Families in Scotland and Northern Ireland urged to apply for grant support

Families raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person, living in Scotland or Northern Ireland, are urged to apply for grants for items their children need- worth up to hundreds of pounds. 

Apply for a grant today to help ease winter cost pressures.

Eligible families can receive grants for wide-ranging items, including white goods like washing machines and cookers, furniture, clothing, technology and family breaks and days out. Make an online application today to receive a decision within weeks.

We have limited funding available so please submit your application as soon as possible.  

Ben Calverley, Family Fund’s Director of Grants Services, says:

“Winter is a very challenging time for the families we support- covering higher bills to care for their disabled and seriously ill children on top of, often, rising debt from not being able to work as much as they want. If families haven’t received support recently, we encourage them to apply now.”

Extra costs

Families raising disabled and seriously ill children face significantly higher household costs due to caring. Recent research by disability charity Scope found that the extra cost of disability is now over one thousand pounds a month. 

Mum Caroline has a 14-year-old son Liam, who has learning disabilities, autism and brittle bone disease and shares the extra costs she faces as a full-time carer:

“Family Fund has been an absolute lifesaver for families like myself over the years.”

“Liam’s disabilities mean I have to do everything for him, from brushing his teeth, to bathing him, and getting him dressed. He is incontinent too, so wears nappies, and I often have to wrap him in a bubble so he doesn’t do anything that might fracture his bones.

“The expense of raising a disabled child is extortionate. Even the onesies Liam has to wear with his nappies are £25 a piece, and they’re constantly being washed so he needs multiple pairs.

“We had a tumble dryer from Family Fund when Liam was younger which we still use now. Family Fund has been an absolute lifesaver for families like myself over the years. You can request anything you need, and it is life changing. The help we’ve had has saved us so much money, and I couldn’t have done it without their help.” 

Need some help with your application? Contact our team today.