Grants are now available to support children and young people in the UK experiencing a crisis or emergency. The grants which are made available through the BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials programme support families with children up to the age of 17 who are living with financial, health and social difficulties by providing items that meet children’s most basic needs, such as kitchen appliances, furniture, baby equipment, beds, clothing, and other items and services that are critical to children’s wellbeing. Applications must come through a registered referral agency supporting the family or young person. The programme is delivered by Family Fund Business Services, and applications can be made at any time. Support for Children Living in Severe Poverty (UK)
Grants are available to individuals through the Gardening with Disabilities Trust to enable them to continue gardening despite advancing illness, age, or disability. To apply for a grant, individuals must provide a letter from their doctor or other healthcare professional indicating their disability and a copy of another official document, such as a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or a Blue Parking Badge. The Trust offers various support measures, including adapting private gardens to meet the special needs of the disabled, making grants towards tools, raised beds, paving, and greenhouses. The closing date for applications is the 30th November 2024. Funding Available for Disabled Gardeners (UK)
“Kallista Jayasuriya interviewed Thalia Beaty, Foundation Administrator at a funder that can award at least £300,000 to organisations – the KFC Youth Foundation…” Read more from Kalli Jayasuriya here.
Vulnerable households will receive support for the cost of essentials this winter, as DWP announced today an extension to the Household Support Fund for the next six months.
The £421m extension gives certainty to Local Authorities across England over the winter months – up until April 2025 – as they work to help those struggling with the cost of energy, food, and water. An estimated £79 million will be given to devolved administrations.
Pensioners and others struggling to heat their homes or afford other essential items over the colder months should contact their local council to see what support may be available to them. Details on the latest scheme for local authorities and councils will be communicated in the coming weeks.
The council’s main grants programme is now open for applications. The closing date is 9am, 1st October 2024.
You can find all the information you need on the council’s website:https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/community/investment-community-groups/third-sector-investment-fund
LBHF workshops
The council is hosting a series of free online information sessions (via Microsoft Teams) for those who want to learn more. An additional event has been scheduled for Tuesday 3rd September. Please register by following the links below:
- Tuesday 3 September at 2pm
- Wednesday 4 September at 2pm (event now fully booked)
- Thursday 19 September at 2pm
Sobus support
Sobus is offering free 1-2-1 sessions with groups who would like assistance or support with their application. Appointments can be in person at Dawes Road Hub, or online. Sessions will be held on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons from 27th August until 26th September, and offered on a first come-first served basis.
To book your appointment, please contact Sobus on 020 7952 1230 or email reception.drh@sobus.org.uk
Grants of up to £1,000 will be available to charities and community groups organising Christmas events for people aged 65 and over. At least 30 grants will be awarded to support a variety of activities, including Christmas Day meals, group social events, and support for day care centres or community spaces operating over the festive period. Priority will be given to organisations connecting older people between the 24th December and the 2nd January, but events planned for earlier in December will also be considered. Organisations with an annual income under £250,000 will be eligible to apply. The funding is provided by the McCarthy Stone Foundation through their Christmas Connections Fund, which opens to applications on the 1st September 2024. Funding for Christmas Activities for Older People (UK)
Registered charities and mainstream state schools can apply for grants of up to £5,000 to deliver fun and accessible activities for children and young people during the school holidays. The funding is available through the John Lyon’s Charity’s School Holiday Activity Fund (SHAF). It will cover the running costs of holiday programmes which provide activities per current government guidelines for young people in the boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, City of London. These costs can include sessional staffing costs, transport for children with special needs and/or disabilities, digital delivery, equipment, and food during activities. Application forms may be submitted at any time but no later than the 21st September 2024 for activities taking place during the October half-term. School Holiday Activity Fund (London)
About the fund
The fund is for anyone living in H&F who is struggling with a financial emergency or crisis and is to help residents meet vital day-to-day living expenses. Eligible residents can receive up to £300 to pay for essentials including food, gas, and electricity.
To be eligible, residents must:
- be in severe financial hardship and without H&F’s support could be at risk of being in crisis
- need immediate help and have no other source of financial support available to them
- have not received a crisis prevention payment from H&F in the last rolling 6 months.
When applying, residents will need to provide details of their emergency or crisis.
Who can apply
This scheme is open to anyone aged 18 years or older.
This scheme is also open to those 16 or older who are responsible for younger children or who have energy/water arrears.
Residents do not need to receive government benefits to apply but will need to show they don’t have other funds available. Residents can also apply if they have temporary immigration status.
To find out more about the payment scheme, including what the money can be used for, please visit www.lbhf.gov.uk/crisis-fund
Further support
If you or a resident is unsure whether they’re eligible, you can both speak to our Cost-of-Living team who will be able to assist and help them complete the form. The team can be contacted on costoflivingteam@lbhf.gov.uk or by free calling 0800 917 6994.
Online applications are open to 9am on 1 October 2024.
The funding period will run from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2028.
Applicants will need to sign up for an account before they are able to save and submit an application.
Online information sessions are available on 4th September and 19th September at 2pm.
For more information and signing up process please go to webpage here
UK charities, Schools and Further Education Colleges as well as NHS Trusts seeking funding to support those under the age of 18 who are living with a mental health condition, disability or growing up in poverty can apply for funding through the Hargreaves Foundation. The Foundation aims to help children and young people to fulfill their potential and improve their wellbeing, self-esteem, and independence through educational and sporting activities. This could include initiatives that improve academic engagement and attainment, develop skills to aid future employment, improve life skills, and ensure sport is accessible. There is no minimum or maximum grant amount. Applications can be made at any time. Grants to Support Disadvantaged Young People through Educational & Sporting Activities (UK)
sobus
20 Dawes Road, London, SW6 7EN
Telephone 020 7952 1230
Email info@sobus.org.uk
Registered Charity No.1071089
and Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England No.03471416
Sobus is a new Community Development Agency for Hammersmith & Fulham. It has been created through the merger of the Community and Voluntary Sector Association Hammersmith & Fulham (CaVSA) and the Fulham Community Partnership Trust (FCPT). Building on the strengths of both organisations, sobus aims to provide a wider range of support services for local charities, community groups, social enterprises and start up businesses.