News
Funding news – Grants & Support for Carers (Part 4), Winter 2024
MVA offers a final collection of announcements focusing on themes of funding and support for Carers, aimed at helping charities and similar groups continue their work.Due to the varying nature and progress of public policies and other related activity, MVA do advise that some of the information below may have changed since the time of its issue, and whilst every effort has been made to provide up-to-date details, they ask that readers please check with each organisation’s website for the latest news.
Family Fund Trust for Families with Severely Disabled Children
Offering funding that relates to the needs of a disabled or seriously ill child, young person and their family, the Family Fund Trust will provide grants to help families who care for severely disabled young people up to the age of 17.
Grants items often include washing machines, sensory toys, family breaks, bedding, tablets, furniture, outdoor play equipment, clothing, and computers.
This scheme is a Continuous Rolling Programme, so there is no deadline and applications can be accepted at any time.
More information and how to apply can be found at the Trust’s website.
‘Away from it all’ Holiday Scheme (AFIA) from Mothers’ Union
This international organisation continues to deliver their holiday scheme to help families who, for various reasons, would not normally be able to have a holiday.
Founded over 100 years ago, Mothers’ Union is a Christian organisation that has been supporting families all over the world, working to stop poverty, stopping inequality, and stopping injustice.
They campaign at local, national, and international levels to bring about real change for family life, women’s and girls’ rights, and the protection of children.
Away from it all (AFIA) is a holiday scheme funded by Mothers’ Union members to help people who would not otherwise have a holiday or day trip.
Mothers’ Union’s AFIA scheme can:
- Help fund part of the cost of a holiday
- Cover a family’s travel expenses,
- Pay for a whole holiday or day trip, or
- Organise family weeks for groups of families to have a break with activities and outings.
At the time of writing, there was no recognised deadline, suggesting this is a Continuous Rolling Programme and applications can be accepted at any time.
For more information and how to apply, visit the Mothers’ Union website.
Respite Holidays from Revitalise
Revitalise continue to support disabled people and carers with their range of short breaks, helping to boost wellbeing and rejuvenate relationships.
Revitalise is a national charity that provides respite care in a holiday setting for disabled people and carers.
They say they also offer inspirational opportunities for volunteers through one of the largest and most diverse volunteering programmes in the UK .
Revitalise say their work is based around the idea that disabled people should have the same rights, freedoms, responsibilities, and quality of life as those without disabilities.
So, they work to enable disabled people in the UK to access essential breaks with care, and provide inspirational opportunities for volunteers.
The Charity offer a range of services to deliver holiday breaks to provide disabled people and carers with the respite break that they need.
At the time of writing, this is a Continuous Rolling Programme and enquiries can be made at any time.
More information can be found on the Revitalise website.
On-going Information and Support from Sandcastle Trust
The Sandcastle Trust deliver on-going work to support families living with a rare genetic condition.
The Sandcastle Trust is a charity that support families living with a diagnosis of a rare genetic condition; and they offer a range of unique services across the UK, based around a family’s individual needs.
The Trust’s Memories scheme is one of the ways they offer regular opportunities for family fun and respite to help families build positive memories, strengthen family relationships, reduce isolation, and improve mental wellbeing and resilience.
Whether through a short UK break, an annual attraction pass or a special day trip, The Trust says the programme offers affected families the opportunity to spend quality time together away from their daily routine to refresh and re-energise.
At the time of writing, this is a Continuous Rolling Programme and enquiries can be made at any time.
For more information and how to apply, visit the Sandcastle Trust’s website.
Local grant giver and community support organisation Kent Community Foundation (KCF) also has services that can offer support to individuals and families in need. To find out more, you can contact KCF on 01303 814 500.
MVA are also continuing their efforts to provide support and advice for the Charity Sector during these challenging times with their Reference Guide to Cost Cutting Measures, available in their Advice and Support pages.
If you would like to see coverage of specific news or subject to help your charity, your project, your community group or enterprise, you can get in touch by email at info@mva.org.uk, you can also contact MVA via the website.