Our grants provide funding for mobility and specialist equipment, to support children with complex health needs.

Please read through the information below and on the following pages, to make sure we are the right charity for you.

Could I apply?

To apply for a grant, you must have worked for an eligible UK fashion and textile employer for at least one year within the last nine years. Click here to check if you can apply.

Your financial situation

Our grants support families who are struggling financially. This might be due to a sudden loss of income or change in family circumstances. 

Parents usually apply if they are facing one of the following situations:

• You are in arrears with your household bills, have debt issues
• You are caring for a child or family member with ill health or additional needs
• You have been made redundant
• Your employer has reduced your contracted hours of work
• You have recently suffered a relationship breakdown, separation or divorce 
• You are signed off work sick or have a long term illness
• You are facing homelessness or have recently had to move home
• You are a kinship carer
• You have suffered the bereavement of a close family member

NOTE: During application you will be asked to provide a recent bank statement, to show household income and expenditure, as well as child benefit and all other benefits the family receive. Find out more about our application process. 

When we fund specialist equipment

Our specialist equipment grants provide funding for specialist items to support children who have complex health needs and ongoing conditions.

These conditions might include: 

• Cerebral palsy
• Paraplegics and Quadriplegic
• Head and Spinal cord injuries
• Spina bifida
• Epilepsy
• Motor neurones
• Down syndrome
• Polymicrogyria
• Duchennes muscular dystrophy
• Spinal muscular atrophy
• Learning difficulties
• Global Developmental Delay
• Williams Syndrome
• Fragile X Syndrome
• Other diagnosed health conditions not listed above

The requested items will vary for each child and should be essential to support their health or wellbeing.

Equipment funded by our grants should improve the wellbeing of children with complex health needs by any of the following: 

• Facilitating mobility
• Enhancing sensory awareness
• Supporting physical development
• Providing comfort (e.g. for spinal issues or other physiological issues)
• Supporting educational or communication needs
• Providing opportunities for inclusion
• Ensuring safety at home or away from home (e.g. specialist car seats, bed guards, etc)

Items typically funded  include:

• Sensory items
• Communication aids
• Adaptive/Sensory clothing
• SEN adapted iPad or computer
• Speech and language resources
• Physical exercise equipment (e.g. trampolines)
• Adaptive children's bedroom furniture
• Adaptive pushchair or stroller
• Adaptive trikes and bicycles
• Moulded seating systems (e.g. PPod or Ottoblox)
• Adaptive car seats
• Wheelchairs and accessories

Supporting documents

All applications for specialist equipment need to be accompanied by a supporting letter or recent health assessment (within the past 6 months) from a UK government professional who is known to or working with the family, e.g. UK government social worker, NHS health worker, CAHMS.

In the first instance, supporting letters will not be accepted from the practitioner or company who will be retailing or supplying the equipment, due to potential conflicts of interest. 

Make an enquiry

If you would like to apply for a grant for specialist equipment, the first step is to complete our online enquiry form using the green button below. 

Find out how to apply   

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Ned's Story

When Ned needed a new electric wheelchair his Mum Sofie knew a grant could help. We were delighted to part fund Ned's new 'power chair' which made a huge difference to Ned's quality of life, particularly during lockdown. Here, Mum Sofie tells their story.