Family fund - 1st application, help from those in the know please.........

[cwtch4967]

I've got the form and I'm about to fill it in, what we really want is a family holiday. Can I ask how much others got on their first application and whether I would be better off asking for more than one thing (money towards a bubble lamp) as well.

[choclily]

Hi, we asked for bunkbeds and bedding and when the advisor came out he also asked for a laptop and clothes. We got awarded bunkbeds and laptop :o which was great much more than i hoped for.

[Chundle]

Hi we just got first grant lady came to visit us. They said you get around £800 first time. We got £500 towards bubble lamp and £300 toward recreational activities but we could've had £300 in travel voucher instead. So worth asking for holiday and bubble lamp on first application as subsequent applications tend to be around £500

[Calally]

my 1st grant, got £750 towards holidays and outings. and £150 towards recreational stuff. 2nd app last year got £550 holiday vouchers

[littlefirefly]

If you don't drive and want to learn, the best thing to ask for in the first application is driving lessons - they will pay for 45 lessons with BSM plus theory test materials, software, two attempts at practical. This works out at over £1300, so it's worth more than any other item you could request (hence you can't ask for another grant for another 18 months instead of usual 12).

You will always get awarded more with your first application than with subsequent years, as Chundle says - it's better to ask for more than too little, as you won't get the chance to get as much as that again.

[5inthebed]

I'm getting my garden done today courtesy of FF.

First time I applied I got driving lessons. Absolute godsend.

FF have a FB page as well, where they answer questions you ask.

[unpa1dcar3r]

What I don't understand is why you only get it for one when you have 2.
I've been told to ask for different things for the boys before by them (e.g garden play stuff for one and computer stuff for other), never seem to get anything like this...
What I mean is my mate who has one child not really too badly disabled (in that he plays out, plays computer games, reads, writes, has friends, gets himself bathed/dressed, perfectly articulate and so on) gets about the same as me and I have 2 SLD kids who don't do any of those things and I have to do everything for them IYSWIM.
So like if I ask for clothing for both I only get the same as her for one child even though I have to buy double.
this has always puzzled me.

[choclily]

i was sure i read somewhere may be on ff site that if you have 2 kids with special needs then you fill out a form for each of them and they will be awarded seperatly, i will go and check

[choclily]

no i stand corrected only one application per family, they must have changed it because i was sure they used to, :(

[Agnesdipesto]

5 how much do you get for the garden and what did you get them to do?
Just asking as our garden is a disaster zone

[5inthebed]

The usual amount is £400, although they will consider £1000, but you can't apply for 2 years if you get that. I got £500 which is what my quote was for and I am getting raised flower beds lowered, rose bushes taken out, concrete borders removed and garden tidy up.

[mum0ftw0]

I would love to apply for the first time with them for funds to learn to drive.
As getting to the shops on a bus is impossible with DS.

Partner does drive, but he's busy a lot and will surely be back at work soon all the days.

There's not even a park within 6 miles.

Think I have a chance of getting the funding, and where do I start??

[unpa1dcar3r]

Thanks Choc. It's interesting though as each year I have to complete seperate forms but still only get the same as for one child.
It's like say If i applied for such n such and they gave it to me but then you applied for something else and they said oh no we can't give you that cos we've just given such n such to unpa1dcar3r IYSWIM.
My boys are not treated as seperate people (not just by FF but by everyone involved in their care) and it really annoys me as they are sooo different to each other with such varying needs and wants. It gets vewry confusing, esp as they mix their DOB up and whos on what meds, which one is incontenent etc...

[unpa1dcar3r]

Oh yeah I just tried to apply again for this years today and it said I've applied less than a year ago but my last award was in June last year! Tried ringing but gave up in the end!