How to Find Charitable Funding for Your Disability Needs

For individuals with disabilities requiring specialised equipment, numerous funding sources are available to provide essential support.

Social care support is available through your local authority or NHS funding, e.g. Wheelchair Service Scheme, which we cover in a previous article.

This article focuses on charitable funding options, which can supplement local authority and NHS funding.

If you have undergone a needs assessment through your local council but still require additional equipment to enhance your daily life, don’t lose hope—there is a wealth of funding available to help you.

Charities for Disabled Adults

There are numerous charities dedicated to funding disability equipment for adults. We have an extensive charities database, covering charities across all different conditions. You can download this database for free to find charities that match your specific needs. Turn2Us is another valuable resource to help connect you with the right charity.

When applying for charitable funding, ensure you check eligibility criteria, as many organisations require applicants to demonstrate that they have explored local council support first. You may need a report from your occupational therapist (OT) or healthcare provider to accompany your application.

If you are using the funding to purchase equipment from ourselves we can assist you with the application process using our resource library, containing free justification templates to accompany your funding application.

Resources for Assistance:

• Older People’s Advocacy Alliance provides support in grant applications.
• Scope offers resources for those with disabilities navigating funding applications.
• The Richmond Group of Charities is a coalition of organisations representing people living with long-term health needs, advocating at higher levels for improved support.

Charities for Disabled Children

For disabled children, our database includes numerous charities that provide funding for equipment, respite breaks, and support for caregivers.

Home adaptations may be needed to make the home more suitable for care of the child, such as disabled lifts, level access areas, or even therapy rooms or pools. Our sister company Innova Care Concepts specialises in hydrotherapy pools and hoisting systems for the home, and Aquadapt provide general home adaptations such as disabled bathrooms or ramping.

Innova hydrotherapy pool

Aquadapt design and installation service

Whizz Kidz, a charity listed on our free database, is the UK’s leading charity for young wheelchair users. Our experienced assessors can conduct wheelchair assessments here at our showroom or in your home, to assess your needs and show you what options are available to you in the wheelchair market.

Sportability is another charity that encourages disabled adults and young people to venture into the great outdoors by hosting outdoor sporting events. Their motto is to take the ‘dis’ out of disability and show that people with physical disabilities or chronic conditions like MS can participate in any outdoor activity with the right equipment, such as quad biking, water skiing or scuba diving! They work with Experience Community, a not-for-profit organisation who provide the equipment to trial. We were pleased to sponsor an event at Leeds Urban Bike Park last year, where volunteers tried out the specially adapted trikes and bikes.

Leeds Urban Bike Park event June 2022

Funding for Specific Health Conditions

For people living with a specific long-term health condition such as MND, there are different routes to finding funding, such as:

• Turn2Us website, as detailed above
• Your local rotary club. These organisations bring together people from different backgrounds and generations, who work together to support different communities and champion causes for change. Some of the events they run involve sponsoring and raising money for people with disabilities in their area.
• The MNDA offers a variety of grants for research into treatments and different clinical projects. They also have care grants for up to £900 which can be applied for here.

Access in the Workplace

The Access to Work grant scheme provides funding for equipment that employees need to do their job, including commuting to work. Existing benefits you may already receive do not affect eligibility for this grant. This guide covers more details on how to apply for the grant, this is not just equipment but covers a range of support such as sign language interpreters, mental health support, or special computer software. The equipment belongs to the employer, but they are entitled to gift it to you if you leave their employment.

Access to Work scheme

Grants

Various websites are available to help you find grants suited to your disability needs:

• The Disability Grants website filters grant providers by category so you can narrow down the search to the categories most relevant to you.
• The Money Saving Expert website has a list of funding options if you are on a low income.

Disabled Facilities Grant — home adaptations

Although this is funded by local authorities rather than charitable funding, it’s important to be aware of this as another string to your bow. Apply via gov.uk to access funding towards home improvements to make your home more accessible for disabled users. The work will usually be assessed by an OT and will not be means-tested for children under 19, up to a maximum grant of £30K in England.

Our sister company Aquadapt specialise in home adaptations and have worked on many DFG-funded projects.

Money Saving Expert – low incomes

The Money Saving Expert site is a useful resource to help save money, with lots of information on grants to support the needs of people on low incomes.

Other Fundraising Support

Notwithstanding the above options, there is a network of external funding support should you not get all the funding you need through official channels. Crowdfunding sites like JustGiving or GoFundMe are very popular and can attract lots of donations if you share your story and the mission you want to achieve. Social media can be a very powerful tool to run a campaign and promote your story to a wider audience.

Guidance on Making Applications

Making grant applications can be a time-consuming process but we are here to help and support. We have a range of justification tools in our resource library that can support your case for particular products and services.

You may need a written report from a healthcare professional such as an occupational therapist or health worker.

Always check on eligibility criteria first before starting the application process, to avoid the disappointment of finding that you don’t meet the funding criteria.

Conclusion

No matter what your situation or condition, there is external support and funding available to enhance your independence and quality of life.

A great place to start is by researching our free database and resources, to set you on the path towards your funding goals.

If you know of someone who would benefit from our equipment but may need extra financial support, send us their name and contact details and we will get in touch with them.

FAQs

What types of equipment can I receive funding for?

Funding can cover a range of equipment, including mobility aids, home adaptations, and assistive technology. Specific eligibility varies by charity.

How do I apply for charitable funding?

You will typically need to complete an application form and provide supporting documentation, such as a healthcare professional’s report.

Can I apply for multiple funding sources?

Yes, you can apply for multiple funding sources, including local authority support, NHS funding, and charitable grants.

What if I am denied funding?

If you are denied funding, review the feedback provided and consider applying to different charities or exploring crowdfunding options.