The Family Fund
In this period when everybody appears to be cash-strapped, it is important to remember that there are people and organisations out there who do lot to make people’s lives more bearable. One such organisation is the Family Fund which is a registered charity covering the whole of the UK and mainly funded by the national governments of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It provides practical help to families with severely disabled children under the age of 16. The information that follows here is taken from the charity’s website http://www.familyfund.org.uk. Do go online to view it.
The Family Fund supports families by providing grants that help to meet the need of their disabled child. In 2011-12, the Fund distributed over £33 million to over 59,000 families. You too can apply to the Family Fund if you live in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales and you have evidence of your entitlement to one the following: Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Income based Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Pension Credit. If you do not receive any of the above, further information may be needed to complete your application.
Help from the Family Fund is discretionary and subject to available funding. The Fund is unable to help children in local authority care, including those living with foster carers. Where a statutory agency has a responsibility to pay for the item needed, the Fund cannot help.
I can imagine that many parents and carers of children at this school are likely to be eligible for support from the Family Fund. There must be evidence that their additional needs impact on a family’s choices and their opportunity to enjoy ordinary life. If you think your child or young person may meet the Fund's criteria, do consider making an application. Even if you are in doubt as to whether your child is eligible, still apply.
The Family Fund website contains vignettes about how support has been made available to a range of children who are severely disabled. For instance, Alex’s grandmother, who is his special guardian, received a grant for sensory stimulation equipment and a fridge-freezer with space for the special food Alex needs. As Alex’s grandmother says, “All of these are not luxuries but necessities for us. We couldn’t manage without them.”
Contact details;
Family Fund
4 Alpha Court
Monks Cross Drive
York
YO32 9WN
Email info@familyfund.org.uk
Tel 08449 744 099
Textphone 01904 658085
Fax 01904 652625
The Family Fund supports families by providing grants that help to meet the need of their disabled child. In 2011-12, the Fund distributed over £33 million to over 59,000 families. You too can apply to the Family Fund if you live in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales and you have evidence of your entitlement to one the following: Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Income based Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Pension Credit. If you do not receive any of the above, further information may be needed to complete your application.
Help from the Family Fund is discretionary and subject to available funding. The Fund is unable to help children in local authority care, including those living with foster carers. Where a statutory agency has a responsibility to pay for the item needed, the Fund cannot help.
I can imagine that many parents and carers of children at this school are likely to be eligible for support from the Family Fund. There must be evidence that their additional needs impact on a family’s choices and their opportunity to enjoy ordinary life. If you think your child or young person may meet the Fund's criteria, do consider making an application. Even if you are in doubt as to whether your child is eligible, still apply.
The Family Fund website contains vignettes about how support has been made available to a range of children who are severely disabled. For instance, Alex’s grandmother, who is his special guardian, received a grant for sensory stimulation equipment and a fridge-freezer with space for the special food Alex needs. As Alex’s grandmother says, “All of these are not luxuries but necessities for us. We couldn’t manage without them.”
Contact details;
Family Fund
4 Alpha Court
Monks Cross Drive
York
YO32 9WN
Email info@familyfund.org.uk
Tel 08449 744 099
Textphone 01904 658085
Fax 01904 652625
