GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUALS

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1 GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUALS Your local charity at the heart of its community Aims and Objectives Walton on Thames Charity (the Charity) will support and assist people living in the local community to access and pursue opportunities to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families. The focus of our individual grant making is the community contained in the Charity s area of benefit, but not to the exclusion of those with identified needs who live in the Borough of Elmbridge. The Charity has the following objectives for its individual grant making: Providing one-off support and assistance for local people to help them out of a specific crisis or at a time of hardship. Providing help with the cost of crested uniform, trips, holiday club costs and extracurricular or out of school activities to ensure that children from low income families are not disadvantaged Offering financial support to people who are trying to improve their quality of life, via learning and development support grants. May

2 Guidance Notes Individual crisis grants The Charity will consider applications for, amongst other things: Essential household goods (like white goods) if Local Assistance Support scheme funding not available Help with payment of utility bill arrears Essential health and care aids and equipment not available from statutory or other voluntary sources Transport costs if free provision is not available we can give advice on existing subsidised scheme New Offer for Transport grants Applications can be made to support individuals with transport costs; we would usually expect people to travel by public transport i.e. Bus or Train. This includes: Purchasing a basic roadworthy bike, helmet and lock for adults Travel cost to and from school/college/university/courses/training where free provision is not available Travel out of borough for specific activities/ sessions to improve employability for those seeking work Travel costs associated with job interviews or during the first few months of employment to overcome any cash flow issues for example the loss of benefits whilst waiting for monthly salary payments We will be trialing this grant for one year for the whole of Elmbridge. May

3 School uniform, school trips, school holiday clubs and extra-curricular / out of school activities School Uniform, School Shoes and Winter Coats Applications can be helped with the cost of school uniforms for children from low income families. Help will be provided for uniforms requiring a logo or specific colours, school shoes (via Johnsons shoe shop in Walton) and winter coats. Assistance is limited to one pair of shoes per child per year, one winter coat and one set of compulsory school crested uniform per child. School Trips Applications will only be considered to fund school trips for children referred by the school itself. The school should refer children from disadvantaged backgrounds and families living in poverty, who would be disadvantaged if excluded from the trip. Usually applications will be considered for one trip per child per academic year. School Holiday Clubs To help with the cost of holiday clubs during school holidays (not half term) for working parents on low incomes and/ or with carer responsibilities Extra-curricular / Out of School Activities To enable children and young people from low income families to access out of school activities to make a positive difference to their lives. Assistance can be provided with fees and/ or uniform/ kit. Learning & development grants Applications can be made to support individuals with vocational and life skills learning and development. These will usually, but not always, be one-off grants for training and related activities for people who are trying to move from benefits to work, people who need first step learning opportunities to help them become job ready or people who need to develop or improve general life skills learning. May

4 Definitions: Vocational training an accredited course which, once completed, will be recognised by an employer and enable someone to find work. Examples include NVQs, BTEC National Diplomas and City & Guilds Courses. First step qualifications that enable people to become qualified to work courses or support that people need to take in order to then be able to meet the requirements for vocational training or work. Examples include basic numeracy and literacy skills. Life skills learning covers activities such as healthy lifestyles, cooking, parenting skills or confidence building. The Charity will also consider applications for funding for the following: Course fees that cannot be funded through statutory, voluntary funding or bursaries The costs of transport or child care to enable the applicant to attend or undertake an activity (Please note that child care should be provided by an Ofsted registered child minder or nursery.) Support materials (books, tools). Costs of accreditation/ certification if these are not covered by course provider The Charity will not: Provide assistance with degree course tuition fees. Provide assistance with post-graduate qualifications Please note that for learning and development grants The Charity will consider applications only on referral by a recognised agency. The agency will be required to provide a completed referral on behalf of the applicant and in support of their application. If this is not possible, a statement of support from the training provider will be required, along with a general reference from a current employer, school, college or other support agency. All details of the course which includes the levels, the length and total cost must be provided on the Learning & Development application form. May

5 How to apply You are welcome to contact us for more information or to discuss a potential application. We are also able to assist you with completing our application forms during the interview. Please contact: Amina Lawson Grants Officer Phone: You can leave a message and we will return your call alawson@waltoncharity.org.uk Our address is: Walton on Thames Charity, Mayfield, 74 Hersham Road, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 5NU. The office entrance is on West Grove. Please note that a completed referral form is required from a recognised local agency, unless circumstances are exceptional May

6 For all grants The Charity may wish to carry out a home visit as part of its assessment process. The Charity will not usually consider repeat applications. The referring agency will have to demonstrate that the individual has secured all relevant benefits and support from statutory and other agencies. General Information Prioritisation The Charity has limited funds available for grants to individuals and will use the above guidelines to inform its decision-making. As the Charity works at a local level, priority will be given to: those living in the Charity s sheltered accommodation or residential homes people living in the Ancient Parish of Walton-on-Thames people living in the Borough of Elmbridge The Charity will not accept applications for support for: Rent deposits, rent in advance or rent arrears. Services and facilities provided through statutory funding. Services and facilities available through other charities and voluntary organisations. Holidays. Non essential furniture / home goods. Catalogues debts, credit cards bills, personal loans and other forms of nonsecured lending. Medical equipment, aids and adaptations normally provided by statutory agencies. Debts to central or local government departments, e.g. tax and national insurance. Fines for criminal offences. Overpayments of benefits. Funeral costs. May

7 In addition, the Charity will: Not make retrospective payments (including payment of expenses incurred on credit card.) Wherever possible, make payment direct to suppliers Normally make payments by BACS transfer Means testing The Charity recognises that poverty is not absolute and that there are different degrees and experiences of poverty. As part of its assessment of grant applications the Charity will take into account the financial circumstances of each applicant. Priority is given to those: On means-tested benefits (such as income support, job seekers allowance, tax credits and incapacity benefit) Receiving the national minimum wage. Follow up and monitoring The Charity: Has a duty to ensure that its funds are spent to further its aims and to meet the stated objectives of its individual grant making Is committed to continuously developing and improving it s grant making and reviewing the impact that it can make Will ask for feedback from individuals and agencies about both the process and the difference that grants have made to the quality of life of individuals Confidentiality and respect for individuals The Charity recognises that it can sometimes be difficult to ask for help. All applicants will be treated with respect and to ensure equality of opportunity. The Charity has a Code of Conduct and Data Protection Policy, which all staff comply with. May