Hi All

Warwick does have  Conference Support Awards (primarily for child care costs associated with conference attendance, but does not exclude other caring responsibilities).  Awards are small (up to £100) per person per conference/workshop/training event and are to help with extra child/caring costs associated with attendance at conferences.  This fund has been established in recognition that conference attendance by academics is important both for individuals and for the wider Warwick community, yet it invariably involves an extra burden of child-care for those with young children or other caring responsibilities.

The fund is administered by the Athena SWAN Network Group.  Although the actual pot of money is small £2K per year, staff are using it and are appreciative of the assistance.    A very brief report is requested to indicate as to whether the money actually made a difference to the applicant and whether there are any future funding applications that can be ascribed to it. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the available money is used up.

Claiming the money

Our understanding from the HMRC guidance is that childcare costs can be reimbursed tax and NI-free if they are connected with 'work-related training'. This is defined as any training course or other activity which is designed to impart, instil, improve or reinforce any knowledge, skills or personal qualities which are, or are likely to prove, useful to the employee when performing his/her duties or will better qualify the employee to undertake the employment. As one would presume that the University would only support anyone attending a conference that was intended to impart, instil, improve knowledge etc. we conclude conference attendance qualifies as work-related training.

Claims are made through the normal expenses claim form, with appropriate receipts proving that the expenditure had been incurred re the conference).

Hope this is useful.

Sandra

Sandra Beaufoy
HR Adviser - Equality and Diversity
Human Resources
University of Warwick
University House
Coventry
CV4 8UW
Tel: 024 76 574479
Email: [log in to unmask]

       

-----Original Message-----
From: HEEON equal opportunities list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Trudy Coe
Sent: 16 April 2013 08:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Payment of child/adult care costs for conferences/visits

Dear all,

We have looked at this in the context of Athena - and have shelved it for now. There seemed to us to be two problems:

a) for it not to be discriminatory, you would have to offer it to all staff, for all types of care - so the cost became prohibitive in our case 

b) if the university pays the cost this would be deemed by HMRC to be a taxable benefit and would have to be reimbursed via payroll. (If the cost is paid by an external funder direct to the individual or their child care provider, there is no taxable benefit).

Best,

Trudy 


-----Original Message-----
From: HEEON equal opportunities list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Anne Mwangi
Sent: 15 April 2013 17:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Payment of child/adult care costs for conferences/visits

Dear Christine,
We explored this issue as part of work on our Gender Equality Scheme a few years ago. We did not come to a resolution apart from research grants applications including this component. 

Regards
Anne 

Anne 

Anne Mwangi
Equality and Diversity Advisor
University of Hull
Cottingham Road
Hull HU6 7RX
telephone 01482 466333
Internal Ext 6333 


-----Original Message-----
From: HEEON equal opportunities list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Christine Nightingale
Sent: 09 April 2013 11:49
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Payment of child/adult care costs for conferences/visits

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

A question came up at our Athena Swan group this week about the payment of child/adult care costs for academics attending conferences or research related visits which require extended or overnight stays.

 

Does anyone currently do this?  Or has it been considered within your institution? I would be grateful for sight of any policy documents or guidance that you have on the payment of such expenses.  

 

Best wishes,

Christine.

 

Dr Christine Nightingale

Head of Equality and Diversity, POD

 

DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY

T: +44 (0) 116 250 6436

E: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> 

W: dmu.ac.uk

 

 

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