Grants

Cerebra grants are to help children who have disabilities because of a brain related condition or injury. The condition may be of a physical nature, a learning disability or both.

Should you apply?

• Does the child have a brain injury, neurological disorder, mental disability or developmental problem?
• Is the child aged 16 or under?
• Is the equipment or resource that would benefit the child not available from statutory agencies like the social services or the NHS?
• Will the equipment or resource improve the child's quality of life?

We try to be flexible about what we give grants for and the list of grants given below are examples only. If you think there is something we may be able to help your child with please give our grants co-ordinator, Debbie Godsave a call on 01267 244216 (direct line) or you can contact her via email

Examples of grants made

• Touch screen computers
• Specialist car seats
• Power wheelchairs
• Therapies (please check if your therapy is one we are able to fund)
• Trampolines
• Sensory toys∞
• Tricycles and quadricycles
• Digital drum kits

Please note, from 2008 we will no longer fund holidays.

Examples of things we will not fund

• Driving lessons
• Motorised vehicles such as quad bikes and motorbikes
• Anything that could be considered a home improvement e.g paint for decorating, conservatories, carpet or other flooring
• Garden landscaping
• Household items e.g. vacuum cleaners, washing machines, wardrobes, standard beds - we will consider special beds needed because of the disability but that is not a medical need and as such should be provided by the NHS
• Vehicle purchase or maintenance
• Assessments
• General clothing
• Treatment centres outside of the UK
• Lycra suits
• Holidays
• Educational items such as home tutors, standard teaching materials or the son-rise programme
• For anything where there is a medical need please check with us whether we will be able to help

What is the grants process?

Step 1 - Complete the application form

Step 2 - References - you will need two references, one of which has to be from a medical professional. We need them to confirm:

1. The child's condition and that it neurological
2. That they are aware of the item being applied for
3. The benefit or lack of harm of the item applied for
4. The families circumstances and why they need our help

Therapy - The specific centre being attended and the length of time the treatment will take place over. The reference cannot come from anyone employed by the therapy centre.

Sensory equipment - That any light effects would not have a detrimental effect on the child i.e. causing seizures in children with epilepsy.

Step 3 - Send us the form, references and financial documentation eg a copy of letter confirming receipt of income support or your tax credit award notification.

Step 4 - We will confirm receipt of your grant application by letter. If you do not receive this within 10 working days of posting please contact us.

Step 5 - If there is any additional information that we need we will be in touch as soon as have been through the grant forms that have come in, in busy periods this may take us a little bit longer.

Step 6 - Once we have all the necessary information and the application is complete please allow 4-6 weeks for processing and a panel decision. Occasionally it can take longer than this but we try very hard to ensure that is not the norm.

Once the application has been to the panel you will be informed of the decision via post. You can then go ahead and order the item and ask the supplier to invoice us so we can pay them - we cannot pay anything without an invoice so please check that the supplier you intend to use is able to provide one.

Please allow up to a month for payment of the invoice and be aware that payment is made by cheque and sent by post so this can affect the timescale.

Please note that we NEVER make cheques payable to applicants and cannot reimburse any money paid out such as deposits or if you pay for the item.

• Download a grant application form
• Download the notes on completing the application form (contains important information regarding your application and the process)

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these documents.

If you would like us to send you a pack in the post please fill in this form.

∞If your application is successful these are considered to be on long term loan and should be returned when no longer of use.