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Apply now in Northern Ireland

Grants are now available for families living in Northern Ireland. Apply today!

Grants are now available for families living in Northern Ireland. Whether you need a kitchen appliance like a fridge, cooker or washing machine; clothing and bedding; sensory or play equipment; technology for your child, or a much-needed family break, we are here to help.

You can apply for a grant if:

you’re the main carer for a disabled or seriously ill child, aged 17 or younger
you have lived in the UK for the past six months
the child you’re applying for is not in the care of the local authority or in foster care
you are living on a low income or receiving benefits
your child needs high levels of support in at least three areas of our eligibility criteria

It is important to check your eligibility before you submit an application.

What do you need?

As part of your application you will need to upload some supporting documents. It’s good to have these to hand before you start.

We will need to see documents about your income- these could include a copy of your most recent benefits award letter, or your last three months of payslips. We will also need to see proof of any disability benefits your child receives, any support or learning plans that are in place and any reports that detail the additional support your child receives.

See our application guides

How to apply

Applying through our online application form is the quickest way to submit your application. There are two parts to the application:

The first part is the registration. We’ll ask you for some personal information about those who live in your house, and what grants you are interested in. You’ll need to complete this in one go.
The second part of the application is longer. It asks about the needs of your child and how the grant items you have chosen will benefit your family. This is a more in-depth and has a save and return function. You must complete this within 30 days of starting.

Start your application

If you’re not able to apply online, you can download an application pack to print, complete, and post back to us.

If you are unable to print the form at home, you can request an application pack to be posted to you. You should receive this within 10 working days.

If you are submitting a paper application for more than one child, you’ll also need to complete an additional child form (one per sibling you wish to include in your application).

Need help with applying?

Family Fund is committed to making our application process as accessible as possible. If you need help with the process, you can contact us on [email protected] or call us on 01904 550055.

Frequently asked questions

As long as you have not received a grant within the last 24 months, you are able to apply to Family Fund again.

Family Fund works with a variety of suppliers to offer grants. Find out about the types of items you can apply for through our grant programmes.

Family Fund uses a ‘social model of disability’ which means we look at the support your child receives in different areas of their daily life. If there is a multi-agency plan in place, we can build a picture of your child’s need more quickly but you do not need one to be able to apply. For more information, check our child and young person eligibility page.