Helping Hand
Families could get thousands of pounds in free cash for Christmas – but you need to check applications now
We reveal the grants and charities to give you a helping hand
FOR families on low incomes or struggling financially, Christmas can be a particular source of stress.
From the pressure to buy presents to forking out for Christmas dinner, the festive season can be a tough time for those on a budget.
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The good news is that there are grants from charities and other companies that can help you get through it.
Charity Turn2Us says that while most charitable funds do not provide specific grants to help people meet the costs of Christmas, some may consider applications of this nature, depending on your circumstances and background.
Others might give you money to help with your day-to-day living costs, which could free up some cash for the festive period.
The amount of money available through grants depends on what you are eligible for.
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Some are created for people who work or have worked in specific professions, while others are aimed to help people with specific disabilities or health conditions. Others are tied to a specific location.
Grants don’t have to be paid back, and they won’t affect your benefits entitlement. Most charities offer at least £100, but some offer thousands of pounds.
For instance, the Dance Professionals fund has grants available between £600-£3,000 for dancers, dance teachers and choreographers. This money can be used for cost-of-living expenses, medical fees, and even career retraining costs.
Meanwhile, B&CE's Charitable Trust has hardship grants available to people who either work or have worked in the construction industry.
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The grants are designed to help recipients pay debts such as mortgages, rent, utilities and council tax as well as funeral costs, disability aids and retraining.
The Salespeople charity helps anyone who has worked as a Business to Business (B2B) salesperson for at least five years within the last 10 years, visiting business customers in their premises to sell goods or services. Grants are worth £1,000 or more.
Some grants are even specific to employees of certain companies. For instance, the BHS Trust Fund helps people who have worked for BHS for at least twelve months, whether they’re currently in work, between jobs or even retired.
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The charity awards Christmas grants to individuals facing financial difficulties in the lead up to the festive period.
The support ranges from hampers and food shopping vouchers to toys for children. Applications open in November and run through to the first week of December and you can find out more
To find out what grants you might be eligible for, you can use
If you fill in your age, any disabilities or illnesses, your profession (and your partners if you have one) and any religious affiliations, it will show you a list of grants available.
You could also use the platform which tells you which grants you might be eligible for and helps you apply.
It also details how much the grants are worth, the eligibility criteria, and how to apply for each one.
Some grants are paid within weeks while others take longer, so if you’re specifically concerned about the Christmas period, it makes sense to start applying as soon as possible.
Household Support Fund
You may be able to get help with essential living costs from your local council through a programme called the Household Support Fund (HSF).
The scheme is meant to assist people who are struggling or cannot afford basic expenses like energy bills, water bills, and food.
Some councils provide food vouchers to families during school holidays as part of this programme.
Eligibility criteria differs from one council to another, so it’s a good idea to visit your local council's website to find out what help is available and how to apply.
For example, Richmond Council offers grants of up to £600 for families with two or more children while Haringey Council usually gives out vouchers of around £100 per household.
Other charities providing Christmas help
The Salvation Army
Each Christmas, the Salvation Army supports thousands of people across over 600 communities in the UK.
This year, it will be providing Christmas lunches and companionship to older people living alone, giving food parcels to families who are struggling to afford a proper Christmas lunch, and distributing toys to children whose parents are unable to afford presents.
You can find your location Salvation Army using the
Crisis
Every year, Crisis at Christmas offers warmth, accommodation, healthcare, food and specialist advice.
Last Christmas, the charity worked with over 6,600 people facing homelessness through day centres and hotels in London and Crisis Skylight centres across Britain.
Visit the section of the website, if you think Crisis can help you.
CashforKids
The CashForKids Mission Christmas appeal provides gifts for kids from underprivileged families.
You can’t apply directly, but referral services such as social services, GPs and teachers can do so on your behalf.
Priority is given to applications that are submitted from social services and other bodies of authority within the remit of caring for disadvantaged children.
The organisation or professional making the application is responsible for ensuring that the gifts are distributed to children who meet the eligibility criteria.
Family Fund
Family Fund works with partners in the UK to offer grants that can be used to allow families with a disabled child to go on holiday. This includes holidays over the festive period.
The charity says applicants should include as much information as possible about the type of break you’d like as a family and the difference it will make to the child or young person you’re applying for. You can make an
Schools, councils and churches
Many local schools, councils and churches run schemes to help disadvantaged families over Christmas, so it’s worth checking with any that are near you to see what’s available.
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In the run up to December, more charities will announce schemes.
For instance, Lidl, Book Trust, Action for Children and Family action have all run initiatives in the past.
How to save money on energy bills this winter
SWITCHING energy providers can sound like a hassle - but fortunately it's pretty straight forward to change supplier - and save lots of cash.
Shop around - If you're on an SVT deal you are likely throwing away up to £250 a year. Use a comparion site such as MoneySuperMarket.com, uSwitch or EnergyHelpline.com to see what deals are available to you.
The cheapest deals are usually found online and are fixed deals - meaning you'll pay a fixed amount usually for 12 months.
Switch - When you've found one, all you have to do is contact the new supplier.
It helps to have the following information - which you can find on your bill - to hand to give the new supplier.
- Your postcode
- Name of your existing supplier
- Name of your existing deal and how much you payAn up-to-date meter reading
It will then notify your current supplier and begin the switch.
It should take no longer than three weeks to complete the switch and your supply won't be interrupted in that time.
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