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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Where would you go for funding help?

9 replies

FailedActress · 05/05/2014 21:46

Hi all, I completely understand that this might be a bit of a sensitive subject for some so huge thank you in advance for any replies! Anyway, I currently work for a very small charity that buys equipment for children with special needs or disabilities. The sort of things we buy are often recommended by a physiotherapist but not necessarily seen as "essential" so parents are unable to get funding elsewhere. Or we might just buy things which will make a family's life easier (for example, we are currently in the process of ordering a standard car seat for a family but one of the ones with a swivel base, which are fairly expensive, but will be so much easier for this family to use given their son's physical disability).

We are a very small charity and we are run completely by volunteers but I must admit that we struggle to get applications in from families who want our help because people just don't know about us in the local area.

My question for all of you is how would you start to look for help if you needed funding for some equipment? Or what sort of places would you do research so that we can advertise there? We really do want to help as many families as we can but people just don't really know about us.

Thank you for any replies, it's really appreciated.

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bochead · 05/05/2014 22:54

Council website? .

Local disability parent support groups?

School, leisure centre, children's centre and library noticeboards?

Churches and religious organisations?

home ed groups

be careful that when people do find out about you, that you don't end up overwhelmed!

MooMummyMoo · 06/05/2014 06:44

We recently went for an assessment for a trike at our child development centre - so organised by our normal NHS Physio. They don't cover the funding for the trike though so we were given a list of charities that had helped people in the past with this funding (speaking of which I really need to find the time to start plouhh

So might be worth speaking to the local hospital's child development centre

MooMummyMoo · 06/05/2014 06:45

Oops!

Should have said ... I need to start ploughing through the list!!

minionmadness · 06/05/2014 09:39

All of the above plus GP's surgery. I've found quite a bit of info in relation to local facilities.

AgnesDiPesto · 06/05/2014 09:47

If only local people are eligible to apply you could try and get yourself included in the council's local offer.
A poster at CDC plus leaflets in the parent pack CDC give to parents.
Making yourself known to social services disabled children's team / OT and getting them to tell parents about you.
Local carers group and support group websites and info packs.
There are some grant giving websites you could try and get on.

FailedActress · 06/05/2014 17:15

Thanks all! MooMummyMoo, we have funded several trikes in the past so that's exactly the sort of thing we would want to be in the mix for, so to speak! Where are you based? Maybe we could help!

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JsOtherHalf · 06/05/2014 20:55

Education welfare officers at the special schools would love to know about you.

MooMummyMoo · 06/05/2014 21:13

I am in the Leeds/bradford area. Do you cover this, Failed Actress??? (Fingers are crossed even though its a long shot!!)

FailedActress · 07/05/2014 22:41

Sorry MooMummyMoo, we are in the south east. shame as we would have loved to help! Thanks again for everyone's responses!

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