Disability Grants for Individuals from Gloucestershire Disability Fund (GDF) are intended to be one-off. In exceptional cases only, the grants panel may consider longer-term or regular support, although applicants may reapply for assistance after at least one year has elapsed.
We have standard and rigorous criteria by which we assess grant applications, taking into account the nature of the request and the circumstances of the applicant. We strive always to be fair and consistent.
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.
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.
- Multiple or repeat applications from a single household.
We never fund:
- Mobility scooters
- Items or 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 client contribution element of Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG).
- The cost of day-to-day social or health care, or medical procedures.
- Personal income, routine household expenses, 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 and other not-for-profit groups.
Multiple and repeat applications:
- One application per person per year.
- In most cases, more than one application per year from a single household is unlikely to be successful.
- The grants panel takes previous grants into account when assessing new applications and, as a general rule, will not make more than three grants to the same individual or household within a six-year period.
Please note that for any application to GDF, applicants are required to provide evidence of a statutory disability benefit. Applications with a support letter or record of assessment from a relevant professional, who can comment on the need and the person with the disability’s circumstances, are more likely to be successful. A supporting letter or record of assessment from a relevant professional is required for specialist equipment. Examples of specialist equipment we have funded include OrCam assistive reading devices, Phonak Roger radio aids, riser recliners, rollators, and Synapptic mobile phones.