Variety Club Childrens Charity

Overview

The charity believe that all children should have an equal opportunity to reach their potential, regardless of their circumstances. All their programmes are designed to help less fortunate children to achieve precisely that. They provide practical, tangible help that makes an immediate difference to those children and their families.

In the last three years they have made more than three hundred grants to individuals and organisations.

Support for children

Equipment grants for children

Variety can help by funding grants for a broad range of specialist equipment. 

Who can apply

Children and young people are eligible for a grant if they meet the following criteria:

• They’re aged 18 or under
• They have a recognised disability or long-term health condition
• They are permanently resident in the UK

SEND and mainstream schools and non-profit organisations that work with children and young people are also eligible to apply for a Variety equipment grant.

Wheelchairs for children

They fund wheelchairs for any purpose, provided they are not available through your local authority wheelchair services.

• Lightweight manual wheelchairs
• Powered wheelchairs
• Sports wheelchairs
• All-terrain wheelchairs

All wheelchairs Variety provides are bespoke in order to meet the needs of the user. They have no preferred suppliers.

Who can apply

Anyone is eligible for a wheelchair grant if they meet the following criteria:

• They’ve not yet reached their 19th birthday
• They have a recognised disability or long-term health condition that permanently affects their mobility

They accept applications from young people themselves who are over the age of 13.

Any non-profit organisation working with children and young people is also eligible to apply for sports wheelchairs.

Support for organisations

Sunshine Coaches

Variety’s famous Sunshine Coaches are specially adapted, accessible minibuses that cater for SEND schools and other non-profit organisations working with disabled and disadvantaged children and young people.

Each Sunshine Coach is unique and serves the needs of the school or organisation to which it belongs. Each Sunshine Coach has its own story to tell.

There are four types of Sunshine Coach to choose from, depending on your needs.

There are four coach types:

• 14 seater minibus
• 17 seater minibus
• 13 seater with tail lift
• 17 seater with tail lift

All vehicles come with flexible seating options which means that your Sunshine Coach can continue to meet your changing needs.

You can apply for a Sunshine Coach at any time simply by completing the form available on their website and emailing it to coaches@variety.org.uk

They also provide equipment and wheelchair grants for individual children and young people under the age of 19 years.

In the past, Variety has offered equipment grants to organisations supporting disadvantaged young people through informal education, positive activity, and skills development. They are not currently open for applications, but are hoping to review this situation soon.
 

Variety Great Days Out

Their day trips offer memorable experiences for children and young people who may otherwise not have the chance to go on a special outing. Each year, they take thousands of children to one of their themed parties, the seaside, the circus, the theatre, the zoo, a theme park or other attractions around the UK. All events are accessible and can cater to the needs of your group. Great Days Out can accommodate group sizes ranging from 10 to 1000 children, depending on the location and access needs.
 

Who can apply

Variety Great Days Out are open to schools and non-profit organisations all over the UK that work with disabled and disadvantaged children and young people aged 18 and under. Whether you’re an SEN school or unit, PRU, mainstream school, youth club or community group there is something for you.
 

Organisation Grants

In the past, Variety has offered equipment grants to organisations supporting disadvantaged young people through informal education, positive activity, and skills development. They are not currently open for applications, but are hoping to review this situation soon.

The Variety Children’s Hospital

The renowned King’s College Hospital is home to the Variety Children's Hospital: their flagship healthcare project and one of the UK's leading medical centres for children.