Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
Strangest Grants Available – Could You Qualify for Free Cash?
Reading Time: 5 minutesLots of charities offer non-repayable grants to help individuals on a low income, or in difficult financial circumstances. We’ve looked into some of the most specific and strangest grants around. You can find anything from benefits specifically for vegetarians, to support for workers in particular industries. There’s actually a surprising number of grants available, so it’s worth checking if you could qualify for some free cash.
We’ve focused on a few of the strangest grants, but there are plenty more weird and wonderful ones out there that you may be able to get your hands on.
- The Provision Trade Charity
- The National Caravan Council Benevolent Fund
- The Vegetarian Charity
- ScotsCare
- The Drinks Trust
- Other Useful Grants
- More Ways to Get Financial Support
- More Money-Making Ideas
The Provision Trade Charity
The Provision Trade Charity offers one-off, quarterly grants to people in need, in the provisions trade. Covering the following areas: bacon, pork, canned meat, canned fish, and dairy products.
The grant is to assist workers in this industry with particular purchases, including home improvements and appliances, as well as every day expenses.
HOW TO APPLY
Download a form, fill it out and either return it by email or post to the charity. You can submit an application yourself or it can be done on your behalf through a social worker or Welfare agency. All prospective beneficiaries of the grant will be visited by one of the charity’s officials for assessment.
Applications are generally considered in February, May, August, and November.
The national Caravan Council Benevolent Fund
One of the strangest grants we’ve seen – this fund provides one-off grants to support people who either currently work, or have previously done so, in the caravan industry, and are in need of financial support. It covers people working in any area of the caravan industry – from manufacturing to holiday and residential parks.
The grant is there to provide for items and purchases such as:
- Essential household items
- Home adaptions
- Home repairs
- Essential travel costs
- Priority bills; and
- Important medical equipment
Grant money is usually not given as cash to the applicant directly but will be given to the supplier for whatever goods or services are needed.
how to apply
You need to apply directly to the NCC Benevolent Fund. Download an application form and return it to them via post or email. The charity processes all applications within 2 weeks of receiving them, and will reply to every applicant, even if they’re not successful in their grant application.
When you apply some supporting documentation may needed – such as evidence you worked in the caravan industry, proof of address, and 3 months backdated bank statements.
the vegetarian charity
The Vegetarian Charity offers grants to vegetarians (or vegans) aged 25 and under. They provide grants, normally of up to £500, to provide financial assistance for specific courses, projects and equipment, or in some cases, individual poverty.
how to apply
Download an application from their website, and email it on to the charity with the relevant supporting documents needed. A full list of what this includes is listed on the application form but a covering letter that outlines your personal commitment to vegetarianism and why you need the grant, plus 2 months of bank statements is compulsory.
Applications are accepted all year round, but the process to be approved can usually take up to 3 months.
ScotsCare
ScotsCare provides welfare grants to help Scots, their widows, and children, who are in need and have lived within a 35 mile radius of Charing Cross, London for a minimum of 2 years. Most people eligible to apply are already in receipt of state benefits, too.
Grants are available to provide funds for anything from household appliances, to children’s clothing, or even family respite holidays.
how to apply
Contact ScotsCare to ask for an application form. In your application you’ll also need to include your birth certificate, passport, and a wedding certificate, if it’s relevant. Every applicant is then assigned a case worker for assessment.
The drinks trust
The Drinks Trust supports people who work, or have done previously, in the UK drinks industry. They provide both periodic and one-off grants as well as offering free debt advice. To qualify you need to have worked in any area of the drinks industry, whether that be in a pub, brewery, bar, distillery, vineyard, off licence, trade press publication, warehouse, or in an office-based role at a company producing, distributing, or marketing alcohol.
Their financial support can provide home adaptions to accommodate your needs if you’re elderly, ill, or disabled, as well as help fund periods of unemployment, or support you during a family crisis.
To be eligible you have to live in the UK and have worked in the UK’s drinks industry for at least 2 years, or 20% of your working life.
how to apply
Complete their application form to apply for initial contact. After that, you’ll be asked to provide more details and complete an additional form so that The Drinks Trust will be able to find out how to best support you.
Not found what you’re looking for?
Whilst these might have been some of the strangest grants, or the most specific, you’ve come across if you haven’t seen something that helps you there are plenty of other options. Head over to Turn2Us where they have a great tool that allows you to fill in your details and search for relevant grants.
It’s also important to remember that most energy and water providers offer help, and financial support to those who cannot afford to pay their bills otherwise. You can either use the Turn2Us grant searcher to see what grants might be available with your supplier, or contact them directly to ask for help.
More ways to get financial support and benefits
There are various forms of welfare benefits that you may be entitled to to get financial support. You can use a benefit calculator to see what you’re eligible for.
WORKING TAX CREDIT
- Your eligibility depends on the hours of paid work you do each week, your income, and personal circumstances.
- For most people, Working Tax Credit has been replaced by Universal Credit.
- You can only make a new Working Tax Credit now if you receive, or are entitled to, the Severe Disability Premium.
UNIVERSAL CREDIT
- You need to be over 18 and below State Pension age.
- You need to be on a low income, or out of work altogether.
- If you alone, or combined with your partner, have more than £16,000 in savings then you won’t be eligible for Universal Credit.
PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE PAYMENT
- If you’re over 16 but under State Pension age and suffer from long-term health conditions, or have a disability you may be eligible for a Personal Independence Payment.
- It’s available to help with extra costs you may incur and make daily activities and tasks easier and more accessible.
HELP TO SAVE ACCOUNT
- The Help to Save account encourages savings, giving you 50p for every £1 saved over a 4-year period. You can put in up to £50 a month, but you don’t have to pay in anything every month either if you can’t afford to.
- You receive your bonuses at the end of the second and fourth year. If you pay in the maximum £50 every month and don’t make any withdrawals, you’ll receive a bonus £1,200!
- You either need to be receiving Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, or claiming Universal Credit, as long as your household earned £604.56 or more from paid work in your last monthly assessment.
more money-making ideas
Why not check out our Make Money section which is filled with ideas to get you started. Or find more articles on making money below.
- Drink Wine, Earn £250!
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- Make Money on Social Media
Great article, I wasn’t aware of some of these.
How interesting, great information.
Very intriguing article. I hadn’t heard of many of these.