ACA student support

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We understand the things that can keep ACA students up at night. While it’s exciting to be starting your career, it’s also overwhelming. Managing the pressure of exams whilst balancing a demanding job and maintaining a work-life balance is tough. That’s why we’re here.

We’re here to support you as an ACA student. Wherever you are in the world. Whether it’s the everyday or the exceptional, expected or out of the blue, we’re here to help you find solutions. 

We offer a range of services to support your mental, financial, and physical health to ensure you thrive personally and professionally. With us, you’re supported right from the start of your career journey to wherever it takes you.

how we can support you

Feeling stressed and overwhelmed?

Our everyday experiences affect our mental health; what causes it to deteriorate can be different for everyone. 

If we neglect to prioritise our mental health and become overextended, it can make us feel a sense of helplessness. This can easily happen at work, during revision or in our personal lives.

Here at caba, we can help you get back to feeling yourself again, whether you need a listening ear or steps to get you back on track. We can connect you to a number of therapy pathways including 1 to 1 online or telephone counselling to help you navigate challenges.

Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, these feelings can happen to anyone at any time.

Talk to us today.

Struggling with your financial health?

Financial difficulties can impact anyone and it often manifests through stress, anxiety and uncertainty about the future. It may also affect our personal relationships, mental wellbeing and overall quality of life.

Here’s how we can help, whether you live in the UK or anywhere internationally. We offer a wide range of financial support to help you get on track of your finances. As we’re independent to the ICAEW, your case will be handled with absolute confidentiality.

Our financial support can help those on low income with one-off costs such as ICAEW membership and admission fees, essential household items or maintenance, back to school payments and energy cost donations.

We have specialist debt advisors on hand to help you identify the best options for getting on top of your debt. 

We’ll work with you to understand your situation and any statutory benefits or local grants you may be entitled to.

Whatever your worries, big or small, know you’re not alone. Contact us today and we can talk through your situation.

Also catch our latest financial podcasts ‘the cash conversation’ that explores topics such as debt, budgeting and savings.

Neurodivergent and needing support?

The journey through your ACAs is challenging and demanding. But for neurodivergent students, this path can present even more obstacles during this stressful period of your life.

Depending on your neurodivergent circumstances, you may be entitled to support both in the workplace and beyond from us at caba.
 
This could be through aiding your ICAEW access arrangements, Access To Work applications, help related benefits and financial support for assistive technologies.

We can also support if you’re looking for a diagnosis of, or need an up-to-date assessment for, dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD. We can also give guidance around Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) or those whom have a diagnosis and wish to access further support.

Talk to our team today to find out more.

Failed an exam and unsure what’s next?

Exam failure can be a very disheartening experience, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about your future. You’re probably wondering what your next steps are.

Firstly, it’s important to start dealing with the emotional challenges that exam failure has brought you. Our support is here if you’re feeling the pressure of speaking to people about failing exams and the effect this has had on your mental health.

Making sure your loved ones know that you’ve failed is the first step in this process, here’s a few tips if you’re struggling.

Secondly, it may be that your training contract is dependant on you passing your exams If so, it’s a good idea to speak to your supervisor about what this means for you. We can also help you work out your options if you require legal advice on your rights. 

If your financial situation is a concern or you have family members who are dependant on you, get in touch with us today. We talk you through what financial support you may be entitled to.

Remember you’re not alone in your journey, we’re here to help you!

Needing legal advice with your training contract?

Do you have questions or issues regarding your training contract that the ICAEW’s Student Support Team haven’t been able to resolve?

We can provide you access to our partners who can offer free independent telephone legal advice, giving you comprehensive information and guidance on your situation.

Additionally, our partners can offer advice for a range of matters relating to family, consumer, employment law and much more. 

Contact us today to discuss your situation further.

our financial podcast

Our podcast The Cash Conversation explores all things personal finance, debt, budgeting and savings. Join our panel of financial and mental health experts here at caba alongside some influential names in the industry for a discussion about all things finance as they share some tips for improving your financial health. 

 

 

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get prepared for your exams

Stressed about upcoming exams? We understand. Whether you need advice on revision techniques, or best practises for when you're sitting your exams, we can help. Explore our resources.


 
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Is exam stress getting the better of you? Putting on your running shoes might help more than you may think.

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what exam accommodations are available to neurodiverse people?

If you are neurodivergent and need adjustments in your ACA exams, read on to find out what you may be entitled to.

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get in touch today

As an ACA student, you, your spouse or partner, and dependent children up to the age of 25 are eligible for free support from us. Get in touch with us today and we can help you work through any difficulties you’re facing.

contact us

 

did you know? 

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We provide an energy payment grant of £450 which can be redeemed towards heating bills, air conditioning, generators and more.

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We can set you up with a qualified career coach to help you with your CV, interview preparations and more.

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For neurodivergent students, we can help fund assistive technologies and access to workplace applications.

ACA student mentoring

Did you know that ICAEW offers a 1 to 1 mentoring programme for ACA students? Designed for you to help get advice and direction in your career journey from an experienced ICAEW Chartered Accountants.

head to ICAEW for more info

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your questions answered 

Who is eligible for support?

We support past and present members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW), ACA students, ICAEW staff members, and the family and carers of members and students. 

  1. No matter where your career takes you, past and present members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England Wales (ICAEW) are eligible for caba’s services for life, even if you change your career and leave accountancy 
  2. ACA students (ICAEW Provisional Members) who are either an active student or have been an active student within the last three years are eligible for caba's services 
  3. Past and present staff members of the ICAEW or caba are eligible for caba's services for life, even if you leave either organisation. Please note, for former employees, our financial support is only available to those who have had five years continuous employment with either organisation 
  4. Family members and carers of either an eligible past or present ICAEW member, ACA student or past or present employee of the ICAEW or caba are eligible for caba's support. We define a family member as a: 
    1. spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner 
    2. widow, widower or surviving civil partner who has not remarried or cohabiting with a partner 
    3. divorced spouse or civil partner who has not remarried or cohabiting with a partner 
    4. child aged up to 25. Please note, children aged between 16 and 25 are not eligible for individual financial support 
    5. any other person who is dependent on the eligible individual supporting them financially or are reliant on the eligible individual’s care 
    6. any other person on whom the eligible individual is reliant, either financially or for care 

You can find out more about our available support both in the UK and around the world on our support we offer page and by using our interactive eligibility tool

Are your services means-tested?

If you need financial support, we carry out a means test where we consider income, expenditure, capital and assets.  

*Please note none of our other services are means-tested. 

I’m an accountant, but not a member of ICAEW, can you still help?

Unfortunately not. We only support past and present ICAEW members, their carers and their families. If we are unable to support you, where possible we will point you to help elsewhere.

caba has supported me in the past; can I receive support from caba again?

We understand that circumstances change. If we’ve helped you in the past there’s no reason why we can’t help you again. You can contact us at any time. Please call us if you need our help.

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