Grants for individuals - Barnwood Trust

Grants for individuals

Am I eligible?

Please read through the following points to see if you qualify.

To apply, you must:

• Live in Gloucestershire
• Have a long-term disability that affects your quality of life
• Have a low income – and little or no savings
• Have a specific need, that is not provided for by the State

What can I apply for?

Grants are available for:

• Disability-related equipment and appliances
• One-off household, personal and sundry expenses – including personal contributions to Disabled Facilities Grants

The main criteria, is that the item you are applying for should help you to carry on living independently and/or improve your quality of life. 

Previous examples include:

• Equipment for use at home – such as riser/recliner chairs
• Mobility aids and equipment – e.g. Motability deposits and pavement scooters
• Domestic appliances – such as cookers, fridges and freezers
• Household expenses – such as repairs, unexpectedly high utility bills, bedding, furniture and carpets
• Personal items – such as clothing and spectacles
• Sundry expenses  – such as holidays and college courses
• Personal contributions to Disabled Facilities Grants

If you don’t qualify for a Trust grant to cover your personal contribution to a Disabled Facilities Grant, you may still qualify for a loan from us. This would be secured on your property and repayable at agreed terms. If appropriate, we’ll tell you more when we reply to your grant application.

How do I apply?

You can download application forms via this website or contact us and we’ll send the relevant form(s) out to you.

Please note, all grant applications must be made through, or endorsed by, a social or healthcare professional, such as an occupational therapist, social worker, health visitor, district nurse or community psychiatric nurse; someone qualified to confirm what is best for the applicant.

How long does it take?

Wherever possible, we visit applicants at home to discuss their needs in greater detail – and in privacy.

Our aim is to provide an answer within 10 working days of this home visit being made.

What else do I need to know?

Grants are not usually made in the following circumstances:

• To people living outside Gloucestershire
• To people with problems relating to drugs and alcohol – unless they also have physical disabilities or a diagnosed mental illness
• To pay for:
  • Funeral costs
  • Medical equipment
  • Private healthcare (e.g. assessment, treatment or medication)
  • Counselling or psychotherapy
  • Top-up nursing home fees
  • Private education or university tuition fees
  • Council tax
  • Court fines
  • House purchase, rent deposits, or rent in advance
  • Regular payments to supplement income
  • Needs of non-disabled dependants or carers

In addition:

• Those applying for grants are expected to have sought all the State help they may be entitled to before applying
• Grants will not be awarded retrospectively, or when an item has been ordered prior to the grant application

Any questions?

Please contact us if you have any queries. We’ll do all we can to help.