GrantRadar

Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire

Grace Cares Hardship Fund

Hardship grants of up to £350, paid as e-vouchers, for unpaid carers of people over 70 and for people aged 70 or over, anywhere in the UK, who are on a low income with little savings. Grants help with care and disability equipment or the cost of living, such as energy bills and food. It is an open round with applications considered as they arrive, and successful applicants cannot apply again for 24 months.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £350
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Light
short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

  • Individuals living anywhere in the UK, in two groups
  • Unpaid caregivers who care for someone over 70 and deliver more than 20 hours of care a week (Unpaid Caregiver Grant), and people aged 70 or older (Older Person Grant)
  • All applicants must meet the financial thresholds, which the funder states as 'not be over 25% of the Minimum Income Standard (MIS)', given as £23,776 for a single person and £36,605 for a household of two, and household savings under £3,000 for a single adult or £6,000 for a couple
  • Anyone awarded a grant cannot apply again for 24 months

What it funds

Unpaid Caregiver Grants towards the cost of care equipment or the cost of living, and Older Person Grants towards the cost of living. Examples (not exhaustive):

  • Equipment to assist with disability, such as wheelchairs, rollators and specialist furniture
  • Incontinence products
  • Gas and electricity costs
  • Food and general shopping costs
  • Memberships or costs to join support organisations or groups to assist with the needs of the older person being cared for

Other items can be considered case by case. Awards are an e-voucher, or occasionally a direct payment to an organisation supporting you.

What it will not fund

  • Debts: consumer credit or debt repayments, payday loans, overdraft fees, rent arrears
  • Legal fees and costs of legal representation
  • Payment of fines
  • House purchase
  • Private medical treatment
  • Private education
  • Higher education course fees

How to apply

  1. Check you meet the criteria (also available as a PDF)
  2. Complete the online application form, giving details of your household, income and expenditure, what you need help with and why, what will change, and how you will spend the award
  3. Send the supporting evidence for your route
  4. An external panel considers applications as they are submitted; you are told on decision and payments are made from the 28th of each month
  5. If successful, spend the e-voucher, send a receipt of the purchases and, if you can, a short quote about the difference it made

The round may close once funds are fully allocated. For help with the application, call 01743 295900.

Have ready

  • Unpaid caregivers: evidence of being an active unpaid caregiver, such as a letter from a GP or healthcare provider, a document or ID stating carer status, a letter detailing caring responsibilities, or a Carer's Allowance or benefits claim
  • Unpaid caregivers: a letter of support from a GP, social worker, occupational therapist or similar
  • Unpaid caregivers applying for equipment: a quote or example of what you need
  • Unpaid caregivers: ID or proof of address, such as a driving licence, passport or utility bill

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.