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The Family fund.
Topic Started: Feb 28 2005, 08:22 AM (1,560 Views)
Minxy
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I'm sure most of you know this but in case some don't there is an organisation called the Family Fund that offers grants to families with disabled children. The grants are means tested and not everyone will qualify (I believe that the high rate of DLA for personal care is a must have.) but for some it could be a godsend.

Here is the website for the Family Fund. It doesn't hurt to look. They have helped me out with holidays in thew past and I am extremely greatful for that.



The Family Fund Trust
www.themazegroup.org
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redbitch
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redbitch
A friend off mine went through this and got laminating flooring, shhets and clothing for her daughter with ezcema, plus money for toys or her ADHD kids and money for a holiday. its worth doing :D
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:Testarossa
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Testarossa
You two have come up with loads of useful info.

Thanks
If you stay ready, you won't need to get ready!
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Jordon
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They are a godsend, a few years ago I asked for a new washing machine and they got me one :)
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redbitch
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redbitch
Plus you can claim for holidays every year..
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:Testarossa
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Testarossa
I'm not entitled to a thing. Everything is means tested, even carers allowance. What really annoys me is that I can't afford to stay at home and bring my own kids up which is what I would love to do.
If you stay ready, you won't need to get ready!
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redbitch
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redbitch
DLA isnt means tested
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coppertop
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We got help from the Family Fund and we only get middle-rate DLA care component. It took a long time for our application to be dealt with but we got a new washing machine, a tumbledrier and also help with travel expenses.
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Minxy
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Thats great, getting it at middle rate must have taken some getting. Did you know you can apply every year until the child is 16?

The way to apply has changed this year. You now can now apply online instead of having to do so by letter. Also I was told by a nice lady on their information desk that if you have more than one child with special needs you can now make a seperate application for both but they have to be submitted at the same time :D
www.themazegroup.org
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janetkim
New member...Be nice!
the family trust will also put you through your driving test if you are the carer
thet give you 30 free leasons
2 tries at the theory test and 2 chances at your driving test
they put my husband through it as i could drive and he was her carer
it shure made things easier on me :D :D
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weemam
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I didnt know that Janet . I passed my test 15 yrs ago when ross was 9 and it cost me a fortune .I used to get help ( untill he was 16) from the joseph rowntree fund . they were great and got us a washing machine and helped with a holiday as well . We havnt had anything from anyone since Ross was 16 though :cry:

margaretxxxxx
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Minxy
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I've just come back from a meeting with a lady who works for the family fund and she was able to tell us a little about how it works and how grants are allocated. There were a few points that she made that I think you may find helpful.


Firstly there have been concerns about the contact of schools to help make decisions about whether a child qualifies. Apparently this has now stopped as they realised that schools often didn't understand the breadth of a childs dissability and it's impact at home clap-ping clap-ping clap-ping

I used to think that you had to have full rate of DLA for care to qualify, this is not true now and apparently you don't even have to be in receipt of DLA to apply.
Decisions are made based on a home visit although the lady said that if a child received the full rate of DLA for care the visit often wasn't deemed neccessary.

She said that grants were given for all sorts of things, one example she gave was a child receiving a grant for archery lessons, which I thought was impressive.

It seems that receiving a grant from the family fund is not as difficult as it used to be and she said they were a lot more sensative to ASD and also ADHD children which I was impressed with as many of you will know that these kids often don't fit the criteria.

All in all it was a really helpful talk and don't forget you you can apply on the net too which is a bonus.
www.themazegroup.org
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caren34
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sounds good clap-ping clap-ping
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smileymab
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Wow - sounds fantastic - would they really pay for a holiday????

I'd love to get M some climbing equipment for the garden - he has tons of energy but really busy play parks stress him out.... do you think they'd help??

Also, the OH team have been raving on about the Eyetoy - its a game that goes with the PS2 - but we don't have one. It's supposed to be fantastic for co-ordination and just giving them some excersise. I've been hunting around for a cheep second hand PS2 (the game and cameras' only about £30). Would they help with that?????
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Minxy
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Apparently the current holiday allowance is three hundred and eighty pounds and there is a scheme being piloted that means that if you book with certain travel agents you get an even better deal. You don't have to go with the trial scheme though and the cheque really does help towards a holiday. As for play equipment they sent us two hundred pounds. Go for it Mary. You qualify I can tell you that.
www.themazegroup.org
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