Welcome to the June 2022 edition of Disability Grants News - a monthly round up of highlights on the Disability Grants website and resources for anyone with a disability, caring for or working with disabled adults or children.

If you are new to the website and searching for grants please read the following pages before starting your search....

Adults- About Grants section

Children and Young People  - Grants for Disabled Children - An Introduction

The newsletters only contain updates and additions.

Here are some of this month’s updates and additions.... 

Holiday Caravans for the Disabled

Children and Young People

• The Family Fund has new funding for a Family Fund Mobility Support Scheme to support families of disabled or seriously ill children under 3 years of age.

• Alex supports individuals and their families affected by one of the genetic Leukodystrophies. It provides means tested financial support for specialist equipment, full time care and regular treatments.

• Bursaries from the National Art Trust are available to help talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds train in dance, music and drama.

• The Universal Music Sound Foundation provides instrument and equipment awards to schools, music teachers and individuals in full time education.  Now accepting applications.

• Small grants for young musicians up to 18 years in financial need to help pay for lessons, tour fees and music college are available from The Wrightson Trust.

• Aberlour offers support for families with disabled children in Scotland with respite care, adventure holidays and sibling support.

• Child Funeral Charity gives financial assistance for families in England and Wales who sadly have to arrange a funeral for their baby or child under 16 years.

Adults and Families

• Linking Help with Hope provides financial assistance to individuals experiencing hardship with physical and diagnosed mental health conditions, learning disabilities and carers of disabled children and adults.

• Individual Technology Solutions for Vision Impaired People provide grants for communication equipment such as mobile phones and tablet computers for the visually impaired.

• The Drinks Trust helps and supports current and former employees of the drinks industry and their families with on-going and one-off emergency grants.

• The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers support ex Royal Fusiliers and their families with grants for disabled children, home adaptations, mobility equipment and financial need.

• The Simply Open Awards is a competition offering individuals with any disability or other specific access needs to demonstrate a solution they have created to better manage access challenges in a way that enhances independence, capability or joy.  Applications close 2^nd December 2022.
  
  

• The Welsh Government has set up a £9 million fund for short breaks for carers.  Those in receipt of Carers Allowance are eligible for a one-off payment of £500.  Further details will be released shortly.

Community

• Motability have launched a new grant programme for charities and other organisations.  It is offering grants for community transport, wheelchairs, active travel and research.  For example: It has given funding to the Family Fund for transport of severely disabled children under 3 years (see above).

• The LGBT+Futures: Equity Fund will award grants of up to £25,000 to intersectional organisations.  This includes deaf and/or disabled LGBT + people.

• The Blue Spark Foundation offers funding for small scale projects to improve the education and development of children and young people in England. It has previously provided funding for a Riding for the Disabled centre and the Wilberforce Trust for partially sighted children.

• Designability are looking for volunteer drivers to assist in the collection of Whizzybugs (powered wheelchairs for disabled children).  These are loaned free of charge.  At the end of use with one family the “bugs” are refurbished and sent it out again on loan to another family.

• IPSEA are running a series of lunchtime training sessions to guide families of disabled children through the process of obtaining an Education, Health and Care Plan.

• The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) has been reviewed and fresh guidance has been given to local authorities in England.  It is hoped it will improve delivery.

• Parents of disabled children may be able to claim a Personal Budget or Direct Payments for their child.  This is allocated by the Local Authorities and can help pay for care, respite breaks and help for your child to access or use leisure facilities.  Find out more from Contact.

• Two new Easy Read Guides:
  

  Guide to Cervical Screening - Beyond Words

  
  
  Getting Your Health Checked – NHS

• Irwin Mitchell have launched a probono legal surgery for those stuck in hospital and are Autistic or/and have a Learning Disability.

• Trebah Garden in Cornwall is 80% accessible and now has two tramper scooters for hire at no extra cost.

• Historic Scotland have a free visitor app to access site details and information of places to visit in Scotland.  It details facilities including disabled toilets and wheelchair access.

Please don't forget that Disability Grants is a shared resource where everyone helps each other..... So, do participate and share your knowledge and experiences.

Help and Be Helped

All the best

Julia Tyrrell

Founder of Disability Grants

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Email: contact@disability-grants.org

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