Directory of Member Support Resources

Created on: 23 Apr 2020 | Last modified: 25 Feb 2021


This directory sets out the key EIS resources to advise and support members during the current lockdown caused by Covid-19.

The EIS website has a vast and increasing number of resources that support and advise teachers, lecturers and associated professionals working in Scotland.  

This directory groups resources and provides direct links to these resources. This directory also signposts some resources from other organisations that members may find useful.

EIS Resources on Teacher Contractual Matters

The EIS has negotiated collective agreements at the SNCT that provide a national baseline as to how employers respond to the Covid-19 lockdown.  

EIS Resources on Educational Matters

The EIS has engaged with national stakeholders as they developed their responses to the Covid-19 lockdown and this engagement will continue.

EIS Guidance and Support to members on Working from Home

These resources have a focus on teacher health and wellbeing, professional learning opportunities for members to access and online lesson ideas for teachers to explore.

EIS Health & Safety Advice

The following EIS resources provide advice relating to the Health & Safety aspects of members attending hubs.

EIS Advice to Members Working in Colleges, Universities and Independent Schools

The EIS has negotiated collective agreements on the Covid-19 response in colleges and universities and produced bespoke guidance for each sector.

EIS Resources on Professional Learning

The lockdown may provide some teachers with the opportunity to access online professional learning. The EIS website includes a resource with a large number of weblinks to a large variety of professional learning opportunities to develop members' skills and knowledge in relation to working from home and online teaching; https://www.eis.org.uk/Continuing-Your-Professional-Learning/EISPL

EIS Health and Wellbeing Support

The EIS website has a wide range of resources dealing with the important topic of teacher health and wellbeing;  https://www.eis.org.uk/Member-Support/HWResource. The Working from Home Resource also has extensive Health & Wellbeing resources for all members. https://www.eis.org.uk/Working-From-Home/HWB

The external bodies listed below may be of use to some members:

  • BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) - BACP is a membership organisation that sets standards for therapeutic practice. Their online directory can be used to locate a professional counsellor, who will usually charge for their services. You can email them at: bacp@bacp.co.uk
  • Breathing Space - A confidential phoneline for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16, feeling low, anxious or depressed. Contact details: 0800 83 85 87 or https://breathingspace.scot/
  • Child Bereavement UK - Child Bereavement UK supports families when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement. Tel: 0800 028 8840
  • Cruse (Scotland) – bereavement support. Tel: 0808 808 1677
  • GTCS teacher and lecturer health and wellbeing resources to support those who are home working; https://www.gtcs.org.uk/News/news/health-wellbeing.aspx
  • Mental Health Foundation – have specific advice about coronavirus, mental health in the workplace and mental health for children and young people. Link to their website here: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus
  • Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline – 24-hour support (by phone, email and web-chat - 0800 027 1234).
  • NHS website with links to information about stress; anxiety, fear and panic; low mood, sadness and depression; loneliness; mental health at work; and bereavement, amongst other things: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/
  • Rape Crisis Scotland – 0808 801 0302 (6pm–12am daily)
  • Relationships Scotland - Counselling, family mediation and child contact centres. Contact: 0345 119 2020
  • Samaritans - A confidential, non-judgemental listening service aimed at reducing distress and despair, particularly for those people experiencing suicidal thoughts. Tel: 116 123 (free to call from both landlines and mobiles)
  • SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) – improving your mental health, including information about mental health and the Equality Act 2010: https://www.samh.org.uk/about-mental-health/know-your-rights
  • Time to change - aims to ends the stigma and discrimination around mental health and has general tips on how to support someone during COVID-19. Link: https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/coronavirus
  • Young Minds – supporting the mental health of children and young people. Link here: https://youngminds.org.uk

EIS Resources for online lessons

The EIS Working at Home resource includes some online lesson ideas for teachers to explore, with a comprehensive set of resources. https://www.eis.org.uk/Working-From-Home/LockdownLearn

Additional resources for teachers and lecturers may be found at:

Supporting EIS Members that are Parents or Carers

A number of members that are currently 'Working from Home' have caring responsibilities for family members including children, and therefore have to balance their professional duties with the family commitments.

The EIS WaH Resource has some ideas for secondary teachers around supporting young people's health and wellbeing and includes a number of activities that also support the social wellbeing of families; https://www.eis.org.uk/Lockdown-Learning-Activities/HWBResources

Additional resources may be found at:

The Global Trade Union Movement Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic

 The EIS plays an active role in the trade union movement; from Educational International that deals with world governments to the STUC here in Scotland. The trade union movement as a whole is seeking to ensure that the health crisis caused by COVID-19 does not become an education crisis.