The following charities may be able to offer financial assistance to people living with sightloss and/or other disabilities in additional to that available from local Health and Social Care statutory sources. These useful links can be very helpful when looking for support.

Access to Work Grant

An Access to Work grant can pay for practical support if you have a disability, health or mental health condition.  To help you start working, stay in work, move into self- employment.  However the grant cannot be used for business start-up costs. There is no set amount for an Access to Work grant. How much you get depends on your circumstances.

The money can pay for things like: adaptations to the equipment you use, special equipment, fares to work if you are unable to  use public transport, a support worker or job coach to help you in your workplace, a support service if you have a mental health condition and you’re finding it difficult to work, disability awareness training for your colleagues, a communicator at a job interview, and the cost of moving your equipment if you change location or job.

Telephone: 0345 268 8489
Textphone: 0345 608 8753

Action for Blind People

Action for Blind People does not offer a grants scheme. They do however have a network of Independent Living Co-ordinators who can work alongside you to identify possible sources of funding and put together an application. Action for Blind People merged with the RNIB in 2017

Action for Blind People:
53 Sandgate Street
London, SE15 1LE
Telephone: 020 7635 4800
Email: helpline@rnib.org.uk

Blind Children UK formerly National Blind Children’s Society

offering a grants programme to help children and young people access the most appropriate technology and sensory equipment.

Blind Children‟s Society
Hillfields, Reading Road, Burghfield Common, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 3YG

Telephone: 0800 781 144
Email: services@blindchildrenuk.org

Blind Veterans UK

Blind Veterans, formerly St Dunstan‟s have been supporting blind ex-service men and women since 1915. Their Grants team can help members buy specialist equipment, goods and services.

Blind Veterans UK
12-14 Harcourt Street London,
W1H 4HD
Telephone: 0800 389 7979

Challengers Children’s Fund

Challenger Children‟s Fund is a Scottish based charity  for providing “aids to, and the maintenance clothing, education, or otherwise for the general benefit and wellbeing” of any disabled person under the age of 18.

Challengers Children’s Fund Suite 353
44/46 Morningside Road
Edinburgh,
EH25 9RF

Telephone: 07531 580 414
Email: info@ccfscotland.org

Education Support Partnership

If you are working in or retired from the education sector and are suffering financial problems caused by unemployment, ill health, sudden life events, bereavement or a personal injury they may be able to offer support. Their confidential grants service can help you manage your financial and money worries to get you back on track when you are struggling.

Education Support Partnership
40A Drayton Park
London, N5 1EW
Telephone: 08000 562 561
Text: 07909 341229
Email: support@edsupport.org.uk

The Family Fund

The Family Fund assists families across the UK who are raising a child or young person with a disability or a serious illness. The grants for essential items help ease the additional pressures that families face and increase their quality of life.

The Family Fund
4 Alpha Court Monks Cross Drive
York,
YO32 9WN
Telephone: 01904 621115
Email: info@familyfund.org.uk

Gardners Trust for the Blind

The Gardners Trust for the Blind provides financial assistance to registered blind and partially sighted individuals in the UK. They award one-off grants towards household items and educational purposes. The Trust may also provide grants towards a pension.

The Gardners Trust for the Blind
117 Charterhouse Street
London,
EC1M 6AA
Telephone: 020 7253 3757

The Honeywood Trust

Provides grants for computers, information technology and communication technology to disabled people to promote their education, independence and wellbeing.

The Honeywood Trust Driftway,
Mead End Road Sway,
Lymington, SO41 6EH

Telephone: 01904 621115
Email: honeywood@intfincn.demon.co.uk

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)

The RNIB offer grants to registered blind or partially sighted people for useful technology that can help them live independently, this includes computer accessibility software.

Royal National Institute of Blind People
105 Judd Street
London, WC1H 9NE
Telephone: 0303 123 9999
Email: helpline@rnib.org.uk

Snowden Trust

The Snowden Trust assists physically and sensory disabled people to access vocational and academic courses in the UK by awarding grants. These can be for equipment and essential study needs. They only give awards where funding cannot be met through other channels.

Snowdon Trust
Unit 18,
Oakhurst Business Park Southwater,
West Sussex RH13 9RT
Telephone: 01403 732 899
Email: info@snowdontrust.org

Disability Grants

This is an up to date online resource that could help you to find the right type of grant for your needs.

Turn2Us

Turn2us is a national charity that helps people in financial hardship gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services. You can find welfare benefits and grants information that is relevant to you. Search by your situation or use the A-Z of benefits if you know the name of the benefit you want to find out about.