact. Grants may be awarded of up to £10,000 to support award holders with their career development.
The CSF is open to all employees of the University.
Applicants will be required to evidence one or more of the following in the application form:
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OR meet the current eligibility criteria under the terms of the Returning Carers Scheme:
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In ALL cases:
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The disruption may have a meaningful adverse career impact over the longer-term without additional support from the University. ‘Meaningful adverse career impact’ may include:
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Please note that the scheme is not a general hardship fund. For information about University support available in this regard please see the Employee Welfare Loan Scheme.
Priority will be given to those who have not received any other mitigation support.
Examples of potential spend include (but not exhaustive):
- training or professional development
- conference attendance (including online) to enable applicants to re-establish their research/career profile
- short-term research support, for example to generate preliminary data to support research grant applications
- small scale critical equipment purchases for research purposes
- IT equipment including ergonomic equipment where not covered by the University’s homeworking expenses policy
The CSF cannot be used to fund the following:
- personal tuition of child dependants
- IT equipment to support home schooling
- partner or legal guardian's salary costs for child dependants
- direct childcare or elder care costs
- books/toys or similar for child dependants
- financial aid
- food and food delivery costs
- WiFi packages
- complementary and alternative therapies
- to request an extension of one’s own contract of employment
- costs associated with hotel quarantine
For examples of potential spend linked to the RCS please visit Returning Carers Scheme.
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Launch |
Deadline |
Outcome |
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25 May 2023 |
14 July 2023 |
September 2023 |
| Click here for the Career Support Fund application form |
The Head of Institution (or nominated deputy) will be required to sign the application to confirm that the application is in line with the aims of the Scheme, that the items requested are of personal benefit to the member of staff, that there is no other source of funding and (if relevant) that there will be no adverse effect on colleagues.
The application form is divided into six sections:
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Section A |
Contact details, job title and Institution |
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Section B |
Reasons support is required and contextual information to support the application. |
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Section C |
Detailed financial breakdown of the support required |
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Section D |
Head of Department / Institution (or nominated Deputy’s) Signature. |
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Section E |
Equality data that will be used for monitoring and reporting purposes only. |
Information provided will be used to assess the application against the eligibility criteria. Applicants are therefore advised to ensure that all relevant information is included. The level of personal information requested is to enable the Panel to target support to those with the greatest need. It is not obligatory to provide this information but doing so will strengthen the application.
Once the application has been submitted, an acknowledgment e-mail will be sent to the applicant.
In the first instance, all applications will be reviewed and eligibility verified by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Section. Applications up to £2,500 will be assessed by the Lead HR Business Partner, Equality Diversity and Inclusion Section and the Deputy Director of HR. Applications that are deemed complex or requests for large sums (in excess of £2,500) will be referred to the CSF Panel for assessment.
Applications for funding will be overseen by a Panel chaired by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for University Community and Engagement. If there are more eligible requests than there is available funding, priority will be given based on the severity of past adverse impact of the disruption and the severity of potential anticipated future adverse career impact.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible after the application deadline. Successful applicants will be informed of the funding amount, when funds will be released and advised on next steps.
Ordinarily it is expected that one award will be made to an individual. However, exceptionally, due to changing circumstances, if sufficiently new disadvantage satisfying the purpose and criteria of the scheme can be demonstrated, a new application from a previous or current award holder may be made.
Applicants of successful award holders are expected to immediately inform the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Section if they receive additional funding or other financial support that reduces or eliminates their need for support from this scheme.
If you have a question please contact career_support_fund@admin.cam.ac.uk.