- Local Authority Payments
- Child Maintenance
- 16-19 Bursary Fund
- Grants from charities and benevolent funds
Local Authority Payments
In some circumstances, financial support may be available if you obtain a legal order formalising the arrangements for the care and upbringing of the child. Local authorities have the power to provide Residence Order allowances and Special Guardianship allowances.
These payments are discretionary and likely to be means-tested. This means that the local authority will look at your needs and your financial situation, and at their own policy. They will then make a decision on whether or not to make any payments to you. Any decision they make should be reasonable, take account of relevant case law and respect certain fundamental human rights. Otherwise, it may be challenged in court.
If a child is placed with you by the local authority, then unless you agree with them when they place the child with you that it is to be a private arrangement, you may be entitled to be assessed as a foster carer and receive a fostering allowance. This is a complicated area of law – contact Family Rights Group (see below) for further advice.
Recent government guidance to local authorities on family and friends care requires every local authority to have a policy (by 30/9/11) setting out the range of support services for children in family and friends care.
Each local authority is under a general duty to provide support to ‘children in need’ and their families under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989. This can include financial support, both as a one off and on an ongoing basis. The new guidance says that each local authority should have in place clear eligibility criteria in relation to the provision of support services under Section 17, including financial support, to children living with family and friends carers.
You can contact your local authority to ask about their policy and practice on family and friends care. If you do not think that you are receiving the support that you need, you can contact us for advice.
Family Rights Group
Telephone: 0808 801 0366 Monday to Friday 10am-3.30pm
Email: advice@frg.org.uk
Website: www.frg.org.uk
Family Rights Group provides free, confidential independent telephone and e-mail advice to family members who are involved with the local authority about the care of a child.
Child Maintenance
Unless the child is looked after by the local authority, you could ask the parents to pay child maintenance, because they remain financially responsible for the child throughout the time that they are living with you.
Child Maintenance Options
Telephone: 0800 988 0988 Monday to Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 9am-4pm
Website: www.cmoptions.org
Child Maintenance Options provides impartial information and support with anything relating to child maintenance.
16-19 Bursary Fund
From September 2011, this fund has replaced Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for full-time students aged between 16-19 who are facing financial hardship. However, there are transitional arrangements in place for students currently receiving EMA.
Under the new scheme, some vulnerable students are eligible to receive a bursary of £1,200 a year. This group includes:
- people in care
- care leavers
- people claiming income support
- disabled young people who receive Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance
Other students facing financial difficulties may be awarded a bursary at the discretion of their school, college or training provider, who will set out details of how the scheme will operate locally.
Grants from charities and benevolent funds
Family Fund
Telephone: 0845 130 4542
Website:www.familyfund.org.uk
The Family Fund is a registered charity which gives grants to families on low incomes with severely disabled or seriously ill children and young people aged 17 and under. The Fund will consider any request, so you can ask for whatever you need most, for example, laundry equipment, driving lessons, computers or holidays.
Turn2Us
Website: www.turntous.org.uk
Turn2Us is a web-based charity providing an online service to help people access information on all benefits and grants available in the UK. In many cases, applications for support can be made directly from the website and you can be kept informed by email or by text to your mobile phone.
Family Action
Telephone: 020 7254 6251
Website: www.family-action.org.uk
This organisation administers a wide variety of funds. Applications must be made by a social worker, or someone else who knows you in a professional capacity.
Buttle UK
Telephone: 020 7828 7311
Website: www.buttleuk.org
Working with voluntary sector and local authority partners, Buttle UK has a small grants programme which provides essential items such as clothing, beds and washing machines to families living in crisis, when there is no one else that can help. Grandparents Plus can make applications for small grants – please contact us for further details. Buttle UK also has an educational programme which aims to transform the lives of vulnerable children (aged 11 and over) by funding places at schools with a safe and supportive environment.
The Directory of Social Change publishes A Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need.
This is a practical guide to sources available from over 2,280 trusts and charities. Your local library or Citizens Advice Bureau should have a copy of this guide.
