Applying for grants
Once you have used the Turn2us Grants Search database to
find charitable funds that may be able to assist you, the next
step is to apply to them for help.
This section provides a guide to the steps
involved.
You can read through this information sheet, or go directly to
the sections you want to read by clicking on these links:
Introduction
Each charitable fund will have their own enquiry and
application process that people wanting help from them need to
follow.
However, in most cases there are usually two
stages:
- Making an initial enquiry to the charitable fund
- Submitting a formal application for help.
There are three main ways that charitable funds listed on the
Turn2us Grants Search database accept enquiries:
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Online through Turn2us
Many of the charitable funds on the Turn2us
Grants Search database accept online enquiries through
Turn2us. Some also accept applications.
Applying for help to a charitable fund that you have found on
the Turn2us Grants Search database involves two main
steps:
- Registering for a Turn2us
account so you can make enquiries and applications online
- Making an enquiry to the
charitable fund
- Making a formal application
if they accept your enquiry
Step 1: Registering for a ‘My Turn2us’ account
To make online enquiries and applications to charitable funds on
our Grants Search database, you need to register for a Turn2us
account.
This also allows you to track the progress of enquiries and look
at any messages you have sent and received.
Using your account also means that you will not have to
repeat the same information over and over again when looking for
help. The Turn2us website site remembers any details that you
have already entered on the online forms. If you need to submit an
application to another grant-giving charity at a later date, all
the data will be saved and carried over to the new form.
Having an account also allows you to fill in the forms a bit at
a time rather than all at once.
Security
Your details will be held in the strictest confidence and we
will not share these with anyone else unless you allow it.
For details, see the Turn2us Confidentiality, Data
Protection and Website
Privacy Policies.
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Step 2: Making an enquiry
Once you have registered for a Turn2us account and logged in,
the next step is to make an enquiry.
You can tell whether the charitable fund accepts online
enquiries through Turn2us, because it will have a 'Make Enquiry'
box at the end of its listing (see example below):
You need to click the 'Make Enquiry' box. This will bring up the
Turn2us online enquiry form for you to complete (see example
below):
This asks you some general questions about your:
- Personal and contact details
- Income
- Situation
This helps the charitable fund assess your request for
help and whether you qualify for their help.
When you have completed the form, you need to click the box at
the end of the form confirming that you are happy for us to pass on
your details to the charitable fund you have selected. And then
click 'Send Enquiry'. See example below:
The form can also be printed off if you want to post the form to
a charitable fund instead of emailing it or to keep a paper copy of
your enquiry.
Once you have sent off the form, the charities should reply to
your enquiry by email to your Turn2us account, telling you
that:
- they may be able to help, but they need more information
- they are not able to help you and why
- they would like to invite you to apply formally.
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Step 3: Making an application
You may only formally apply for help when a charity asks you to
do so after you have submitted the Turn2us enquiry form to them or
made contact directly.
Then you will usually have to fill in a detailed application
form – either the Turn2us online application form or the
grant-giving charity’s own. Some charitable funds employ
case workers who visit potential beneficiaries in their own home to
offer support and assess their application for help. They will
advise you what the next stage is in the application and
what form you should use
You may find you will be asked many questions about:
- You and your family
- Your background and circumstances
- Your finances
- Your reasons for applying for help
- Why you think you qualify for help from a particular
grant-giving charity.
Please remember that you will only be asked for
details that the charitable fund needs to know to make
sure you get appropriate help. Any information you give will be
kept confidential by them and only shared if you allow it.
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Applying directly to charitable funds that don't accept
online enquiries through Turn2us
Some charitable funds on our Grants Search
database have chosen not to accept enquiries online through
Turn2us. If this is the case, their listing on the
Turn2us Grants Search database will not have the 'Make an Enquiry'
box.
To make an enquiry in this situation, click
the 'Show more' button at the bottom of the charitable
fund's information panel on the results page. This will reveal the
fund's profile, including details of how to apply.
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Applying via an intermediary
Some charitable funds on the Turn2us Grants Search database can
only be accessed via an application from an intermediary. These funds do not appear on the
public part of the Grants Search database. However, intermediaries
who have registered for an intermediary account with Turn2us are
able to see this information when they do a grants search while
logged into their Turn2us account.
You will also find that some of the charitable funds on our
Grants Search database accept enquiries from individuals but they
have to be supported by an intermediary.
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Last updated: 16 September 2011
Turn2us - to access benefits & grants.
