What support is available?
The Turn2us grants database contains details of about 3,300
funds operated by grant-giving charities
that give grants to people who:
- Are in financial need and
have welfare needs; and/or
- Require help with the costs associated with education and
training courses.
Each grant-giving charity is very individual in the way that
they work and the types of support they give. Although the
financial help they offer is usually through grants, many of them
also give support in the form of advice and services.
Examples of the help that may be available to you from
grant-giving charities include:
- Regular amounts of money to help you with your bills and other
living expenses. This may be given to you for a limited time while
you are experiencing difficult life changes, such as bereavement or
job loss. It may also be granted as ‘on-going’ support, for example
if you have had to retire from work for medical reasons and need
help to pay your bills or to buy essentials such as food and
clothing.
- One-off grants (sometimes called specific gifts) to help you
pay for a specific item you need. This is often given as
money. However, some grant-giving charities buy certain items, such
as furniture, telephones and televisions, on behalf of their
beneficiaries – especially if they can get a better price because
they are a charity or buying in bulk. Equipment to help someone who
has a disability may also be bought by grant-giving charities and
given as a loan (free of charge or at a low rental cost) rather
than as a gift.
- Educational grants - to help with the costs of educational and
training courses. For example, to help
children who require extra help because they have
disabilities/special needs or who might miss out on educational
opportunities because their family is on a low income. These type
of grants might also be given to adults on low incomes who want to
improve their job prospects.
- Vouchers or an amount paid in credit to a shop to allow you to
obtain specific items you need, such as food or
clothing.
- Help with house repairs, adaptations and decorating.
- Funding to improve your job prospects or quality of life, e.g.
respite breaks and travelling expenses.
- Financial advice and debt counselling.
- Housing services.
- Information and guidance on managing money and aspects of daily
living.
- Some of the larger organisations may offer some services
themselves, such as holidays, respite care, care homes and regular
visits to people they help, especially if they are elderly or have
a disability.
The help that might be available to you will depend on the rules
of each organisation, the nature of your financial need and your
current income. The entries for each grant-giving charity contained
on the Turn2us website give you more information about qualifying
rules and the types of support given.
If the financial support you need exceeds the limits of a
particular grant-giving charity, they may agree to give you part of
the cost. You may be able to find the rest from another
organisation that you have a connection to. For instance, if you
have a disability and have worked in a particular type of job, you
may be able to get help from a relevant grant-giving disability
charity as well as one for people who have worked in your
occupation or industry.
Many grant-giving charities also give help in an emergency or
crisis. This may be given as a grant or a loan (usually on an
interest-free basis and paid back at a rate that you can afford).
If you qualify, the grant-giving charity can usually arrange this
kind of help within a few days.
What is defined as an emergency will vary, but might
include:
- Homelessness because of fire, flood or family breakdown
- Help with respite care costs for an older or disabled person
because a carer has to go into hospital
- Repair or replacement of an
item of household goods, such as a washing machine, if the person
who needed it was disabled or elderly and would be at risk without
it
- Vital living costs that you
cannot pay because of a sudden job loss or bereavement.
If you need emergency help, use Turn2us to find grant-giving charities that you have a connection
with. You can then contact them to find out what support they might
be able to offer you.
If you are on a low income and in receipt of benefits, a
Crisis Loan may also
be available from the Social Fund.
What are grants?
Who can apply for help?
How to search for a grant
Help to apply
Grants search page
Last updated: 15 June 2010
Turn2us - to access benefits & grants.