Cash for Kids: General Grants

Overview

Available to registered charities, community groups and individuals. 

Funds will support children and young people (up to and including 18 years old) living in our community affected by poverty, abuse, neglect or those with additional support needs.

Funding Available

The value of a grant is typically from £1,000 to £3,000 but they will consider applications for smaller or larger amounts.

Please ensure the total grant amount being applied for includes any delivery, VAT or other additional costs as these cannot be added retrospectively.

What can they fund

• Poverty 
  • Beds / bedroom items* , clothing* , school uniform, white goods, laptop / tablets for study, holiday hunger / before or after school activity clubs* , baby equipment, sensory room / equipment. 
• Mental Health and well-being 
  • Therapy* including counselling, music / art therapy, speech / language therapy, physiotherapy, bereavement support, sensory equipment.
• Sport and physical well-being* 
  • Sports equipment, kit, hall / pitch hire, volunteer coaching / training, minibuses. 
• Education and essential skills 
  • Educational materials (books, classroom equipment, outdoor / indoor play equipment), school trips / residentials* , volunteer training such as First Aid and coaching qualifications, bleed control kits / defibrillators, specialist schools, swimming / sport / uniformed organisation subs for disadvantaged children, sensory rooms / equipment.
• Disability or life-limiting illness 
  • Specialist equipment including beds, hoists, mobility aids, bathroom hoists / baths, sensory equipment, holiday hunger / before or after school activity clubs* , car seats / harnesses, communication aids, minibus, trikes, wheelchairs and buggies.
• Diversity and inclusion 
  • Projects that promote equality, diversity and inclusion, and benefit the wider community.

*Specific limitations

• Beds and bedroom items - Single, bunk and specialist beds only. 
• Therapy - A maximum of six months of sessions. They do not fund diagnosis or suitability assessments. 
• School trips / residentials - For disadvantaged children who would be excluded without support. 
• Holiday hunger / before or after school activity clubs - For disadvantaged children which must include food provision. 
• Sports and physical well-being - Applicants will be offered the opportunity to take part in Sports Challenge in the first instance. 
• Clothing - Maximum of £100 voucher per child. 

For individual grant items they may provide similar, alternative items or use different suppliers. 

For part funded items they will offer the choice of a similar, alternative item or allow you to make up the shortfall from other sources.

Application types and requirements

Individual children 

Application may be made by a parent / guardian or professional supporting the application. All applications will require: 

• Two quotations or online links to the items requested. If there is only one supplier (sometimes the case for specialist equipment), please include a note uploaded as the second quotation explaining the reasons why. 
• Supporting letter or email from the professional supporting the application. The supporting letter must be specific to the application and detail the impact that the item requested will have on the child’s health and wellbeing. 
• Proof of benefit entitlement. 

Organisations 

Applications may be made by charities (with turnover less than £1 million), schools, community associations and grassroots organisations (with a constitution / formal governance documents and safeguarding policy). 

They do not accept applications from CICs for this grant type. 

Charities (turnover less than £1 million)

• Governance document such as constitution. 
• Safeguarding policy. 
• Paying-in slip / statement for a bank account in the charity name. 
• Most recent accounts. 
• Breakdown of costs relating to the application. 

Schools 

• Safeguarding policy attached or on website. 
• Paying-in slip / statement for a bank account in the schools name. 
• Most recent accounts, income / expenditure documents or statement of school fund account.
• Letter from Head Teacher authorising application / Head is a point of contact.

Community associations / grassroots organisations 

• Governance document such as a constitution, articles of association or club rules and regulations. 
• Safeguarding policy. 
• Paying-in slip / statement for a bank account in the organisation name. 
• Recent accounts or income / expenditure documentation. 
• Breakdown of costs relating to this application