Charity Funding – Advice for Clients
Charity Funding for Adults
There are many UK charities that provide grants and funding towards specialist equipment and services for adults. Specifically, if you are seeking assistance with the cost of home adaptations, the following charitable organisations may be worth contacting:
Charity Funding – Advice for Clients
Charity Funding for Adults
There are many UK charities that provide grants and funding towards specialist equipment and services for adults. Specifically, if you are seeking assistance with the cost of home adaptations, the following charitable organisations may be worth contacting:
Parkinson’s UK. People with Parkinson’s or other forms of progressive parkinsonism, and unpaid carers, can apply for a Parkinson’s UK Grant up to £1,500 towards specialist equipment or home adaptations. (If your household savings are less than £16,000.) Grants are limited to 1 application per household.
Website: https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/about-us/parkinsons-uk-grants
The Masonic Charitable Foundation is one of the largest grant-making charities in the country. Most of the support provided takes the form of financial grants to assist with financial, health or family-related needs.
Freephone: 0800 035 60 90
Email: help@mcf.org.uk
Website: https://mcf.org.uk
MS Society. Some local MS Society groups offer grants. Get in touch with your local group to see if they’re considering grant applications. If they are, they’ll give you an application form and explain what to do.
SSAFA the Armed Forces charity will support people to apply for funding locally and nationally for adaptations and equipment, with plenty of experience in finding solutions for veterans seeking financial support to help maintain their mobility and independence at home.
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/get-help/disability-support/help-with-mobility
British Legion Fund. If you are serving or ex-serving personnel, the British Legion fund may be able to help. They offer advice and support on how to receive grants and funding for home adaptations. https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-support/financial-and-employment-support/finance/grants/mobility-aids-and-equipment-grants
The Hospital Saturday Fund is a registered charity which provides assistance for individuals with a medical condition or disability. It will consider partial or full grants for specialist equipment including home adaptations, walk-in showers, accessibility adaptations to bathrooms, access ramps and non-slip flooring etc.
Tel: 020 7202 1365 or email: charity@hsf.eu.com
https://hospitalsaturdayfund.org
The cancer support charity Macmillan provides grants as a one-off payment of £350 to help with the extra costs that living with cancer can bring. They can be used for things like home adaptations, hospital travel and energy bills. Tel: 0800 808 00 00 or email: peopleservices@macmillan.org.uk
https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/financial-help/macmillan-grants
Independence at Home is a charity that provides grants to people of all ages who have a physical or learning disability or long-term illness and who are in financial need. This financial help enables them to obtain mobility and disability equipment, home adaptations, including through-floor lifts, and other essential items to make an immediate, practical and positive effect on daily life at home. Tel: 020 8427 7929. http://www.independenceathome.org.uk
Linking Help With Hope provides £250 to assist people with specialist equipment not available from the statutory agencies. https://lhh.org.uk/how-we-help/
For further information regarding charities and grant funding, visit the Turn2us website: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
Charity Funding for Children
The list below highlights several paediatric charities that provide grants towards home adaptation and mobility equipment. So, if you are seeking funds to help towards the cost of home adaptations, please contact us as we will be able to signpost you in the right direction.
Variety the Children’s Charity funds a broad range of specialist equipment including through-floor lifts, hoists, beds, car seats, sensory and play equipment, assistive and medical technologies.
Tel: 0207 428 8100
Email: grants@variety.org.uk
Website: https://www.variety.org.uk
The Elifar Foundation welcomes applications by, or on behalf of, individual children or young adults with any form of physical or learning disability. https://www.elifarfoundation.org.uk/how-we-help/apply-for-a-grant/
Sullivan’s Heroes is a charity offering support and financial assistance for families raising essential funds towards vital home adaptations for a child with disabilities. The charity raises funds to provide a fundraising platform, and financial grants to help families striving to create the optimal environment to continue to care for their child at home.
https://www.sullivansheroes.org
React (Rapid Effective Assistance for Children with potentially Terminal illness) is a dynamic charity working to improve the quality of life for children with life-limiting illnesses living in financially disadvantaged households. React will consider requests that are of a basic, essential need and unavailable from any other source. However, requests may be considered provided they benefit the child’s quality of life in some way, including specialist and homecare equipment. Tel: 0208 940 2575 or email: react@reactcharity.org
https://reactcharity.org/what-we-do/how-react-can-help
Newlife provides funding for essential community equipment, such as beds, buggies, wheelchairs and seating systems. Tel: 01543 462 777. https://newlifecharity.co.uk/equipment-grants/
The Hospital Saturday Fund is a registered charity which provides assistance for individuals with a medical condition or disability. It will consider partial or full grants for specialist equipment including home adaptations, walk-in showers, accessibility adaptations to bathrooms, access ramps, non-slip flooring.
Tel: 020 7202 1365 or email: charity@hsf.eu.com
Family Fund help families across the UK who are raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person aged 17 or under. https://www.familyfund.org.uk
Charity Funding FAQs
What is a grant?
Grant funding provides financial assistance to individuals in need. This may be delivered as a donation of money, product or service. Each organisation or charity will provide details about what they fund and any specific rules that apply.
Am I eligible?
Many people incorrectly assume they have to be in receipt of benefits to apply for charitable funding. In fact, many charities support people who are not eligible for benefits. All charitable organisations will clearly detail who they will support. An individual may qualify for funding through disability or illness, or a low household income, for example.
How much can I ask for?
Each charity fund will have its own set of rules. Some may fully fund a specific home adaptation, whilst others may donate a token amount towards it. Take time to read the criteria before applying and remember you can apply to more than one charity for funding.
Do I need a referral from a professional or organisation to apply?
Some charities may ask for a written application from a healthcare professional to provide evidence of need. An Occupational Therapist or GP, for instance, who understands your healthcare requirements, will be able to assist and support you through the process.
Which charity should I apply to?
There are many charities in the UK providing grant funding for children and adults living with disability. These include specific condition-led charities which provide funding, such as the cancer support charity Macmillan. There are also occupation-led charities which may be relevant to a job, profession or career, as well as smaller community-based charities in your local area which provide funding.
If you are in contact with a healthcare professional due to illness or disability, always ask for charity funding recommendations. A specialist home adaptation manufacturer and provider will also be able to signpost you. You may find the list of charity suggestions helpful, however, do take time to carry out your own research online.
