GrantRadar

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)

RNIB Technology Grants

RNIB's Technology Grants help registered blind or partially sighted people in the UK on means-tested benefits buy accessible technology that helps them live independently, such as accessible phones, video magnifiers, braille displays and talking kitchen equipment. These are grants to individuals, not organisations, of up to £500 in total, with a guideline maximum price for each type of item. Applications are accepted all year and must be backed by a professional who knows the applicant's circumstances.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £500
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Individuals only (or someone applying on their behalf, such as a parent, relative, carer or supporting professional)
  • The person must be resident in the UK; registered with their local authority as blind (severely sight impaired) or partially sighted (sight impaired), unless it is a child whose sight loss has not yet been certified; receive a means-tested benefit that is not a Tax Credit (Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, income-related ESA, income-based JSA or Universal Credit; DLA, PIP and Attendance Allowance do not count); have been refused funding for the items by their local authority; have savings under £6,000; and not have had an RNIB grant in the last three years
  • Unsuccessful applicants must wait six months before reapplying

What it funds

Only these items, within guideline maximum prices:

  • Talking phones, accessible smartphones, accessible tablets and e-readers (£400)
  • Big button or talking landline telephones (£100)
  • Computer accessibility software (£500)
  • Electronic braille displays and notetakers (£500)
  • Portable and TV video magnifiers (£500)
  • DAISY and USB players (£300)
  • Smart home devices and accessories (£150)
  • Wearable technology including health and fitness devices (£200)
  • Voice recorders and dictaphones (£150)
  • Accessible kitchen equipment such as talking microwaves, scales and measuring jugs
  • Talking watches and clocks (£80)
  • RNIB's Penfriend 3 labelling device, spare labels and talking colour detectors

More than one item can be requested up to £500 in total; any extra cost must be funded from elsewhere first, or a conditional grant may be offered that expires after 6 months.

Items RNIB sells are sent directly; otherwise the grant is paid to the applicant's bank account.

What it will not fund

  • Any item not on RNIB's list
  • Items already bought
  • Items needed for your job (Access to Work may help)
  • Items needed for educational purposes
  • Emergency grants
  • Applicants who have had an RNIB grant in the last three years

How to apply

  1. Read the Technology Grants guidance notes and check you meet all the criteria
  2. For access technology (software, video magnifiers, phones, tablets), try out the item first, for example at a local sight loss charity or RNIB store
  3. Get a supporting professional (social worker, occupational therapist, health visitor, worker from a charity or housing association - not a GP, friend, family member or carer) to write a signed letter of support on letterhead
  4. Apply online, or download the Word application form and send it by email to tfl@rnib.org.uk or by post to RNIB Technology Grants Team, Grimaldi Building, 154A Pentonville Road, London, N1 9JE
  5. If applying online, reply to the follow-up email with your supporting evidence

RNIB acknowledges forms within 3 working days and tells you within 2 weeks if anything is missing; no decision can be made until everything is received.

For advice on eligibility or which technology to choose, call 0303 123 9999 and ask for the Technology for Life team.

Have ready

  • Completed application form
  • Copy of a recent official letter or statement proving receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit
  • Signed letter of support on official letterhead from the supporting professional, confirming registration, the make, model and price of each item, the need for it, the difference it will make, and that the local authority could not fund it (and, for access technology, that it has been tried and is suitable; for a mobile phone, that running costs can be met)

If other organisations have pledged money towards an item costing more than the maximum, include a copy of their letter or email.

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.