Gardening with Disabilities Trust Grants
Overview
Their most common request is for raised beds and planting tables: they often pay for accessibility ramps, handrails for outside steps, adapted tools, polytunnels and much more. Sometimes they simply pay for the seeds or bulbs to get the garden going again. They are all about actively gardening.
Who they help and what they will pay for
They help individuals, and groups. People with all kinds of physical or mental abilities, in all parts of the UK, have been awarded grants from the Trust.
Typically they can pay for:
- Raised beds
- Poly Tunnels
- Greenhouses
- Tools
- Small-scale garden adaptations. e.g. access pathways.
- Plants or Shrubs
- Compost
How it works
Step 1 – Apply for a Grant by completing the online application form or download form from website and send to the Trust via email or post.
Make sure you enclose/attach the following (they cannot process your application without them):
- A letter from your doctor or other Health Care Professional indicating your disability and a copy of another official document relating to your disability…a PIP or a Blue Parking Badge would be acceptable. (Your information is stored safely and used to assess your suitability for a grant. Review their privacy policy here.)
- 2 quotations from your suppliers (if you are requesting a grant to modify your garden).
- The detail about your project, what you are needing and how much it costs. For example, if you would like a raised bed, then you might need to detail raised bed £x, potting compost £y. Don’t forget to include delivery costs.
Step 2 – Review by Case-Worker
Your application will be passed to a case-worker who volunteers with the Trust. They may come back to you and ask you some questions about your project or for some additional form of ID.
Step 3 – Review by Committee/Award of Grants
All viable applications will be discussed at their Committee Meeting. These take place roughly every 2 months. If successful, they will let you know, and arrange to make the payment to you either in the form of vouchers or to your chosen supplier.
Step 4 – Implementation & Follow up
They ask you to send receipts and photos of how you’ve used the grant. In certain instances, they will contact you to arrange a visit to see the outcome in situ.
Notes
It is your responsibility to check planning permissions, landlords consent and other statutory permissions. Before digging make sure you know the route of any utility services.
They pay builders/suppliers on your behalf. They never pay builders “up-front”. Please please ensure that you are using a reputable supplier.
Below is their list of suppliers that they can order from on your behalf. They will never pay you directly.
- VegTrug (raised beds & planters) VegTrug.com
- Vegepod (raised beds & planters) Vegepod.co.uk
- Woodblocx (raised beds) Woodblocx.co.uk
- Charles Taylor Trading (raised beds & planters) charlestaylortrading.com
- Halls Greenhouses (greenhouses) Hallsgreenhouses.co.uk
- Greenhouse Stores (greenhouses & sheds) Greenhousestores.co.uk
- First Tunnels (polytunnels) Firsttunnels.co.uk
- Travis Perkins (compost, building materials, sleepers, raised beds, tools) Travisperkins.co.uk
- Peta-EasyGrip (adaptive tools) Peta-uk.com
- National Garden Gift Vouchers (plants, seeds, garden centres) Nationalgardengiftvoucher.co.uk
* When including a greenhouse in your application please include a base. All greenhouses need to be erected by a professional and they cannot pay this cost or accept any responsibility for this.
In some circumstances, it may be possible to obtain VAT-relief on the cost of adaptations required for your personal use as a result of your disability. They cannot advise on this and recommend you seek the advice of a tax specialist: it remains your responsibility to check whether your work is eligible for such relief. You may find some useful information here.
Read their clients’ stories and newsletter sections of their website for inspiring and creative projects previously funded by the charity.