Family Fund

[stevered1]

Just wanted to say we applied to the family fund for our son and we got a letter yesterday saying they have credited us with £800 for a holiday next year and given us a cheque for £500 to buy an epilepsy mat for monitoring when he has a fit. So we are very please and wanted to let everyone know they should get in touch with the family fund as we didnt know anything about it till a friend told us to apply.

[carys]

How wonderful, i hope ya little fela has a great holiday !

[loadsapixiedust]

We applied a few years ago and were turned down :( Glad someone has benefitted. I know someone who has had a grant several times, so maybe it's time to apply again, thanks for the reminder.

[purpleprincess]

Thats great news hope he enjoys the hol

[stevered1]

def apply again as you never know. Also we applied because we wanted the monitor and had no luck elsewhere as noone else seemed bothered to assist us and we was expecting to buy it ourselves, so everything else was a bonus

The main thing I am pleased about is the epilepsy monitor, its going to mean I can relax a bit and not panic so much during the nights...

oh but the holiday will be good too :)

[BarryandCaron]

Great news about the grants. Are you going to Florida next year then?

We can't get any grants as DH earns just on the border line as like everything else.

Caron

[Bartswife]

Well done, enjoy it. We applied, must have got lost in the post we've never had anyone in touch with us.

[lilzanna]

Well done, enjoy it. We applied, must have got lost in the post we've never had anyone in touch with us.

The family fund can takes ages and ages to reply, our last award took about 2-3 months to come through, and we are currently waiting for a reply for this years application. In our first application, they got us a washer drier, which they will replace after five years, so you can also apply for some of those large necessities too.

If you have been turned down in the past, it is defo worthwhile applying again, though!

[signtalker]

When Ds was small we applied every year, got 2 washing machines(they replace them after 5 years), and they also pay for the repairs in this time to, also money for holidays, clothing etc etc. Alas the last few years we havent applied as apprently we earn to much now LOL!!!
Glad that somebody is getting the financial help they need.
well done.
jules

[Bartswife]

Just a few days after saying we applied months ago and have been forgotten, a letter arrived today saying an assessor would be ringing me to plan a visit with us and our child. Goodness knows why they want to see Ashley, we have enough written proof that he has problems they will have to visit after school. Feel like I'm begging for cash I hate that feeling, but if something comes out of it for Ashley all well and good.

[Saratoska]

never heard of the Family Fund

[scotti]

www.familyfund.org.uk/

[Angie]

I got a washing machine from them about 9 years ago....still have it! we used to get an award of about £350 at the time for a a holiday. My son's DLA was stopped 6 years ago (and then reinstated as they had made a total cock up) I had totally forgotton about the family fund and haven't applied for 6 years now! i sent for the form and have just recieved it......does anyone know what you can actually apply for? i've forgotton.......I remember we had an itial visit too.........I suppose we will now need another one before they will award us anything? Anyone with any knowledgeabout it all?

[Petalsoftly]

I think it is disgusting that not enough people know about it... I had never heard of it until I just saw it here.... how many more don't know about this :(

[Rea]

This is news to me. We've had to buy nebulisers for my son who has special educational needs, dyspraxia, dyslexia, hyper=mobility, brittle asthma, balance and co-ordination problems, and although he's seen regularly at the hospital and has had physio and occupational therapy, I've never seen any information about this. We've bought and paid for 3 nebulisers now, and a few years ago, we had to raise money to buy a specially adapted apnoea monitor as he stops breathing during the night.

[Bartswife]

We've had the assessor visit, they will not fund his taxi fees to school as they say it comes under LEA responsibility, the LEA will not fund it as we are 2/10ths of a mile inside the cut off distance! Family fund will not pay for his karate lessons as we have paid up front, they will not pay for a lap top to help with his school work (down to LEA again) but they will pay for one if its for games to play on :confused2 so we have applied for a lap top for him.
Rea - I don't know if going by what they've said this morning whether they would pay for medical equipment, they may say its down to the NHS but we all know getting what you need medically and educationally for your child is not just a case of asking they always claim lack of funds. Make sense of the fact we can apply for a laptop for playing on but not for doing school work on.

[stevered1]

Well we just got our Epilepsy alarm on friday and what an expensive piece of rubbish... I think as long as our son is having a fit and flying 2 feet in the air and then bashing the bed to rock the sensor UNDER the mattress then we are ok... so I am thankful for the family fund and now need to get onto the company who supplied the alarm to question them about its effectiveness

[Nordicpollan]

Just seen this thread. We used the Family Fund whilst DS2 was 16 and under. They gave us a £350. grant towards a holiday when ever we applied. They also bought us 2 washing machines over the years.

A friend who has a child with special needs, had a grant to pay for driving lessons, to help her get to and fro hospital appointments. Another friend they gave a grant to for a specialist duvet, extra bedding, extra clothing for her child and a small one off payment towards her electricity bill as they had been through a really rough patch.

They are a charity and they only try to help when it is not a clear case for Health, Education or Social Services. I know we were very gratfully for the help they gave us as it seems things like Washing Machines only conk out at the worst times possible!!

Karen

[janny]

We got a Family fund grant last year, and i totally agree, its disgusting that people are not aware of its existence!! Vicki will be 16 next year so we wont be eligible again but i couldnt believe the amount of stuff they gave her!!!
All i asked for was a new mattress for her bed coz she had wrecked it with jumping from the bunk bed down to hers and at the time i was on benefits, so thought "what the heck" and applied.
When the woman came out she insisted that i ask for loads of stuff coz so little people apply, that if the money doesnt get used, government funding will stop!
I refused to ask for stuff, coz as a previous poster said, i felt like a charity case, so this woman just asked for loads on my behalf.
We ended up with: £100 voucher for Argos for a mattress, £350 for CDs, DVDs, games etc., £200 for a bedroom carpet and £800 towards a holiday!!....... i was absolutely gobsmacked!!!!

Just to add, for anyone else who wants to apply, we get no DLA for Vicki as our application was turned down, so you dont have to be getting that to apply.

[lausan]

we used this service for years they also help with buying washing machines
you only find these things out by word of mouth or if you have a good social worker

[Rea]

I can't believe that no-one ever told us about this. We paid over a £1000 for special bed for our two children. These are latex beds that means it is impossible for allergens to breed in them. This may sound excessive but both my children are chronic brittle asthmatics. They use nebulisers and have both had surgery to their upper airways. My son has stopped breathing at night and we had to raise the money for a special alarm that alerts us when he stops breathing as a small cot death alarm needed speciall adapting. We have often had to sit through the night at my child's bedside as he couldn't lie flat to sleep as his lungs would fill with fluid. He's had his lungs drained a few times and has physio etc. He's been in intensive care a lot. Both children have severe allergies. My son is allergic to most injections. When he had his HIB as a baby it caused a strangulated hernia which occured in a matter of hours, so severe was his reaction to the injection. Now nobody will inject him for flu jabs, he couldn't have MMR etc. We've replaced all flooring with laminate or vinyl tiles throughout the house etc. We have spent an absolute fortune on the advice of medical professionals yet not one has mentioned the fund. Both kids are dyspraxic and dyslexic and have dyscalculia. My daughter is over 16 now and keeps being told to re-sit her Maths GCSE, this is virtually impossible with Dyscalculia.

This fund really ought to be publicised more. I know how much we have struggled over the years to find the monies for all necessities and you just can't afford not to take the extra precautions. Both my Dad and my brother died from asthma attacks, my Dad was 36 years old and my brother a toddler. If we'd known about the fund some years ago it would have lifted a great weight off our shoulders.

[stevered1]

I agree that they should make it more visible for people as we only found out through word of mouth and not one person in the hospital or anyone else told us about this, in fact we only found out because we were looking to get an epilepsy alarm and was expecting to have to pay out as everyone was just saying it wasnt down to them to fund that.

In some ways getting the money for the holiday and also ( seperate issue ) the motability car, makes you feel like you are getting something for free, however given the choice between having all these free things or having a son who can walk and talk.... no choice.

Also ref the epilepsy alarm, we had to chase them for the instructions as we didnt have any, now its so sensitive it keeps going off during the night if he breathes too heavy!! but least it means we should catch any fits he has and has been a godsend for me to not worry as much when going to bed. ( or doing the usual, is he breathing and leaning right over and gently nudging him to make him move... EVERY NIGHT! .. bless him )

so all i can say to everyone, if you got turned down, try again, if they say no then you have lost nothing except a little of your time...

[Rea]

I know what you mean about the alarm sounding. You wake up with a jump but you can't help but be grateful you've got even though you may have many false alarms.

All you ever wish for is a normal, happy family life

[Briar_Rose]

Thanks for posting about this - I didn't realise there was such a thing!!!

I may apply for Zach as he needs stuff to help organise his room - I can't afford anything at the mo and I'm still waiting to hear about his DLA renewal - + Housing Benefit have cocked up and cancelled it - so having to pay fullrent at the mo - Just what I need in my final year - sigh!!!

School won't give him a laptop even though they've said he should have one to help with his writing problems and he's got a full statement!!!:mad2: So I may ask for one for 'games'!! And then he can use it for homework as well.

[*Sommer]

I've had washing machine/dryer and a fridge freeezer off them when my son was young and £350 for holiday. I haven't applied for a few years as I don't think he fits the criteria any more as he is much more "able" now.
A friend has just got a computer off them for her son who is autistic and doesn't socialise.

[stevered1]

I know what you mean about the alarm sounding. You wake up with a jump but you can't help but be grateful you've got even though you may have many false alarms.

All you ever wish for is a normal, happy family life

I would rather wake up with a jump each night and know its a false alarm. And yes normal would be nice, but I guess for us, what we have is our normal and it isnt too bad, could be alot worse off than we are.

[Bartswife]

School won't give him a laptop even though they've said he should have one to help with his writing problems and he's got a full statement!!!:mad2: So I may ask for one for 'games'!! And then he can use it for homework as well.
The laptop came from Dell yesterday. Its gone down very well. Ashley has done some 'playing games' on it, but I've told him he's having 10 minutes typing practice each night to learn how to use the correct fingers on the keys in order to be able to type really quickly in class, as when he moves back into mainstream senior school next year he may be allocated a keyboard to do his work on.

The assessor who came to the house gave the impression we could ask for one thing only (it was our first claim) but the Family Fund rang me and said we could ask for the laptop and some cash to pay towards his golf and karate lessons which he takes for enjoyment and also his social skills. We are very pleased at the outcome. Good luck.

[squidge]

Thats good news.

Again like others have said their are alot of people who have never heard of the family fund. I had not heard about it & it is maybe something my brothers little girl could benefit from as she has autism.

I think it should be more publisied so that people who need the assistance the fund offers can apply for the help they need.

[toma]

We have used Family fund before for two different children. It seems to be the case that they can only provide items that are not covered (or at least should be) by other services. Hence the laptop being provided for games but not education as LEA should provide it! But as most of us know with children that have problems getting these things provided however is another matter. I would say to anyone -try to work within this criteria and you have a better chance of success. Clothing bedding washers and holiday money seem to be the most usual things that get the go ahead.

[Cinders Mum]

Can I just ask, is the family fund for physically disabled kids only? I have never heard of it before, but am now researching options for someone close to me who in the last 7 days has had 2 kids diagnosed with Autism and already have a dyspraxic teen.

So any help they can get the better right now ....

any advice I can pass on would be greatly appreciated.

[signtalker]

Val have PM'ed you.

Jules

[Rea]

Great news! My son is getting a lap top and we have been given money towards a new nebuliser so he will be able to take it out and about with him.

Thanks for bring up the family fund on this website. I would never have known anything about it otherwise.

[stevered1]

Great news! My son is getting a lap top and we have been given money towards a new nebuliser so he will be able to take it out and about with him.

Thanks for bring up the family fund on this website. I would never have known anything about it otherwise.

Excellent news Rea, I am glad others are also benefitting from them.. it is just madness that you have to find outyourself and dont get told by the relevant authorities

[Bartswife]

Good news Rea, its great that we are able to offer advice to each other to enable our children to benefit. Hope your son gets plenty of enjoyment from his new laptop.:thumbs-up

[Lisa-R]

Many thanks to you all for posting about Family Fund.

I have sent off for an application form for my niece who is disabled and has special needs - I had certainly never heard of this.

Good luck to everyone who has need to make an application.

thanks again.

[Bartswife]

Lisa - be prepared to have quite a wait. I applied last July but didn't hear a thing until October last year. By the way, you can apply on line.

[Rea]

Thanks, he can't wait for it to arrive.

I feel like taking an ad out in the local paper to tell people about this fund. We've spent thousands of pounds over the years on medical equipment etc. It's a pity there aren't notices up in the paediatric departments of the hospitals etc because having been to countless appointments with my kids and sat by their bedsides in no fewer than 5 different hospitals I know for a fact that there are other needy children out there.

[stevered1]

Rea, I know what you mean, you wonder how many other children could really benefit from this and wont even know. We now tell as many people as we can who we think will benefit from it

[AlexD]

well done steve. you go enjoy the holiday.

[Bartswife]

I know what you mean, not one of the professionals who we have seen over the years have mentioned any of the financial help we could get. If it wasn't for a neighbour of mine who has a daughter with similar problems to my sons telling me about the family fund I wouldn't have known anything about it. She also told me we could claim disability living allowance, I didn't think his speech problems were eligible for such help but it is classed as a bodily function that he needs help with several times a day so we now get that. Its a big help that we could have been getting for the last 8 years but we didn't know about it, pity it couldn't have been backdated, could have found a lot of use for that sort of cash.

[Dizzy]

We got a Family fund grant last year, and i totally agree, its disgusting that people are not aware of its existence!! Vicki will be 16 next year so we wont be eligible again but i couldnt believe the amount of stuff they gave her!!!
All i asked for was a new mattress for her bed coz she had wrecked it with jumping from the bunk bed down to hers and at the time i was on benefits, so thought "what the heck" and applied.
When the woman came out she insisted that i ask for loads of stuff coz so little people apply, that if the money doesnt get used, government funding will stop!
I refused to ask for stuff, coz as a previous poster said, i felt like a charity case, so this woman just asked for loads on my behalf.
We ended up with: £100 voucher for Argos for a mattress, £350 for CDs, DVDs, games etc., £200 for a bedroom carpet and £800 towards a holiday!!....... i was absolutely gobsmacked!!!!

Just to add, for anyone else who wants to apply, we get no DLA for Vicki as our application was turned down, so you dont have to be getting that to apply.

Lol....we got DLA for DS but were turned down twice by the family fund (for the same problems as Vicki has as you know:) ). I'd love to know how they work out who is eligible (I was a single parent at the time).

Well done everybody who has caught them on a good day;) :) and great news Steve...I REALLY am NOT bitter ... lol and am genuinely happy for you:thumbs-up

[stevered1]

and great news Steve...I REALLY am NOT bitter ... lol and am genuinely happy for you:thumbs-up

So should I send a postcard or do I risk the wrath of you putting it somewhere dark!

[Rea]

After I received the telephone call from the family fund, we've received a confirmation letter and a form for my son to choose between the laptop and a desktop pc. What's more as well as the nebuliser they are also giving us a grant towards a holiday.:spin: :spin: :spin: My head is spinning! I can't believe it. We asked for a new nebuliser and we had to put a second and third choice but not for a single second did we think they would award all three things.

Please, please, please anybody who has a disabled child put in an application. Over the years we have spent thousands of pounds on medical equipment and I never for one moment imagined you could claim towards the cost of a holiday.

I'm over the moon at what my son has been awarded but wish I had known a few years ago.

[scottishwee35]

My deaf daughter had family fund for 6 years then out of the blue, I got a letter that they want me to post them receipts or other proof.

Unfortunately, two days before I received it as I threw all paperworks by shedding it cos I want to clean up for Christmas. They don't want bank statement, how I proof them?

Now I received another letter that they said

"If you do not send us the receipts or an explanation we will automatically ask you to send us receipts for any awards we may give you in the future"

What I do?

Write down and explain that I shedded all paperworks and write down what we spend it on holiday money?

Please advise what I do as I already email them last week but no answer back?

Strange that I never have problem before.

Scottishwee35

[Dizzy]

So should I send a postcard or do I risk the wrath of you putting it somewhere dark!

LMAO:d: .....I'd love a postcard...hope you have a fantastic time:grin:

[Bartswife]

Scottishwee35 - I was told as we had a cash award of £250 towards golf/karate lessons I may have to provide receipts. Neither of the places do paper receipts as such but I have paid on credit card and kept those but only say the name of the company not what I have purchased. I think it is for the benefit of auditors all you can do it explain the situation and after six years can only really do your best to remember what you have bought. If you know to keep receipts in the future that will be no problem for you as you have obviously done it in the past. Good luck with getting it sorted.

[scottishwee35]

Bartswife

Thank for your help and yes, from now I will keep receipts.

And I will write a letter to explain about it.

Scottishwee35

[Rea]

We were told to keep our receipts for future reference.

I hope you manage to sort it out.

[Rea]

:d: :spin: :d: My son's lap top has arrived. He's over the moon.:grin:

[mainecoon lover]

I bet there are a lot of families out there with no reciepts, us being one of them. :erm:
bdfnewlife are a charity that will buy equipment for children with inborn disability. They bought my daughter a chair.
Just google them. Sorry new so i can not post a link.

[scottishwee35]

We were told to keep our receipts for future reference.

I hope you manage to sort it out.

Hi

Sort it out okay

and told me that I must keep receipt in future!!

so will do that

But funny that some friend never got the letter, why me???

Scottishwee35

[pigginpink]

The first time I applied for my autistic son, i got a washing machine, condenser tumble dryer, fridge freezer, money towards a holiday and bedding. this time i asked for a computer and money towards a holiday and was awarded a computer. people need to apply or they do not get funding and cannot give these gifts to people.

[pigginpink]

sorry forgot to add, you can apply once a year so i will be applying next year also.

[loadsapixiedust]

Thought I'd give this thread a wee bump so more families can benefit :D

[mazz]

i am aware of the family fund and it's such a shame that a lot don't know about it

personally i think a lot of help is out there but hard to find

having a good social worker really helps, i'm sure a lot of people don't have a social worker as they think there's a stigma attached to having one but that is so not the case any more

you have a disabled child then you need support and the best place to access support is via social services and it's no longer the case of this making you a bad parent, on the contrary it makes you a blooming good parent :thumbs-up

[Bartswife]

I've seen you mention before about having a social worker. The only way I ever find anything out is from having a neighbour who has become a friend through having a child with similar problems. Her daughter is three years older than my son so as she finds things out she passes the info onto me and vice versa. Neither of us has a social worker, in fact none of the professionals involved have ever told either of us what benefits/help we are entitled to we have had to do it all ourselves. The family fund is great, Ashley had a laptop provided last year as well as some cash towards his golf lessons and we can apply again in October for more help.

[mazz]

I've seen you mention before about having a social worker. The only way I ever find anything out is from having a neighbour who has become a friend through having a child with similar problems. Her daughter is three years older than my son so as she finds things out she passes the info onto me and vice versa. Neither of us has a social worker, in fact none of the professionals involved have ever told either of us what benefits/help we are entitled to we have had to do it all ourselves. The family fund is great, Ashley had a laptop provided last year as well as some cash towards his golf lessons and we can apply again in October for more help.


do you want to know how you go about getting a social worker?

it's something to consider as you may not need it in childrens services but moving into adults services and never having used childrens can be a nightmare, i'll guarantee you'll need one then

[Bartswife]

I would appreciate that Mazz. As I've said before I do worry about the next step i.e. leaving school. I know he's only just moving upto senior school but I know how slowly the wheels are to get in motion. You commented on me getting ahead of myself in a previous thread and worrying too soon but that's just me and my character, so any help would be very much appreciated.

[melspice]

Well, I'll join the queue of people who never knew about this! And of course it's too late for my son now anyway, as he will be 18 in December! Having an autistic son is a costly business, and we have struggled for many years. Hope someone benefits from knowing about this fund, though it stinks that more people aren't made aware of something they are entitled to.

xxMel

[mazz]

I would appreciate that Mazz. As I've said before I do worry about the next step i.e. leaving school. I know he's only just moving upto senior school but I know how slowly the wheels are to get in motion. You commented on me getting ahead of myself in a previous thread and worrying too soon but that's just me and my character, so any help would be very much appreciated.

do you want me to pm you about contacting social services and what to ask for or post basic info on here

i remember commenting on getting ahead of yourself with all the worrying but i never realised you didn't have a social worker to guide you, very insensitive of me, i'm so sorry :blush:

your boy must be the same age as my youngest, he's 11 and starts snr school next week, it's gonna be a stressful time :confused2

[Bartswife]

do you want me to pm you about contacting social services and what to ask for or post basic info on here

i remember commenting on getting ahead of yourself with all the worrying but i never realised you didn't have a social worker to guide you, very insensitive of me, i'm so sorry :blush:

your boy must be the same age as my youngest, he's 11 and starts snr school next week, it's gonna be a stressful time :confused2

Either or Mazz, I really don't mind. If its a bit personal PM me or if it can help anyone else post on the thread. I don't know if he's considered eligible for a social worker, he has complex speech and language problems but no definite indication behaviour wise for ASD diagnosis (no ritual behaviour or change in routine etc) but somethings not right and we have to get to the bottom of it. Autism outreach is involved with the transition as the Ed Psch thinks he needs the help in that respect and its the right help, they will be assessing him again after a couple of months back in mainstream. He is 11 and you're right it is going to be stressful, he's taking it in his stride but I'm so worried about him settling into established cliques as he's moving up from a non feeder school and will be even more isolated, he a friendly little fella but you know how other kids can be so cruel about someone who is different. Time will tell, hopefully I'm worrying over nothing, its been that way before. I worried about him starting school, that went OK, I worried about him moving to a different special needs junior school, that went OK, so fingers crossed, and thanks for your help.

[mazz]

i will pm you, somethings will be personal :)

[Angie]

Has anyone had problems with actually recieving their washing machine?
I was told back at the beginning of July that I would be sent a comet gift card to use to buy a washing machine. I have rang several times now to let them know it has not turned up and keep getting the same answer........"we will let comet know!" It's now 3 months and still no flippin gift card. I'm getting really fed up with it.

[PLUTOXX]

thats fantastic.xx

[hyte1]

Has anyone had problems with actually recieving their washing machine?
I was told back at the beginning of July that I would be sent a comet gift card to use to buy a washing machine. I have rang several times now to let them know it has not turned up and keep getting the same answer........"we will let comet know!" It's now 3 months and still no flippin gift card. I'm getting really fed up with it.


We have just been awarded a comet card for a washing machine, and £350 for a holiday. It took about a month to come through once we have been given the award.