Grants for families

Sometimes families need extra financial support for specialist equipment, therapies, or respite. There are lots of organisations that provide grants, and it can be daunting to start researching to find a grant that your family is eligible for.

We have listed some national organisations that provide grants for children with disabilities in the UK as a starting point for your research. We have also included some other tips to help you get funding for equipment or therapies that your child needs.

Grants for equipment only

Children Today

Children Today is currently funding specialist equipment, including electric wheelchairs, walking aids, car seats, lifting aids, sleep equipment, and sensory equipment.

The application requires a reference from someone who works with your child in a professional capacity. This might be an occupational therapist, physiotherapist, hospital consultant or a suitable member of SENCO team. However, they do not accept professional reference letters from GPs. You will also need a quote for costs from the equipment supplier, and to provide some financial information on the application form.

Contact Children Today on 01244 335622 for them to explain the application process and to receive the application form.

Find further information and apply here.

CHIPS charity

The CHIPS charity provides grants for wheelchairs that the NHS will not provide funding for, or that parents cannot afford to buy themselves. If successful, wheelchairs will be custom-made according to the child’s needs, even the colour can be at their request!

Find further information and apply here.

Elifar Foundation

The Elifar Foundation offer grants for a wide range of specialised equipment for children and young people up to the age of 28 who have a physical or learning disability.

Examples of the type of equipment funded include manual and powered wheelchairs, mobility aids, specialised seating, beds, car seats, sensory toys and equipment, room padding, specialised communication aids, and software.

Find further information and apply here.

Florence Nightingale Aid in Sickness Trust

The Florence Nightingale Aid in Sickness Trust considers requests for funding from people of all ages who are sick, in poor health or disabled, and require medical items and services to improve their quality of life.

The trust is currently funding items including, Nebulisers, Tens machines, riser/recliner chairs, wheelchairs, specialist buggies and pushchairs, car seats and harnesses, washing machines and tumble dryers, sensory equipment, communication aids, computers, and refrigerators for essential drug storage.

The application must be made by a ‘Caseworker’ on the applicant’s behalf. The Caseworker can be:

• employed by statutory health, social care, or advice services
• a professional worker from a charities that provides a health, social care, welfare, or advice service
• a Citizens Advice worker
• a Professional workers from Tenancy Support, Care and Repair organisations and Housing
  Association

Find further information and apply here.

Independence at Home

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. They fund equipment like powered wheelchairs and specialist furniture, as well as home alterations like wet rooms. The grants given are between £300 and £600 depending on what they are funding.

Find further information and apply here.

Lifeline 4 Kids

Lifeline 4 Kids charity supports children up to the age of 18 who have a disability. They only consider funding for equipment such as wheelchairs, communication aids, and specialist computer equipment.

Find further information and apply here.

The Mobility Trust

Mobility Trust provides powered wheelchairs and scooters for people who have severe disabilities of any age and who cannot obtain such equipment through other means. Please note that the type of scooter provided will need a car hoist or car ramps when transporting it in a car. The Mobility Trust does not provide folding/portable scooters.

Find further information and apply here.

Newlife Foundation

Newlife charity provides grants and loans for essential equipment, including beds, buggies, wheelchairs, and seating systems. Applications are open for children with a disability who are aged 18 or under. You should call Newlife on 0800 902 0095 to speak to their nurse helpline before starting an application.

Find further information and apply here.

Variety, the Children’s Charity

Variety provides grants for specialist disability equipment for children aged 18 or under. Examples of the items they fund include in-home and mobile hoists, orthopaedic beds, and seating, personal monitors and alarms, sensory equipment, standers, walkers and gait trainers, specialist sports equipment, communication aids and software and, through-floor lifts.

Find further information and apply here.

Variety also has a separate wheelchair grants programme, which you can find out more about here.

Whizz Kidz

Whizz Kidz are one of the best-known charities to provide grants for wheelchairs in particular. They fund mobility equipment for children with permanent physical disabilities aged 17 or under where the NHS is not able to provide the equipment needed.

Find further information and apply here.

Grants for equipment and therapies

Able Kidz

Able Kidz is an educational trust that supports disabled children and young people aged 17 or under with their education and learning. They provide specialist equipment, computers, software and extra tuition to enable children and young people to achieve independence and self-reliance.

Please call Able Kidz on 0300 365 4102 or email [email protected] to discuss your requirements before making an application.

Find further information and apply here

Boparan Trust

Boparan Trust funds equipment for children with a disability aged 18 or under. They fund various equipment, including wheelchairs, specialist buggies, walkers, sensory toys, bath hoists, and white goods. They also fund therapies, including speech & language therapy, occupational therapy, food therapy, and behavioural therapy.

Find further information and apply here.

Cash for Kids

Cash for Kids provides grants for specialist equipment, therapies, and activities for children aged 18 or under who are vulnerable, come from a disadvantaged background or are living with an illness or disability.

Find further information and apply here.

Caudwell Children

Caudwell Children provides family support services, equipment, treatment and therapies for disabled children aged 18 or under. Some of the things they currently fund include powered wheelchairs, specialised buggies, multi-sensory equipment, sports equipment, conductive education, and selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR).

Find further information and apply here.

Grants for equipment and respite

Cheyne Charity

The Cheyne Charity supports children with cerebral palsy and their families. They consider applications for funding for specialist equipment or respite breaks to support children with cerebral palsy. They fund items including, seats, standing frames, tricycles, powered mobility, computers, and respite breaks.

Find further information and apply here.

Family Fund

Family Fund help families across the UK who are raising a disabled or seriously ill child aged 17 or under. Families can currently apply for grants for equipment and family breaks. Examples of the equipment funded include computers, white goods, outdoor play equipment, and sensory toys.

Family Fund also has a Mobility Support programme which is aimed at families raising a disabled or seriously ill child under three years old with significant mobility needs. Through the programme, they can provide a car-leasing package for a limited period to make transport for your child easier and more practical. If eligible for the programme, the Family Fund will cover the costs of the monthly rental instalments for the duration of the leased vehicle.

Find further information and apply here.

React

React helps families caring for a child with a life-threatening illness. They provide grants in situations where none are available elsewhere. They fund specialist equipment, household items, travel expenses, and respite care.

Find further information and apply here.

CrackerJack

CrackerJacks Children’s Trust helps children with disabilities up to and including the age of 16. They provide grants for specialist equipment, sensory toys, and respite breaks. Grants have been awarded for specially adapted wheelchairs, specialist trikes, walking frames, specially adapted buggies, car seat adapters, and wheelchair attachments.

You can also apply for a respite break at Ray’s Sunshine Holiday Home.

Find further information and apply here.

Other tips for finding grants

Turn2Us

Whilst Turn2Us do not give grants out directly, they have an effective search tool to help you find grants from both national and local organisations.

Find further information here.

Disability Grants

Disability Grants is another useful website for finding grants and funding. The website has guidance on how to find the right charity grant for your family and a list of grants for children with disabilities.

Find further information here.

Get in touch with equipment companies directly

Many of the organisations that give grants for equipment require a quote from a supplier as part of your funding application. Some suppliers of specialist equipment know where families can get grants for their products from.

Some families who are part of the WellChild Family Tree have reported success after contacting suppliers directly, particularly wheelchair companies. It is often in the best interests of these companies to advise families on where they can get grants and funding for their products, as very few families can afford specialist equipment without support.

The information in this article was correct at the time of publishing but may be subject to change

If you have any comments, ideas, or suggestions about this article please contact us at [email protected]

Please don’t forget to leave feedback on this article!