Family Fund Trust

The Family Fund is working towards an inclusive society where families with severely disabled or seriously ill children have choices and the opportunity to enjoy ordinary life. The Trust believes services to families with severely disabled children are most effective when they can be adapted to families' individual needs and personal ways of coping. The Trust, therefore, encourages families to demonstrate the kind of support that would best meet their needs in easing the stress of caring for severely disabled children.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Live in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales.
• Have permanent legal residency in the UK and have lived in the UK for the last six months, and are eligible to work and apply for public funds.
• Be a parent or carer of a disabled or seriously ill child or young person aged 17 years and under who lives at home.
• Have evidence of entitlement to one of the following: Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Pension Credit.

To meet the Family Fund definition of severe disability, children and young people must have additional complex needs, or have a serious or life-threatening illness. In addition, there must be evidence that the child’s additional needs impact on the family’s choices and their opportunity to enjoy ordinary life, and the degree of planning and support required to meet their needs is much greater than that usually required to meet the needs of children and young people.

Furthermore, the child must require a high level of additional support in three or more of the following areas:

• Personal care.
• Access to social activities.
• Education.
• Communication.
• Supervision and vigilance.
• Medical or therapeutic treatment or condition management.
• Physical environment and specialist resources.

The child’s condition must be long-term or life-limiting. By 'long-term' the Fund means lasting or likely to last 12 months or more.

Third sector organisations, such as a school or charity, who would like to find out more about collaborating with Family Fund, should contact partnerships@familyfund.org.uk

The Trust will look at any grant request that relates to the needs of a disabled or seriously ill child, young person and their family.

Applicants in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland can apply for grants for:

• Family breaks
• Clothing
• Computers and tablets
• Days out
• Recreational and household items
• Kitchen appliances
• Sensory toys and equipment
• Games, books and music.
• Games consoles
• Outdoor play and leisure facilities
• Specialist bikes or tricycles
• Garden improvements
• Driving ambitions.

How To Apply

Applications are currently being accepted for England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.