About our grant-making
Any grant is made at the sole discretion of the Board of Trustees whose decision is final. There is no guarantee that any particular application will be successful. The decision on whether to award a grant and the size of the grant depend on several factors, including the availability of funds and the level of demand at the time the application is considered.
Grants must fulfil the charity’s objectives – to prevent or relieve the need, hardship or distress of persons resident within the charity’s Area of Benefit.
The charity is one of a small number of local charities that can pay for families and individuals to be provided with goods and services or (exceptionally) to provide help with some debt repayments. In addition, the charity can award donations to local organisations which provide support to eligible individuals within the Area Of Benefit, such as a foodbank, a refuge from domestic violence, and a hostel to resettle the homeless.
Eligibility
You don’t have to live in Tilehurst to be eligible for a grant – nor do you have to be on State Benefits.
However your home address must be within the charity’s Area Of Benefit, and you will need to demonstrate that you’re in need, hardship or distress by giving full particulars of your income, outgoings, debts and any savings.
Also, you must have applied for all the State Benefits that you’re entitled to. To check what benefits you’re entitled to – and which other charities may be able to help you – visit these websites:
Does my address qualify?
If your normal, full-time residence (not temporary accommodation) is in any of the following Council areas, then your address makes you eligible for a grant:
Reading Borough Council
(to the west of the railway line running through Reading West Station to Basingstoke);
Tilehurst Parish Council
Holybrook Parish Council
Theale Parish Council
Grant applications received from people who live in Reading Borough to the east of the railway line are normally referred to another local charity covering that area. Our Area Of Benefit does not include addresses in the Purley-on-Thames Parish Council area.
What can I apply for?
If you’re in financial hardship and you lack the basic necessities in life – or an appliance you rely on has broken down and you can’t afford to repair or replace it – or you are just scraping by but you have debts that will take years to clear – then the charity may be able to help you. The charity can make grants for basic, essential goods or services, or (exceptionally) can make payments to reduce unaffordable debts. For example …
Items/Goods
‘White Goods’ – larger appliances like a cooker/oven, a washing machine, a fridge or freezer;
Other Electrical Goods– a TV/radio, a vacuum cleaner, a microwave/air-fryer, a kettle/toaster, a laptop computer, a simple mobile phone;
Fabrics and Furnishings– carpeting, curtains, beds and bedding, wardrobes, chest of drawers, a sofa, table and chairs;
Clothing – including shoes and school uniform.
Services
Fares – for public transport (for a fixed period of time only);
Vehicle Repair – of an essential vehicle needed to get to work;
Communications and Entertainment – costs of a TV licence, broadband charges, simple phone rental charges (for a fixed initial period only);
Education Costs – a contribution towards course/exam fees or expenses.
Debts
Any contribution towards debts will depend on several factors, including the size and nature of the debts, the amount of any regular repayments, the reason for incurring the debts, the ability to reduce debts by returning items bought, etc. The application must include full details.
Is there anything I can’t apply for?
- The charity cannot pay off fines (including Court fines) or taxes (including Council Tax).
- We cannot make a grant to someone who is yet to apply for all the state benefits to which they are entitled.
- We do not make grants which involve on-going or repeating payments over an indefinite period.
- We may not offer a second grant to someone who has received a grant from us fairly recently.
- We prefer to give grants for electric cookers rather than gas cookers (subject to the existence of suitable electric/gas connections in the home). We prefer to give grants for heated clothes airers rather than tumble dryers (due to high running costs of tumble dryers).
Can I apply directly to the charity?
If you want to apply for a grant, you can contact the charity directly. However, if you are receiving support from one of the main caring agencies, we strongly recommend that you involve them in making your application. This should mean your application is processed more quickly, with fewer queries being raised. It may also increase your chances of being awarded a grant, and may influence the size of the grant.
How do I get support for my application?
We prefer to receive an application which includes a referral letter from a professional person who knows you and your circumstances. Referral letters are taken into account when determining whether a grant should be made, and the size of the grant.
If you receive support from one of the main caring agencies, you should ask your ‘care/support worker’ to help you with your application. This could be a Social Worker, a Housing Support or Resettlement Officer, a GP, a Health Visitor, a District Nurse, an Occupational Therapist, school support staff, or a Probation Officer – or it could be someone from another caring agency/charity such as LaunchPad, Citizens’ Advice Bureau, or Reading Refugee Support.
- First, think about what you need a grant for.
- Then talk it through with your care/support worker.
- Ask them to help you complete the application form.
- Ask them to write a referral letter to the charity, on behalf of their organisation, which describes and confirms your personal circumstances.
- You should prepare copies of quotations or bills for goods or services, together with copies of statements showing any significant debts or savings that are relevant to your application.
- You and your care/support worker should then be in a position to submit your application for a grant.
Find out more about our grants and how to apply
Grants to Families & Individuals
How to obtain and fill in an application form, and how to submit it together with supporting paperwork.
Awards to Organisations
We may be able to provide funds to organisations that help eligible people in need.
