Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
Lots 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 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.
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.
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:
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.