FAMILY FUND GRANTS
make a difference
CORONAVIRUS HAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON FAMILIES ALL ACROSS THE UK. FROM LOSS OF INCOME TO ACCESS TO SUPPORT SERVICES AND ABILITY TO WORK, CORONAVIRUS HAS PARTICULARLY INCREASED THE EXISTING PRESSURES ON MANY FAMILIES RAISING DISABLED AND SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN
D
isabled children’s charity Family Fund, which provides grants to families on low incomes raising disabled or seriously ill children across the UK, has received extra funding in response to this increased need. It received £10 million from the Department for Education to help families in England, and extra funding from Scottish Government to support over 500 more families in Scotland. Family Fund provides essential grants for items such as computers and tablets, sensory toys, outdoor play equipment, furniture and kitchen appliances to help break down many of the barriers families face, and can make family life easier. Families are able to apply for what they think would benefit their child and their family the most, whether it be a day trip to the seaside, or a grant for new clothing and bedding. Families who have not received a grant from Family Fund on or since 1 April, and who think they may be eligible for support can apply for a grant immediately. THE IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS ON FAMILIES To understand more about the impact Coronavirus has had on the families the Family Fund have supported, they conducted a survey at the beginning of lockdown and then again at the beginning of May, to find out what issues have particularly affected families.
26
94%
of families said the health and wellbeing of their disabled or seriously ill children had been negatively affected, an increase from 89% in first few weeks of the lockdown.
89%
said their disabled or seriously ill children’s behaviour and emotions were being negatively affected and 82% reported a negative effect on their mental health.
65%
said their access to formal support services for their child, such as physiotherapy and mental health services, has declined since the Coronavirus outbreak.
You can read the full survey results at Family Fund’s website: https://www.familyfund.org.uk/news/ health-and-wellbeing-of-disabled-children-at-riskunder-pandemic-as-government-announces-extra-10million-funding-for-children-with-complex-needs
