Grant Finder

Grants for Holidays and Day Trips

Now we are approaching summer and hopefully we get some sunny weather, you may be looking for things to do.  We know how expensive summertime can be so we have put together some information below that may help.

Please be aware that lots of these grant applications are only open for a short time, so please be quick if you would like to apply.

SEND Local Offers

For all children and young people with special educational needs (SEND) your local council must have a Local Offer. A Local Offer gives children and young people with SEND, and their families, information about what support services the council thinks are available in their local area. Councils are responsible for writing a Local Offer and making sure it is available for everyone to see.  In Scotland this is called Additional Support for Learning (ASL) and in Wales Additional Learning Needs (ALN).  Northern Ireland do not have Local Offers instead, they have the Special Educational Needs Advice Centre (SENAC), who provide independent advice to children and young people with SEND.

The link below will take you to the WellChild website.  If you click on the nation of the UK you live in, it will bring down a list of local authorities. Follow the link to the Local Offer for the area where you live and you should be able to find out about any activities or clubs in your local area.

SEND Local Offers in the UK | WellChild

Family Fund for children aged 0-17 years

Family Fund offer a wide range of grants if you meet the eligibility criteria. You can apply online.
In England and Northern Ireland, you can currently apply for a grant every 24 months this includes holidays with Inspire, Butlins and Haven.
In Scotland you can apply every 18 months.
Unfortunately, the programme is currently closed in Wales.
Family Fund also manage some other grant programs, and the site is regularly updated so it’s worth checking regularly.
Which grant programmes are available? – Family Fund

Family Fund – Your Opportunity for adults aged 18 to 24 years

Your Opportunity supports disabled and seriously ill young adults, aged 18 to 24 years old, living at home. They offer grants for digital equipment, clubs and activities, transport and much more.  You can apply online.
Your Opportunity (18 to 24 year olds) – Family Fund

Happy Days Children’s Charity

Happy Days fund a variety of day trips and self-catering short breaks for families on lower incomes. This includes Haven, theme parks, Centre Parcs, cottages breaks and Butlins.
Further details and application forms can be found at the link below:
Happy Days Children’s Charity UK – Apply for Funding (happydayscharity.org)

Dreams Come True for UK residents aged 5-18 years old

Please check the eligibility criteria on the website link below as grants also depend on where you live in the UK. If you meet all the criteria and wish to apply, then please send details of the wish to Sarah Oliver who will complete the application on your behalf.  The charity only accepts a limited number of applications each month and the referral portal opens on the 3^rd of each month.

You can usually only have one dream or wish granted even if it has been from another charity or organisation.
Make A Referral | Dreams Come True Charity

Turn to Us

Turn to Us have a grant search which will let you know about any grants you may be eligible to apply for. They previously administered the Covid Cost of Living Grants that some families received from Sense.
Turn2us Grants Search
They also have a useful benefits calculator on their website to check you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to.
Turn2us Benefits Calculator

Sunny Days Children’s Fund 

Sunny Days have two holiday homes at the Haven Orchard Holiday Park in Clacton-on-Sea Essex. Families that meet their eligibility criteria can apply for a free week-long break, see the link below for more information.
Sunny Days Children’s Fund – Holiday Home (sunnydaysfund.org.uk)

Deafblind UK

Deafblind UK have a self-catering deafblind-friendly caravan on the Haven Holiday Village at Conifer Court, Hopton-on-Sea. This can be hired at heavily discounted rates by both families with children and adults. Hopton-on-Sea is a coastal village nestled in between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. See the link below for further information and to make a booking.
Holidays | Deafblind UK

Sense

Sense has holiday programmes for children aged 8 years and over and for adults independent of their families or support. Holidays cost between £400 – £800 but you may be able to use direct payments or a short breaks payment to fund the break if you receive this support from social care. You would need to speak with your local authority to check if you can use your payments to fund a Sense holiday.
Go on a Sense Holiday – Sense
Sense Holiday costs and payment – Sense

VICTA

VICTA is a national charity that provides support to children and young adults from 0 to 29 years who are blind or partially sighted and their families. VICTA run a range of different holidays, activities and courses both for families and individuals to attend independently. These are often subsidised or for a minimal fee. You may be able to use direct payments or a short breaks payment to fund the break if you receive this support from social care. You would need to speak with your local authority to check if you can use your payments to fund a VICTA holiday or activity.
We recommend that you sign up to receive their email updates.  See links below for more information.
Our Services | How VICTA can help with your visual impairment | VICTA
Stay in touch with VICTA (mailchi.mp)

LOOK UK

LOOK is a small charity, supporting visually impaired young people to thrive. They offer structured peer support for young people and their parents / carers, through a mentoring project, support groups and events programme.
Events – LOOK – Supporting Visually Impaired Young People to Thrive (look-uk.org)
Look also have a holiday flat in the seaside town of Scarborough in North Yorkshire, which is available to rent at affordable rates for individuals, couples, families, business visitors and groups of friends. The comfortably furnished flat has 2 bedrooms, sleeping up to 5 people. It is short walk to the seafront. Scarborough is a seaside town with plenty to do. It has two huge sandy bays, and a castle on the headland.
High season (April to end of September) £470 per week/£70 per night.
Low season (October to end of March) £400 per week/£60 per night.
Minimum 3-night stay bookings.
(prices as of May 2024)
For further details see the link below.
Look UK – On a Mission to Support Young VI People & Their Families (look-uk.org)

Vocal Eyes

Vocal Eyes provide information on their website on all the audio-described performances and events at theatres, museums and heritage sites around the UK. The charity also works to increase those opportunities and make them as good as possible. They aim to ensure that as many blind and visually impaired people as possible are aware of them, and that the arts and heritage sector know how to create them, and welcome blind people as a core audience.
VocalEyes – Opportunities for blind and partially sighted people to experience and enjoy art and heritage
The link below can be used to search for events in your area.
What’s on – VocalEyes

Amber Trust

The Amber Trust provides grants to children for:

• Music lessons
• Instruments
• Specialised equipment
• Concert tickets
• Accommodation and travel for music related activities such as concerts

Amber also runs direct music services for families with a visually impaired child aged 0-5 (Little Amber) and aged 5-18 with complex needs (AmberPlus). These services aim to help families and professionals gain the confidence and resources to engage with blind children through music.

They award grants three time a year. The next application closes at the end of June then the next one is the 15^th November.  You need to apply on behalf of your child or young person, but we are happy to support the application.
Amber Music Awards – Amber Trust

British Wireless for the Blind Association

British Wireless for the Blind Association have a range of products that are free / on loan to people living with sight loss who meet the eligibility criteria.  They have recently added the Echo Dot and Echo Show to this range.

To receive an Alexa device on free loan you must meet the following criteria:

• Have access to a smart phone or tablet, and the internet at home
• Be resident in the UK
• Be living with sight loss
• Be over the age of eight
• Receive Personal Independent (PIP) / Attendance Allowance (AA) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) in Scotland or receive a means-tested benefit (or parent/guardian if under 18).

Free Alexa scheme launches – British Wireless for the Blind Fund
Equipment – British Wireless for the Blind Fund

Specialist Activity Holidays

Calvert Exmoor

Calvert Exmoor is an accessible residential activity centre and charity for people with physical, learning, behavioural, sensory and complex disabilities alongside their families, friends and carers. They offer accessible activity breaks in Devon
Accessible Activity Breaks Devon | Calvert Exmoor
They can offer a bursary towards holidays based on finincial need.  Currently, they can cover between 10% – 30% of the total cost of a break at the Calvert Trust for families and individuals.
Holiday Bursary Schemes | Financial Support Disabled Holidays | Calvert Trust Exmoor (calvertexmoor.org.uk)

Bendrigg

Bendrigg Trust is a registered charity that provides residential activity breaks for people of any age or ability at their centre in Cumbria.  The Bendrigg Trust, has over 40 years’ experience of providing adventure activity breaks for people with disabilities. Whether you or a member of your family has autism, physical disabilities, learning or behavioural difficulties, Bendrigg can enable you all to enjoy a range of adventure activities.
Residential Activity Centre For Disabled People (bendrigg.org.uk)
2024 DATES & PRICES
Accessible Breaks For Families With A Disability (bendrigg.org.uk)
There is a weekend break during October half term (check your local school holiday dates) specific to families living with Rare Conditions.
FRI 25^th – MON 28^th OCTOBER 2024 (3 NIGHTS)
Subsidised price: £240 per person
Bendrigg Trust have created a Funding Pack to help you find specific funders who you can apply to for financial support toward your trip. To request a Funding Pack, contact the Bendrigg Trust directly.

Adult Empowerment Fund.

A reminder to those of you who have not previously applied or who have not had a grant recently, ASUK offer adults (18’s and over) with Alström Syndrome, the chance to try something new.  You can apply for between £50-£500 to pay for the activity, all we ask you to do is write an article for publication in the ASUK newsletter (within a month of the activity) with a few photographs to publish too if possible. Or, if you would rather tell us about your experience, we can help you produce a podcast for the ASUK website.
Please note this is only for adults (18’s and over) with Alström Syndrome (plus a carer or personal assistant if required).

BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme for children and young people aged 17 years and under.
ASUK can access the BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme which supports children and young people who are facing exceptional difficultly. It can deliver or fund critical items such as: cookers, furniture, kitchen equipment, small appliances, children’s beds and bedding (including cots), washing machines, tumble dryers, fridges, freezers and fridge-freezers, baby equipment and clothing.  So, if you face a break down of a critical item please get in touch with Sarah Oliver and we will see what we can do.

Get in touch

Please get in touch with ASUK Care Coordinator, Sarah Oliver if you would like any support completing the grant forms or if you would like any further information.

Sarah Oliver
ASUK Care Coordinator
Email: Sarah.oliver@alstrom.org.uk
Tel: 07917 958502

 

We hope you all have a lovely summer!