GrantRadar

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Children's disabled facilities grants

A council grant to adapt the home of a child (aged 0 to 19 and in education) with a long-term disability, such as widening doors, installing ramps or stairlifts, or replacing a bath with a level-access shower. It covers adaptations costing over £1,000, is not means tested up to the £30,000 maximum, and the amount depends on what an occupational therapist recommends. Families apply as individuals, starting with a children's occupational therapy assessment; the council pays the contractor directly.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £30,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Parents or carers of a child living in Blackburn with Darwen who has a permanent or long-term physical or mental impairment with a substantial effect on everyday activities at home
  • The child must be aged 0 to 19 and still in education (young people 18 or over who are not in education apply through Adult Social Services)
  • The applicant must own the property, or be a tenant with the landlord's consent, and intend to live there for the five-year grant period
  • Landlords with a disabled child tenant can also apply; foster carers are considered case by case
  • The home must be a permanent dwelling, regardless of tenure
  • Not means tested up to £30,000; above that a financial assessment applies

What it funds

  • Widening doors
  • Installing ramps
  • Improving access to rooms and facilities, for example installing a stairlift
  • Providing essential facilities, such as replacing a bath with a level-access shower
  • Helping a disabled child get into and move around their home, including the main family room, a bedroom and a toilet, bath or shower
  • Making the home safe for the disabled child and others living there

What it will not fund

  • Work started or completed before the grant is approved
  • Additional work beyond what the occupational therapist recommends
  • Costs above the agreed amount where you choose your own contractor
  • Refitting adaptations you have had removed (the council may decline)

How to apply

  1. Request a Children's Occupational Therapy assessment through the council's digital customer portal (parents, carers and professionals can refer)
  2. An occupational therapist assesses your child's needs and recommends adaptations
  3. A housing surveyor checks the work is reasonable and practicable, draws up a schedule of works and costs it
  4. Obtain any planning or building regulations approval and landlord consent needed
  5. The DFG panel decides whether to approve the grant and the DFG co-ordinator writes to you
  6. Choose the council's contractor or your own (your own must be qualified, VAT registered and insured, with two quotes)
  7. After a pre-start meeting the work is done, checked at a post-adaptation visit, and the council pays the contractor

the council may charge an agency fee of up to 12.5% of the cost of works

grants over £10,000 are registered as a local land charge for five years and up to £10,000 may be repayable if the property is sold

Have ready

  • Two contractor quotes including the occupational therapist's recommendations, if using your own contractor
  • Home ownership certificates
  • Landlord's consent if you are a tenant

for complex needs the council may ask for written medical documentation

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