Children Today Charitable Trust

Children Today Charitable Trust, founded in 1994, is a UK-wide charity dedicated to enhancing the quality of life, independence, and potential of children and young people up to age 25 with disabilities or long-term illnesses. Its core mission focuses on providing specialised adapted equipment—such as powered wheelchairs, sensory aids, trikes, mobility devices, and communication tools—to address social exclusion, promote wellbeing, and enable participation in everyday activities. Rooted in values of equality, empowerment, and inclusion, the Trust adopts a person-centred approach, prioritising transformative, practical support for those with physical, learning, sensory, or complex needs, often where statutory funding falls short.

It exclusively funds capital purchases of vital equipment for individual beneficiaries and their families across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, with no geographic or organisational restrictions—applications come directly from parents, guardians, or individuals, not charities. Professional references from occupational therapists, physiotherapists, or consultants (not GPs) are required, alongside equipment quotes, to confirm necessity.

Typical grants range from £500 to £5,000 (averaging around £1,000), with last year's £83,703 supporting 80 cases. Applications start with a phone enquiry for eligibility checks, followed by an online or paper form submitted with supporting documents; reviews occur at rolling panel meetings, though new submissions are paused until 3 November 2025 due to backlog, reopening thereafter with decisions in weeks.

Distinctively, the Trust avoids core costs, revenue funding, projects, or organisational support, concentrating solely on equipment to foster immediate independence and family inclusion—setting it apart as a targeted responder for overlooked young disabled individuals in a specialised niche.