Our Disability Grants for Individuals are to fund items or services where there is a clear, direct and specific link to the applicant's disability. These grants are, in almost all cases, intended to be one-off and are awarded at the discretion of our trustees.
Meetings to consider applications are usually held each month. The closing date for applications is the 15th of the preceding month. Trustees aim to consider all applications that arrive by the closing date, while reserving the right to defer any applications that are not complete. We aim to deal fairly and quickly with every completed application, and applicants can typically expect to hear the result by the end of the month that their application has been considered.
There are requests that we are unable to consider, so please check the list below.
Do you ...
- Live full-time in Gloucestershire?
- Have a physical, sensory and/or learning disability?
- Receive a statutory disability benefit?
- Need items or services that are not typically funded by the state?
If you can answer yes to all the above, you can apply for a Disability Grant for Individuals. Please note that in accordance with our Articles of Association, GDF is unable to offer grants in cases where mental illness is the primary condition.
Restrictions and limitations
- Applications must include a disability benefit award statement for DLA, PIP, AA or AFIP.
- One application per person per year. In most cases, more than one application per year from a single household is unlikely to be successful.
We are more likely to fund:
- Adapted or specialist equipment*
- Items or services that enable independence where disability creates a clear barrier.
- Solutions that directly address a specific functional limitation.
*Examples of specialist equipment we have funded include OrCam assistive reading devices, Phonak Roger radio aids, riser recliners, rollators, and Synapptic mobile phones.
We are unlikely to fund:
- General household items, IT equipment or mobiles unless they are required in a specific adapted form due to disability.
- General items on the sole basis that they improve wellbeing.
- Items that would benefit most households.
We never fund:
- Mobility scooters
- Items/services that have been ordered or purchased prior to making an application or before a grant decision is made.
- To help pay off outstanding debt.
- Holidays*
- The cost of day-to-day social or health care, or for services that are normally available from statutory agencies.
*see Disability Grants for organisations for more information as we may consider applications to fund holidays organised and hosted by charities or other not-for-profit-groups.
Before you submit your application, please check the following:
- That you have completed the application form fully.
- Attached a copy of your statutory disability benefit award letter (e.g. PIP/DLA/AA/AFIP).
- That you have enclosed one or more quotes or screenshots of published prices for the item or service you have applied for. For items less than £500, we require one quote; for items £500 and over, we require two quotes.
- That you have attached a record of assessment or a supporting letter from a relevant professional that explains your disability, and how the item or service you have applied for addresses a specific need related to your disability. A supporting letter or assessment from a relevant professional is required for adapted and specialist equipment.
Please note that applications from individuals accompanied by a supporting letter or evidence of assessment from a relevant professional on the request and the need are more likely to be successful.
Read case studies of how our grants programmes have enhanced the lives of other people with disabilities living in Gloucestershire.