Applying for Child Support Grants from The Frank Buttle Trust and BBC Children in Need Small Grants Programme
This page describes the combined eligibility, conditions and process of applying for a grant from either of the two programmes. Please read it carefully to ensure that your client’s circumstances and the item(s) requested meet with our criteria, to avoid making an ineligible application. There is a link at the end of this page where you can request an Email application form, or print a postal form.
Eligibility
The aim of the Trust's Child Support Programme is to help children and young people in desperate need. Grants are intended to make a positive contribution to their lives when their safety, health or development is at risk. The item (or service) to be funded should be critical to the well-being of the child/young person, and items that are merely desirable, rather than essential, will not be eligible for support.
Cash grants provide necessities such as clothes, beds, bedding and essential items of furniture and household equipment. The Trust also has an arrangement with Comet for washing machines, cookers, fridges and other white goods that can be delivered directly to applicants.
We do not normally help with payments of debts or loans, childcare costs, holidays or non-essential items. It is also most unlikely that an application will be successful if the client has had a grant from us in the past 12 to 18 months.
Cash grants provide necessities such as clothes, beds, bedding and essential items of furniture and household equipment. The Trust also has an arrangement with Comet for washing machines, cookers, fridges and other white goods that can be delivered directly to applicants.
We do not normally help with payments of debts or loans, childcare costs, holidays or non-essential items. It is also most unlikely that an application will be successful if the client has had a grant from us in the past 12 to 18 months.
NOTE. Because of a substantial recent increase in applications we are having to give priority to applications for such items as children’s beds/bedding, cookers, fridges, washing machines etc. Please consider this when applying to avoid an unsuccessful application for less essential items.
We can consider:
- Adopted Children
- Children cared for by grandparents, other relatives or friends
- Children and young people of single and two parent families who are under 18
- Estranged, orphaned and vulnerable young people under 21 living independently
Circumstances in which grants may be considered are:
- Illness, distress, abuse or neglect
- Any kind of disability
- Behavioural or psychological problems
- Severe poverty and deprivation
We cannot help:
- Children who are looked after by a local authority or a health and social care trust in N. Ireland
- Young people aged 19 & 20 who do not have full refugee status or exceptional or indefinite leave to remain in the UK, or who are normally resident abroad
- Children living outside the UK
Application Process
All applications are processed by the Trust’s office in the country in which the applicant lives. Applications must be made through a statutory agency or voluntary organisation that is capable of assessing the needs of the child/young person, and that can also administer a grant on behalf of the Trust.
The need for assistance cannot be based purely on financial hardship and applicants must be experiencing additional social problems. The Trust does not accept requests directly from clients, however we are prepared to discuss alternative arrangements in exceptional circumstances.
The need for assistance cannot be based purely on financial hardship and applicants must be experiencing additional social problems. The Trust does not accept requests directly from clients, however we are prepared to discuss alternative arrangements in exceptional circumstances.
EMAIL APPLICATION FORMS
Application should preferably be made using our electronic form based on Microsoft Word. Applying by this method is quick and easy and will ensure that the application is received by the Trust immediately. The data will be checked and transferred to our system electronically. This ensures that urgent requests are not delayed or lost in the post. The agency will also receive a response by email acknowledging receipt of the application.
Please note: Requests for an application form via this method should be sent from an official office email address which must be the one which will be used to submit the application. Requests made from non-secure email addresses (such as Hotmail or Yahoo) will not be accepted.
To receive an application form by email click here. Alternatively send an email to applications@buttletrust.org with the word request as the subject. This will send the request to us and we will send the application form as an attachment in a return email within 15 minutes.
You are required to request a new application form EACH TIME you wish to submit a new grant request. Please do not overtype or re-use a previous form. This will that ensure you always use the most recent version of the form, and our contact details for you are up-to-date.
POSTAL APPLICATION FORMS
The agency should complete an application form, and provide a supporting statement on headed paper, setting out a full description of the circumstances and explaining how the child(ren) or young person will benefit from a grant. The form should be signed by both the applicant and the referrer and sent to The Frank Buttle Trust office according to the country in which the applicant resides. Address details are given at the end of the form, and on the Contact Us page on this site.
To download a pdf version of the application form to print out click here