OTHER ORGANISATIONS MAKING GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS (“HARDSHIP” GRANTS)

SUMMARY SHEET

1.General Advice and Information:

ORGANISATION / Service / ELIGIBILITY
Turn2Us
Website:

Free and confidential helpline is
open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday
Call 0808 802 2000 / Turn2Us helps people access the money available to them – through welfare benefits, grants and other help. Their free, accessible website has been designed to help people find appropriate sources of financial support, quickly and easily, based on your particular needs and circumstances.
Turn2us is part of the Elizabeth Finn Care Group. / No restrictions
Contact-A-Family
Website:

Tel: 0808 808 3555
Textphone: 0808 808 3556
e-mail:
You can also Submit an online enquiry

Opening hours

The helpline is open Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm. It is also open on Monday evenings, 5.30-7.30pm /

Contact a Family Helpline

The Contact a Family freephone helpline is staffed by experienced advisers and is a one stop shop for parents and other family members caring for a disabled child.
Advisers can help with:
  • benefits or tax credits issues
  • assessments and statements of special educational needs
  • details of local parents support groups
  • information about your child's condition
  • how to access help with getting a break from caring
  • details of charities which give grants to families with disabled children
  • advice and information on any other aspect of caring for a disabled child
/ Families with Disabled Children (and their advisers)

2.Funders with Schemes Helping Individual Children and Families in Need:

ORGANISATION / FUNDS / ELIGIBILITY
Family Action
(Formerly Family Welfare Association)
501-505 Kingsland Road, London, E8 4AU
Tel: 020 7241 7459 (Tuesday Wednesday & Thursday from 2pm to 4pm)
Fax: 020 7249 5443
Email:
Web:
Registered charity number 264713 / Welfare Fund:
Priority Areas Include:
  • Young people (aged 19 to 25):
    Grants to support young people living alone (i.e. not living with friends, family, others, including children).
  • Sickness/disability:
    Grants to pay for treatment or disability aids
Download a Welfare Grant Application Form
Currently only accepting applications between set dates. For 2014 the remaining dates are:
1st January 2014 – 28th February 2014
Applications must be made by someone who knows the applicant in a professional capacity such as a social worker, health visitor or tenancy support worker. We cannot consider applications made by the individual seeking the grant.
Exclusions:
Funds are not available for:
  • council tax arrears
  • debts (except utility bills)
  • fines
  • rent deposits
  • funeral expenses (including associated expenses, such as headstones)
  • gifts (such as toys for birthdays, Christmas or other festivals)
  • items already covered by statutory funding
  • rent arrears
  • rent payments
  • repayment of Social Fund or other loans
  • bankruptcy
  • items already purchased
/ Welfare Grants mainly assist families and individuals with low incomes, particularly those living on benefits. Grants are available to people from across the UK. These grants are for the benefit of the whole family, for example, they might make a grant for a washing machine.
Welfare Grant applicants must fall into one or more of the priority areas to be eligible for funding.
Family Action’s Welfare Grants are available for clothing and general household needs such as beds and cookers but can also help with more varied needs such as communication aids and medical adaptations.
While there are no set limits, in general grants are made for £100 to £300. If a larger grant is needed you are advised to also explore funding from other sources or to revise the amount you are seeking before submitting an application
The Frank Buttle Trust

England:
The Frank Buttle Trust,
Audley House,
13 Palace Street,
London SW1E 5HX
Tel: 020 7828 7311

Scotland:
The Frank Buttle Trust,
PO Box 5075,
G78 4WA
Tel: 01505 850 437

Wales:
The Frank Buttle Trust,
PO Box 7,
Rhayader LD6 5WB
Tel: 01597 870 060

Northern Ireland:
The Frank Buttle Trust,
PO Box 484,
Belfast BT6 OYA
Tel: 02890 64 11 64

Registered Charity No. 313007 / The Child Support Grant Scheme
The aim of the Trust's Child Support Programme is to help children and young people in desperate need. Grants are intended to make a positive contribution to their lives when their safety, health or development is at risk. The item (or service) to be funded should be critical to the well-being of the child/young person, and items that are merely desirable, rather than essential, will not be eligible for support.
Cash grants provide necessities such as beds, bedding and essential items of furniture and household equipment. The Trust also has an arrangement with Comet for washing machines, cookers, fridges and other white goods that can be delivered directly to applicants.
Exclusions:
  • Children who are in care, being rehabilitated home, subject to a Child Protection Plan, or where there is any other clear statutory responsibility;
  • Young people aged 19 & 20 who do not have full refugee status or exceptional or indefinite leave to remain in the UK, or who are normally resident abroad;
  • Children living outside the UK.
Applications should be made by a professional, eg social worker, health visitor, support worker, who is aware of the family's circumstances.
To download a pdf version of the application form to print out click here or send an email to with the word PDF as the subject /
  • Adopted Children
  • Children cared for by grandparents, other relatives or friends
  • Children and young people who are aged 18 years and under, cared for by single or two parents
  • Estranged, orphaned and vulnerable young people under 21 living independently
Circumstances in which grants may be considered are:
  • Illness, distress, abuse or neglect
  • Any kind of disability
  • Behavioural or psychological problems
  • Severe poverty and deprivation

Florence Nightingale Aid in Sickness Trust
6 Avonmore Road
London
W14 8RL
Tel: 020 7605 4244

Click here to download an application form. / Current funding priorities:
  • convalescent care
  • respite care
  • medical and other aids, eg
    - nebulisers
    - TENS machines
    - recliner chairs
    - electric beds
    - orthopaedic mattresses
    - mobile hoists
    - neater eater feeding aids
    - sensory equipment
    - communication aids ie lightwriters
    - specialist software
  • household aids, eg washing machines
  • refrigerators for essential drug storage
  • secure drug cabinets
  • telephone installation or mobile phones in rare cases
  • assistance with hospital visiting expenses
However, grants are not usually given for:
  • house alterations, adaptations, improvements or maintenance
  • car purchase or car adaptations
  • electric wheelchairs, scooters or buggies
  • holidays, exchange visits, nursing home fees
  • debts or repayments
  • general clothing
  • computers
  • general house furnishings
  • house furnishings
  • stairlifts
/ Currently considering all requests for funding for people of all ages who are sick, in poor health or disabled and require medical items and services to improve their quality of life.
Children Today Charitable Trust
The Moorings
Rowton Bridge
Christleton
Chester
CH3 7AE
Enquiries:
Tel: 01244 335622
Fax: 01244 335473
Email:

Registered Charity No. 1037402 / Grants to purchase special equipment such as:
  • Electric wheelchairs – individually adapted to give maximum independence
  • Walking Aids
  • Trikes
  • Educational toys – specially designed for children with disabilities
  • A wide range of communication aids
  • Adapted car seats
  • Lifting and posturepaedic sleep equipment
Applications must be for specialised pieces of equipment for individual children (not groups or schools), and must be made by the individual applying, their parent, or legal guardian. / Disabled children and young people up to the age of 25
Caudwell Children’s Trust
Applications Department
Minton Hollins Building
Shelton Old Road
Stoke on Trent
ST4 7RY

Email:
Registered Charity No. 1079770 / Funding provided for:
  • Equipment
  • Therapy
  • Treatment
  • Annual Destination Dreams holiday
Exclusions include:
  • Building and gardening work;
  • Domestic appliances and non-specialised equipment;
  • Respite care, travel or accommodation expenses;
  • Motor vehicles
  • Legal costs
  • Play equipment
  • Stem cell treatment
/ Children 18 years old or under at time of application with a chronic illness or disability.
Funding is only available to families whose joint income is less than £45,000 gross per annum (not including any benefits)
Variety Club
Grants Department
Variety Club House
93 Bayham Street
London
NW1 0AG
Tel: 020 7428 8100
Fax: 020 7428 8111
Email:

Registered Charity No. 209259 / Consideration is given to funding specific items of equipment that are for the direct use of children.
Exclusions include:
  • repayment of loans
  • reimbursement of funds already paid out
  • garden adaptations
  • hire, rental costs or down payments
  • cost of a family/wheelchair adapted vehicle
  • trikes or bikes
  • administrative/salary costs
  • trips abroad or holiday costs
  • maintenance or on-going costs
  • medical treatment or research
  • distribution to other organisations
  • education/tuition fees
Applications can be made by parents, medical professionals, a school or organisation, hospitals and registered charities. Applications for specialist items of equipment, i.e. walking frames, seating systems, specialist beds should be accompanied by a supporting letter from a Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist. Quotations for equipment should accompany an application. / Sick, disabled and disadvantaged children and young people up to the age of 19 years across the UK.
Action For Kids
Ability House
15A Tottenham Lane
Hornsey
London
N8 9DJ
Telephone: 020 8347 8111
Helpline: 0845 300 0237 (local call rates)

E-mail:
Registered Charity No. 1068841 / Provides disabled children and young people with specialist mobility equipment.
Over the last 10 years we have helped over 1000 young people. We have supplied mobility aids from simple trikes to sophisticated powered wheelchairs. Most of our equipment is provided on a permanent loan scheme so that we cover the cost of maintaining and servicing the equipment
When a piece of equipment is no longer required, where possible, it is either adapted to be used by another child or is donated to a special needs school where more children can benefit from the equipment. / Children and young people under 26 years old with a disability that prevents them from getting around.
Happy Days Children’s Charity
Clody House
90-100 Collingdon Street
Luton LU1 1RX
Telephone 01582 755 999
Fax 01582 755 900
Email .
Website
Registered Charity No. 1010943 / Day trips, theatre trips, family holidays and residential trips for those who need them most. / Children and young people aged 3 to 17 years
Mobility Trust
Mrs Anne Munn
Mobility Trust
17b Reading Road
Pangbourne
Berkshire
RG8 7LR

Registered Charity No. 1070975 / If you are in desperate need of a powered wheelchair or scooter and cannot obtain one through statutory sources or afford to purchase such equipment yourself, you can apply to Mobility Trust.
Please write a letter explaining why you need this equipment, giving details of any disabilities you have and the cause of them. / Disabled people

These details were correct the time of compiling the list. Potential applicants should make their own enquiries to each organisation to confirm the details are correct. The appearance of any organisation on this list does not represent an endorsement of them by the Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity.

Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity

Registered Charity 1137409 Company Registered in England 7340518

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RDMCC: Grants to Individuals – Funders Referral Sheet (Feb 2014)