Families with disabled children urged to apply for charity grant this winter
Families caring for disabled or seriously ill children struggling with the pressure of higher winter costs are being urged to apply to a national charity for grants worth up to hundreds of pounds. The Family Fund provides grants for a wide range of items, including white goods.
The funding can be used to purchase fridge freezers, washing machines and cookers, furniture, clothing and bedding, computers and tablets, sensory and play equipment as well as family breaks and days out. Families can make an application online and will receive a decision within weeks.
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Families raising disabled and seriously ill children face significantly higher household costs due to additional care needs. Recent research by disability charity Scope found that the extra cost of disability is now over £1,000 each month.
Family Fund is the UK’s largest charity providing grants for families on low incomes raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people. Last year it provided vital grants and wider support services to over 150,000 families.
Family Fund Director of Grants Services, Ben Calverley, said: “Winter is a very challenging time for the families we support- covering higher bills to care for their disabled and seriously ill children on top of, often, rising debt from not being able to work as much as they want.
“We offer wide-ranging grants to families living in Scotland - everything from white goods and furniture to sensory and play equipment, technology or family breaks. If families haven't received support recently, we encourage them to apply now, via our website, or to get in touch with us for support."
Caroline Callaghan’s 14-year-old son Liam is disabled and his additional needs include learning disabilities, autism and brittle bone disease. The Glasgow mum is his full-time carer.
“Liam’s disabilities mean I have to do everything for him, from brushing his teeth, to bathing him, and getting him dressed. He is incontinent too, so wears nappies, and I often have to wrap him in a bubble so he doesn’t do anything that might fracture his bones,” Cadoline explained.
She continued: “The expense of raising a disabled child is extortionate. Even the onesies Liam has to wear with his nappies are £25 a piece, and they’re constantly being washed so he needs multiple pairs.
“We had a tumble dryer from the Family Fund when Liam was younger which we still use now. The amount of sheets and bedding that I constantly wash, and we need to dry quickly to reuse, you’d think we were a family of five.”
The Family Fund have also helped Caroline and Liam with sensory toys and clothes.
She explained: “We also had a grant for an iPad from Family Fund and it has been such a great help. We take it everywhere, especially if we’re going to the hospital. I can use his iPad to distract him for safety, and it takes his mind off what is happening. He uses his iPad to download cartoons and his favourite video clips. He loves listening to music too. He knows so much more than me, as I wouldn’t know where to start. It’s something he can do without needing me to help him too.
"Family Fund has been an absolute lifesaver for families like myself over the years. You can request anything you need, and it is life changing. The help we’ve had has saved us so much money, and I couldn’t have done it without their help.”
Full details on how to apply to the Family Fund can be found on the website here.
