Action for Blind People's Grants Service
At the end of March 2007 Action for Blind People took the decision to cease being a national unrestricted grant provider. This was part of a review of its national services.
This review forms part of our 5 year strategy to strengthen our ability to deliver services directly to visually impaired people through our network of Action Teams.
Action is launching a new grants service which will only offer assistance for holiday breaks and assistive technology. The fund available is restricted to these two areas which formed a significant number of grants previously requested from Action.
Action is currently not able to provide a national service. The new grants service will be restricted to clients who live within the boundaries of its Action Teams.
Applications for assistance will only be accepted from clients living within an Action team area, supported by an Action Coordinator. Action is no longer in a position to accept applications supported via any other source.
Before funding can be considered, Action Coordinators will need to demonstrate that funding has been sort elsewhere and that Action is the last resort for funding. Financial restrictions regarding client’s income and savings will apply.
Holiday Breaks
Grant assistance for holiday breaks will only be offered based on the following criteria:
- The applicant has not had a holiday within the last 5 years
- The holiday will have a significant impact on the client’s life.
Requests will only be considered for a break at an Action Hotel. Unfortunately we are no longer able to assist with travel costs.
Assistive Technology
Funding for assistive technology will only consider requests for software e.g. Supernova, Zoomtext, Hal and Jaws. The application will need to be supported by an Assistive Technology assessment establishing the requested product meets the clients needs.
The grants service will endeavour to pay the service or product supplier directly rather than providing 'cash' grants. This will streamline the service and ensure the grant is used for the intended purpose
If you have any questions regarding the new service, please email grants.team@actionforblindpeople.org.uk
If you live within an Action Team area and you feel that you qualify for a grant please contact your local team for information .
Grant Tool Kit
Since our grants service only offers assistance for holiday breaks and assistive technology our Grant Tool Kit offers a guide to maximise the funding opportunities available to you, minimising the potential for rejection. The guide is available as a Word document and will soon be available as three audio downloads with a text transcript.
Grant Tool Kit We also have a Community Care Factsheet for approaching the government's Social Fund for a grant.
Community Care Grant Factsheet - PDF Welfare Rights
We believe that visually impaired people should get all of the benefits they are entitled to. Our Welfare Rights Service aims to guide visually impaired people and their advisers through the benefits maze.
Employment
Whether it's finding a job or holding onto one following sight loss, our Employment teams provide support and advice to you and your employer.
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