Grants Information Fact Sheet – TAP01

What grants can I apply for to help me live more independently?

Disabled Facilities Grant

The disabled facilities grant is a sum of money that you can use to have major changes made to your home tomakeit more suitable for you. You could get a disabled facilities grant of up to £30,000 to help meet the cost.

Possible improvements can include: widening doors and installing ramps, improving access to rooms, by installingastairlift for example, improving facilities, such as creating a downstairs bathroom,providing a suitable heating systemor adapting heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use

A disabled facilities grant won’t affect any benefits you currently receive.

How to apply: www.adultcare.redbridge.gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grant/

Telephone: 020 8708 7333

Please note: If you do not live in Redbridge you can apply through your local council.

The Gardners Trust for the Blind

The Gardners Trust for the Blind provides financial assistance to registered blind and partially sighted individuals in the UK. The Trust awards one-off grants towards education, training and household items. The Trust may also provide grants towards a pension. The Trust considers applications for household items, including some white goods. The Trust is unable to give grants for anything that has already been paid for. You may only apply once every 3 years.

To apply, write to: The Gardners Trust for the Blind, Suite 1, Unit 2, Stansted Courtyard, Takeley, Parsonage Road, Essex CM22 6PU (Please note: you must include confirmation of your disability from a third party.)

Website: https://www.disability-grants.org/grants-for-blind.html

Telephone Number: 020 7253 3757

Family Fund

You can apply for a Family Fund grant if you are the parent, or carer, of a disabled child and you meet the eligibility criteria.

To apply, visit: www.familyfund.org.uk/grants/apply-for-a-grant/

Telephone: 01904 550 055

The Barchester’s Charitable Foundation

Supports individuals who are 18+ and living with a learning disability or mental health condition, or are 65+ with funding to purchase/adapt mobility equipment for outdoor use. Grants range from £100 up to a maximum of £600. The application form must be completed by a third party who knows the individual in a professional or community- based capacity.

To check if you meet the eligibility criteria visit: www.bhcfoundation.org.uk/apply/individual/eligibility

Telephone: 0800 338 3328

RNIB Technology Grant

RNIB stands for Royal National Institute of Blind People. They offer grants that be used to buy a wide range of usefultechnologies that can help you live independently. They only consider applications for grants towards:

• Talking phones, accessible smartphones, accessible tablets and e-readers (£400 maximum)
• Big button or talking landline telephones (£100 maximum)
• Computer accessibility software (£500 maximum)
• Electronic braille displays and notetakers (£500 maximum)
• Portable and TV video magnifiers (£500 maximum)
• DAISY players and USB players (£300 maximum)
• Smart home devices and accessories (£150 maximum)
• Wearable technology including health and fitness devices (£200 maximum)
• Voice recorders and dictaphones (£150 maximum)
• Accessible kitchen equipment including talking microwaves, talking scales and talking measuring jugs, Talking watches and clocks (£80 maximum)
• RNIB’s Penfriend 3 labelling device plus any spare labels and talking colour detectors.

To apply, visit: www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/money-and-benefits/grants-from-rnib/ Telephone: 0303