List of grant awarding charities which may assist
blind and partially sighted students
The following is a selective list of charities, from which it may be possible for blind
and partially sighted students to obtain financial assistance in addition to that
available from statutory sources. There are several small trusts for blind and
partially sighted people which cover specific local areas. Often local associations
and societies for blind and partially sighted people have grant awarding
committees.
Grant awarding charities
Disability Alliance
(Previously 'Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities')
12 City Forum
250 City Road
London
EC1V 8AF
Information Service Freephone: 0800 328 5050
Tuesday, 11.30 am – 1.30 pm and Thursday, 1.30 - 3.30 pm.
Website: www.disabilityalliance.org/skill.htm
Email: [email protected]
Disability Alliance (DA) is providing support and information for disabled students,
through DA's agreement with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
following the closure of Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities. DA
offers online information for disabled students, families and professionals, free
factsheets for disabled students and advisors and a helpline which offers advice
on education, training and employment. DA also offers a benefits checklist at:
www.disabilityalliance.org/skillbenefits.htm
Action for Blind People
14 – 16 Verney Road
London SE16 3DZ
Telephone: 0207 635 3015
Website: www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
National helpline: 0800 915 4666
Can help registered blind or partially sighted people who are residents of the UK
with holiday breaks and assistive technology. Contact the helpline to be directed
to your local Action Team.
Association of Charity Officers (ACO)
Head Office
Central House, 14 Upper Woburn Place
London WC1H 0NN
Tel: 020 7255 4480 Fax: 020 7255 4496
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.aco.uk.net
ACO itself does not provide grant aid. Advises enquirers of possible sources of
charitable help. Applicants should provide family and career background in order
to elicit appropriate information. May offer assistance to E.U. countries.
The Camelia Botnar Foundation
Maplehurst Road
Cowfold
West Sussex
RH13 8DQ
Telephone: 01403 864556
Website: www.cameliabotnar.com
Email: [email protected]
Assistance may be given to people aged 16-19 in need due to physical/mental
disability or social /economic circumstances. Work experience for disadvantaged
young people up to the age of 21 years.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Educational Trust for the Blind
The Covers
Green Lane
Hambledon
Hampshire
PO7 4SS
Telephone: 023 9263 2180
Assistance for educational purposes (including equipment) given only to residents
of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Maximum grant £300.
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Jewish Care
Merit House
508 Edgware Road
The Hyde
Colindale
London NW9 5AB
Telephone: 0208 922 2000 / 2222
Website: www.jewishcare.org
Email: [email protected]
Acts primarily as an advocate. Very occasionally will give financial help for Jewish
visually impaired people. Only applicable to residence in home counties. No
assistance to residents outside the UK.
Lawrence Attwell’s Charity
The Skinner’s Company
8 Dowgate Hill
London
EC4R 2SP
Telephone: 0207 213 0561or 0207 213 0561
Website: www.skinnershall.co.uk/charities/lawrence-atwell-charity.htm
Email: [email protected]
Can help with financial assistance for people within the ages of 16 and 26
pursuing practical vocational courses leading to work and to purchase essential,
equipment. Applicants must be UK nationals or refugees with permanent
residency. Grants are awarded to people who come from a demonstrably lowincome background, e.g. family income below £25,000 pa.
Metropolitan Society for the Blind
Lantern House
102 Bermondsey Street
London
SE1 3UB
Telephone: 0207 403 6184
Website: www.msb.gb.com
Email: [email protected]
May be able to offer assistance to blind and partially sighted people in the twelve
inner London boroughs only. This could include support with reading
correspondence and, occasionally, writing letters; Loans of audio equipment
arranged through the British Wireless for the Blind Fund; Information about local
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social groups, news and events and making contact with statutory services, for
example making a doctor's appointment.
National Blind Children’s Society (NBCS)
Bradbury House
33 - 34 Market Street
Highbridge
Somerset
TA9 3BW
Telephone: 01278 764764
Website: www.nbcs.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
The National Blind Children’s Society provides services for the families of children
and young people with a visual impairment, from birth to the completion of full time
education. NBCS provides Family Support, Educational Advocacy, IT advice and
support, Activities, CustomEyes large print children’s books and subject to criteria,
may be able to provide grants for computers, speech and magnification software,
for home use.
Princes Trust
The Prince's Trust
18 Park Square East
London NW1 4LH
phone: 0800 842842
fax: 020 7543 1200
minicom: 0207 543 1374
email: [email protected]
Website: www.princes-trust.org.uk/need_help/grants/development_awards.aspx
The Princes Trust offers a Development Award for young people. It can provide
cash grants of up to £500 (depending on region) to help young people get into
education, training or employment. The award can help fund tools or equipment
for a job or qualification, equipment or travel costs for volunteering or structured
work experience and more. Eligibility is for young people aged aged 14–16 and
not expecting to achieve five GCSEs grades A-C or aged 16–25 and not in
education, training or are working less than 16 hours a week.
Royal Blind Society
RBS House
59 - 61 Sea Lane
Rustington
4
West Sussex
BN16 2RQ
Phone: 01903 857023 - Fax: 01903 859685
Website: www.royalblindsociety.org/grants.htm
Email: [email protected]
The Royal Blind Society offers practical support for people with little or no sight
and gives more than £100,000 in grants to visually impaired people on low
incomes. Grants can be used to help towards household bills, work-related
training, specialist medical equipment, daily living aids and IT equipment, reading
and literacy aids for young visually impaired people from low income families.
Snowdon Awards Scheme
Unit 18, Oakhurst Business Park
Wilberforce Way
Southwater
West Sussex
RH13 9RT
Telephone: 01403 732899
Fax: 01403 733538
Website: www.snowdonawardscheme.org.uk/grants
Email: [email protected]
The Snowdon Awards Scheme can provide students with a physical or sensory
disability with grants, ranging from £250 to £2,500. These help cover additional
costs, like computers, mobility equipment or human help that push up the already
high costs of being a student or trainee. They provide students with the
opportunity to access education or training and enjoy a level of independence that
would not otherwise be possible.
Student Disability Assistance Fund (SDAF)
Sandra Furmston,
Administrative Secretary,
BAHSHE Office,
35 Hazelwood Rd,
Bush Hill Park,
Enfield
EN1 1JG
Tel/Fax: 020 8482 2412
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bahshe.co.uk
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The Association runs the Student Disability Assistance Fund (SDAF) to help
students with disabilities to keep up with their studies. The maximum amount of
each award is £500 and students must be involved in higher education on a fulltime or nearly full-time basis. Students are expected to apply for the Disabled
Students' Allowance before applying to the SDAF. Students who are disabled but
not entitled to receive DSA are more likely to be awarded a grant by the SDAF
than students who do receive DSA.
Deadlines for applications are March 1st, June 1st and November 1st of each
year.
Vision Charity
Peter H. Thompson
PO Box 729
Aylesbury
Bucks.
HP22 9AS
Bucks
Telephone: 01296 655227
Fax: 01844 346 151
Email; [email protected]
Website: www.visioncharity.co.uk
Possibility of funding specific items of equipment to help support blind and partially
sighted pupils and students up to age 20. Variety of applications considered.
Grant Awarding Charities specifically for Scottish students
Anne Herd Memorial Trust
C/o Bowman Solicitors
27 Bank Street
Dundee
DD1 1RP
Telephone: 01382 322267
Email: [email protected]
The Trust was set up to provide funding for blind and partially sighted people or to
organisations providing services for them. Preference given to students from the
Dundee and Tayside area. Please write to Elizabeth N. McGillivray or email
[email protected] for more information.
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Webster and Davidson Mortification Trust
Thorntons
White Hall House
33 Yeaman Shaw
Dundee
DD1 4BJ
Telephone: 01382 229111
Website: www.Thorntons-law.co.uk/websteranddavidson
Email: [email protected]
Provide awards to blind and partially sighted students in further
and higher education to learn and appreciate good music. In some
cases awards may be given to secondary school age students.
Preference will be given to applicants from Scotland but
candidates must be resident in Great Britain. Awards given for
music only.
Contacts for students in Wales
Wales Council for the Blind
Phil Stevens (Director)
3rd Floor
Shand House
20 Newport Road
Cardiff
CF24 ODB
Telephone: 02920 473954
Website: wcb-ccd.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
The umbrella organisation for visual impairment in Wales. The Linnecar Trust
exists to give grants to people who are registered blind and who live in the
counties of Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. The Cambrian Trust
for visually impaired people under the age of 21 assists with education and
welfare.
Further Information
Current addresses and telephone numbers of local voluntary agencies can be
obtained from RNIB’s Helpline, telephone 0303 123 9999 or email
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[email protected] If you are telephoning from outside the UK, please dial +44
(0)20 7388 1266.
Alternatively please go to
http://info.rnib.org.uk/Agencies/Agencies.htm
Guide updated: May 2013
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