Family Fund Trust

Family Fund Trust, the UK’s largest grant-making charity for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people, was established in 1973 under the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in response to Thalidomide-affected families and became independent in 1996. Its mission is to alleviate disadvantage by providing practical support, ensuring these families—especially those on lowest incomes—enjoy equal choices, quality of life, opportunities, and aspirations as others. Guided by values of equity, inclusion, respect for lived experience, and evidence-led impact, it uniquely delivers at mass scale directly to individuals, informed by user voice, research, and partnerships with UK governments.

It prioritises families caring for children/young people (up to 24 in programmes like Your Opportunity) with severe disabilities or life-limiting conditions across physical, sensory, cognitive, behavioural, or complex needs, requiring high support in three or more functional areas. Grants fund essential practical items such as white goods, specialist equipment, sensory toys, tablets/computers, clothing, bedding, furniture, outdoor play gear, kitchen appliances, family breaks, and hospital travel costs—never medical care—totaling over £32 million and 92,000 awards annually.

Eligible applicants are low-income UK families (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales) providing proof of income, benefits, and disability evidence; organisations are rarely funded. Typical grants range £300–£700 (average £480), via rolling online/posted forms with decisions in weeks; reapply every 18–24 months until funds deplete. It excludes cash, core/project costs, advocacy, and unrestricted organisational support, distinguishing itself through nationwide, family-direct model, policy-aligned programmes, and focus on everyday barriers over institutional aid.