Overview
If you have been turned down for statutory funding, or statutory funding cannot pay for what you need, you may be able to get support from grant-giving charities and trusts. Each charity or trust will decide its own priorities for who and what it will fund. Grant funders will not pay for things you have already paid for. You can apply to some funders yourself (particularly for grants for a disabled child), but most funders require an application to be made by a professional such as a GP or social worker. This guide includes examples of grant-giving organisations.
Grants to help disabled people (equipment etc.)
Mobility Trust
The Mobility Trust provides powered wheelchairs and scooters to severely disabled people, of all ages, who cannot get the equipment through other means. The Trust sources the equipment; it does not give grants for you to buy the equipment yourself. The Trust will arrange and pay for an occupational therapy assessment for you before they will provide any equipment.
You can apply directly to the Trust yourself. To see if the Mobility Trust can help you, the first step is to fill in the information form on their website. They also have a phone number and email address, if you need more information:
Phone: 0118 9842588
Email: mobility@mobilitytrust.org.uk
The Hospital Saturday Fund
The Hospital Saturday Fund provides grants to adults and children with a disability/health condition to pay for a wide range of mobility equipment, medical aids, home adaptations and therapeutic treatments such as physiotherapy. You cannot apply yourself; you need a professional to apply on your behalf. Applications are made via the website, where there is also more information on what they will fund.
Independence at Home
Provides grants to people of any age who are disabled or have a long term health condition, to help them live independently at home. To receive a grant you must be in financial need, have an ‘eligible’ health condition, and be unable to obtain funding from statutory sources. Grants are provided for mobility and disability equipment, home adaptations, communications equipment, general furnishings, beds and more.
You cannot apply yourself, a professional must apply on your behalf using the application form on their website.
Barchester’s Charitable Foundation
Provides grants to adults 18 + with a physical disability, learning disability, or mental health condition. Grants of £100-£600 are given towards the cost of buying or adapting mobility equipment for outdoor use. This includes wheelchairs, mobility scooters, bikes/trikes and car adaptations.
You cannot apply yourself, a professional must apply on your behalf.
Equipment for Independent Living
Provides one-off grants towards disability equipment for people in financial hardship over the age of 16. The equipment must help with your mobility, independence or ability to work. Applications must be made by a professional. To access the grant’s contact details, professionals can set up an intermediary account on the Turn2Us grant search website.
Florence Nightingale Aid in Sickness Trust
Provides grants to British citizens, who are disabled or in ill health. Funds can pay for medical and household aids to help with independent living. Examples of items funded include wheelchairs, nebulisers, computers, washing machines and more.
Funding must not be available elsewhere. Applications must be made by a professional and when applying for specialised equipment must include an occupational health or physiotherapy report specifying the need for that particular make/brand. Application forms can be found on the Trust’s website.
Margaret’s Fund
Margaret’s Fund provides grants to women who are in ill health and on a low income. They will pay for disability aids, clothing, extra heating, nourishment and home comforts. They will also fund convalescent holidays. Applications must be made by a professional, and the money will be paid to the supporting professional’s organisation, who will then pass it onto the recipient.
Grants to help disabled children (equipment etc.)
Caudwell Children’s Trust
Provides funding for disabled/chronically ill children under the age of 19 years, for mobility and sensory equipment. The trust also provides grants for children/young people up to the age of 25, for sports equipment. Equipment which can be funded includes powered wheelchairs, therapy trikes, car seats, buggies and more.
To be eligible, the child must be from a household with an overall income of less than £45,000 a year. Grants can pay for up to 70-80% of the cost of equipment. Parents/Guardians may apply for their child, though a supporting letter from the child’s physiotherapist or occupational therapist is needed. To apply, fill in the application form on the trust’s website.
Tel: 0345 300 1348
Email: applications@caudwellchildren.com
Children’s Hope Foundation
Provides grants to children/young people up to the age of 25 with a disability, illness, and poverty. The foundation provides grants for a wide range of things that will benefit a child’s health and wellbeing. Examples include medical equipment, medical treatments ,and equipment to aid learning such as computers. The Foundation will accept applications directly from parents/guardians. To apply, download an application form from their website.
Tel: 020 7700 6855
Email: applications@childrenshopefoundation.org.uk
Challenger Children’s Fund
Provide grants for physically disabled children under 18 years, in Scotland. Funding is provided to meet a specific need not covered by statutory sources e.g clothing, apparatus, equipment, household appliances, furniture, adaptions to home or garden. Applications are normally made through a third party. Parents can contact the organisation directly.
Tel: 07531 580 414
Email: info@ccfscotland.org
Grants to help with the Cost of Living
The Talisman Charitable Trust
Provides grants to people ‘going short’; on a low income or living in poverty. One off grants are provided to help with disability as well as education, health and housing.
Applications must be made on your behalf by a council worker, Citizen’s Advice or charity worker. Grants can only be made if you have claimed all the state benefits you are entitled to.
Percy Bilton Charity
Assistance for people who are disabled or have long term health conditions, as well as people who are over the age of 65. All applicants must be on a low income or in financial need. The charity mostly provides white goods such as a washing machines, cookers, fridges, beds, hoovers, and portable heaters, but can also provide help with essential clothing and shoes. They can also help with carpets and flooring in cases where there is a health and safety issue.
Applications for individuals can only be made via support workers working within the Council or NHS.
St Andrew’s Society for Ladies in Need
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for a grant:
- You are a lady of retirement age or close to retirement age and unable to work through illness or disability
- You live alone without dependants
- You are British and were born in the United Kingdom
- You have achieved a good standard of education
- You are in receipt of all state help, e.g. Universal Credit, to which you are entitled
- You have very limited savings
The society gives one off grants for white goods (cookers, fridges, washing machines etc), small household repairs, heating, and dental costs. They can also provide regular grants towards the cost of caring for a older woman in her own home.
If you believe you meet the eligibility criteria, you can contact the charity via their online webform, by email or by post. You should include as much information about yourself as possible.
Benevolent funds
Many large employers, trade associations, professional bodies and trade unions have benevolent funds which are open to applications from employees or ex-employees of a specific industry. Sometimes they can also help the dependents of the employee/ex employee too. Here is a list of some benevolent funds that might be relevant to you:
For Nurses/Ex Nurses:
- The Benevolent Fund for Nurses in Scotland
- The Nurses Memorial
- The Cavell Trust which also helps current/ex healthcare assistants
Drinks & Hospitality Industry:
Retail & Sales:
- Grocery Aid
- The Salespeople’s Charity
- Retail Trust
- Fashion and Textile Children’s Trust: for parents or carers of a child under 18 who work (or have worked) in a fashion, textile or clothing related business
Armed Forces/ex armed forces:
Other Industries:
- Dance Fund: dancers, dance teachers and choreographers
- RSABI: Scottish agriculture
- BEN: automotive industry workers
- Perennial: horticulture Industry
Grants for people with specific health conditions
Some charities and trusts related to a specific health condition offer financial assistance to people with that health condition. Some examples are:
- Cystic Fibrosis Trust
- Kidney Care UK
- Macmillan (for people with cancer)
- Young Lives vs Cancer (for children and young people with cancer aged 0-24)
- Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust
- The Brittle Bone Society Equipment Grant
- Muscular Dystrophy UK’s Joseph Patrick Trust
- Meningitis Now Rebuilding Futures Fund
- Terrence Higgins Hardship Fund (for people living with HIV)
- James and Grace Anderson Trust (for people with cerebral palsy & carers of those with cerebral palsy)
- Nihal Armstrong Trust (Grants for under 18’s with Cerebral Palsy)
- Spinal Injuries Scotland
- Aspire (for people with Spinal Cord Injury)
Further Information and useful contacts
There are many grant and trust funders that may help you, and we can only list a small number of them here. A good source of information about grant funders is the Turn2us website here Turn2us Grants Search
You may qualify for help because of a disability, or because of your other circumstances, such as being on a low income.
The final section of this guide gives suggestions on the kind of information that may help if you are applying for a grant for yourself.
For information on financial assistance for holidays, see our Holiday and Respite Grants information guide
Applying for a grant for yourself
If you have found a charity or trust that will accept an application directly from you, you are likely to need to provide them with a lot of information. Grant funders will each have their own rules, but most will want to know that you have claimed all the benefits that you are entitled to and that you are not applying for something a statutory service (such as the council or NHS) should be providing. Each grant funder will have its own priorities, and may decide who they can help based on age, location, religion, disability or other circumstances.
You can find many trusts through the Turn2us website Turn2us Grants Search
When you search for a grant or make an application, the questions you are likely to be asked include information about
- your age
- address
- other people you live with
- the work you do or used to do
- your income, savings and expenses
- health conditions or disabilities
- caring responsibilities
- why you are applying: why you need funding and the difference it will make if your application succeeds
If the grant maker will accept an application from you, but you’d like a hand with the application, you can ask your local Citizens Advice Bureau to help or call our helpline on 0300 323 9961 and we will try to find a local organisation that can help you.
Information last updated on 22 November 2024. Please note that information may be subject to change. All information is provided in good faith but Disability Information Scotland does not endorse any product or service referred to within this resource.
If you would like this information guide in another version then please contact us and we will post or email you a copy.
Aids, Equipment and Adaptations, Money, Benefits and Grants:Frequently Asked Questions
Through our helpline we receive enquiries spanning a wide range of different topics. Here is a selection of those most asked:
Council Help for Disabled People
Scottish councils have responsibilities to help disabled people and their carers who qualify for help. These include:
- Financial help
- Care needs assessments for disabled people
- Providing support for carers
- Blue Badges
- Safeguarding people who are at risk of harm
Financial help
Councils are responsible for providing financial help, including
- Housing benefit – help with rent for people over State Pension age and for some younger people in special circumstances Claim Housing Benefit – mygov.scot
- Means-tested and non means-tested help with council tax costs Working out your council tax – mygov.scot
- Lump sum payments from the Scottish Welfare Fund; Crisis Grants (usually food, energy, or heating) or Community Care Grants to help people stay in, or settle into the community. https://www.mygov.scot/scottish-welfare-fund
Social work departments have powers to help with “Section 12” payments, for adults or children in an emergency if this would save the council costs in future. They can also make payments to promote the welfare of children in need.
Councils must also have a Housing “scheme of assistance” that may give information, advice, grants, loans, and practical assistance to homeowners or, to private tenants who need disability adaptations. https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/housing_conditions/scheme_of_assistance
Most council areas will have a Care and Repair service that will provide advice and help to older people and (in some areas) disabled people who are homeowners or private tenants. Find your local service here Office Locations | Care and Repair Scotland
Care needs assessments for disabled people
If you are disabled, your council’s social work department (or in Highland, NHS Highland) can assess your care needs, and agree a care plan to support you. The help you receive may include equipment, adaptations to your home, care at home, day care or a care home. Any help you receive that is classed as “personal care” is free.
You should be offered a choice in how your care is provided; this is called Self-directed support. Your options within your budget form the council are:
- 1 – a direct payment to you or someone else (such as a care agency) to pay for your own support
- 2 – you arrange the support
- 3 – the local council arranges the support
- 4 – a mix of the above
Support for carers
The Carers (Scotland) Act gives carers a right to support from their local council. A carer is anyone who is not paid for their caring and looks after a friend, family member or neighbour who is disabled. You do not have to be caring for a specific number of hours to be a carer.
Your local Carers Centre can explain what help is available locally. Any help a carer received from their local council is free. Find your local Carers Centre here https://www.careinfoscotland.scot/topics/support-for-carers/carer-centres/ and find out more about carers rights here https://www.careinfoscotland.scot/topics/support-for-carers/
Blue Badges
A Blue Badges provides parking concessions for on-street parking, some car parks, and disabled parking bays, allowing badge holders to park close to where they need to go
A Blue Badge belongs to a person, not a vehicle, so they can travel as a driver or a passenger. Find out more about Blue Badges here: https://www.mygov.scot/apply-blue-badge/eligibility
Protecting people who are at risk of harm
Councils have powers under the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 to protect adults who cannot look after their own safety and security and are at risk of harm because of disability, mental disorder, illness, physical or mental infirmity, sexual harm or institutional harm.
“Harm” means injury or damage and includes self-harm, neglect and abuse.
Councils and other public services (such as Police) will work together to support people. You can find out more here https://www.gov.scot/policies/social-care/adult-support-and-protection/
If you are worried that someone at risk of harm, you can find your local social work department here
Contact your council
You can find details of your council and its services here Organisations – mygov.scot
Can I get a reduction of Vehicle Excise Duty?
If you are disabled you may be entitled to a reduction or exemption of vehicle tax. The vehicle must be registered in your name or a specific driver’s name and must only be used for your personal needs.
You can apply for exemption if you get the:
- higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- enhanced rate mobility component of Adult Disability Payment – mygov.scot
- War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
You can get a 50% reduction in vehicle tax if you get the Personal Independence Payment or Adult Disability Payment standard rate mobility component Adult Disability Payment – mygov.scot
You can find out more here Vehicles exempt from vehicle tax – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
What help is there with energy costs?
Energy costs used to be a worry in winter but now bills can be a challenge all year round.
The good news is there are different grants and schemes available to help people improve the heating in their homes and keep heating costs down.
Home Energy Scotland is a free energy advice service funded by the Scottish Government to help people save money and keep their homes warmer. They offer simple energy saving tips, and know about funding schemes and how to access them.
Their website Home Energy Scotland offers help with finding funding, reducing your bills, making your home warmer and living a greener life. You can call them on 0808 808 2282
How can I get care or disability equipment at home?
If you need care, support or equipment at home, the first step is to contact your local council’s Social Work Department (or in Highland, NHS Highland) and ask for a Care needs assessment. You might qualify for an adaptation, equipment, care at home, or a budget you can use to arrange your own care. If you have a carer, they have a separate right to support from the council too. If the help you need counts as “free personal or nursing care” it will be free.
Aids, Equipment and Adaptations, Money, Benefits and Grants:Search for Local Organisations
Our quick search tool can connect you to over 3000 service providers, suppliers and organisations supporting people across Scotland. To find support near you, simply enter your search term and select your local authority.
Organisation | Description |
---|---|
The Sylvia Aitken Charitable Trust | Funding is intended for organisations which are involved in initiatives that benefit children, young people, students or researchers |
The Talisman Charitable Trust | Provides one-off grants to people in need |
The Theatrical Guild | Services provided: The Theatrical Guild offers ; emergency grants, long and short-term financial support, mid-career / up-skills training within the theatre industry, access to counselling, signposting and welfare advice. Please see our website for mor… |
The Trussell Trust | Community projects tackling poverty and exclusion in the UK and Bulgaria |
The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation | General charitable purposes in the UK and overseas |
The Tudor Trust | Services provided: Tudor makes grants, and provides other types of support, to voluntary and community groups working in any part of the UK. They particularly want to help smaller, community-led organisations which work directly with people who are at… |
The WelfareTeam (Highland Council ) | Services provided Provide free, confidential benefit checks Provide assistance to complete relevant forms Provide assistance with appeals against benefit decisions, and if required provide representation at Tribunal Hearings |
The Well Multi Cultural Resource Centre | Services provided: A first level drop-in information and advice centre providing information on the following: Benefits Utilities Online Job seeking Family and personal issues Level 1 immigration advice (OISC registered) We also provide IT Support: Onl… |
The Wolfson Townsley Charitable Trust | Support excellence, generally through the funding of capital infrastructure in the fields of science and medicine, health, education and the arts & humanities |
Theraposture Ltd | Manufacturers of care beds, paediatric cots and chairs for elderly and disabled people |
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