Tax credits ended on 5 April 2025. Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit have closed. Most people now claim Universal Credit instead, and NHS tax credit exemption certificates no longer work.
Last reviewed June 2026 – check GOV.UK for the latest figures · Source Turn2us (Charity 207766) + 3,500+ UK charity grant database
3,500+ UK charity grants exist for low-income, disabled, carer, redundant, bereaved, single-parent, refugee + care-leaver households. Most go unclaimed because nobody tells you they exist. Pick your situation — Sorted surfaces the top UK grants for each, with eligibility + amount + how to apply.
Honest about how this works. The canonical UK grants database is Turn2us (Charity 207766) — they maintain 3,500+ UK trusts + funds. SortedUK surfaces a curated situational map of the highest-value grants per life situation, with a direct link to apply. Always cross-check on Turn2us for the full eligibility detail + any newer trusts. We earn no referral fees from any of them.
3,500+UK charity grants tracked by Turn2usTurn2us 2024
£500Average UK charity grantTurn2us avg award
£24bnUK money missed annuallyPolicy in Practice 2025
£0Application fee for any UK grantNo-cost route
Pick your situation
Each opens the top UK charity grants + statutory routes for that life situation.
Single parent — charity grants + statutory support
UK single-parent households face higher poverty risk + specific access to lone-parent grants + statutory benefits. The bigger money is usually in benefits (UC + Child Benefit + 30 free hours + Tax-Free Childcare + free school meals); charity grants top up emergencies.
Gingerbread — single-parent advice + grants
Varies
UK's single-parent charity (charity 230750). Free expert advice on UC, child maintenance, employment, housing. Some local Gingerbread groups have hardship funds.
Grants for low-income families raising a disabled or seriously ill child. Equipment, kitchen items, family breaks, sensory toys. UK-wide.
Eligibility: disabled child + on UC/HB/legacy benefitsApply:familyfund.org.uk
Sure Start Maternity Grant
£500 one-off
DWP statutory one-off payment for new babies if you're on certain benefits. England, Wales and Northern Ireland (NI claims go through nidirect). Apply within 6 months of birth.
Eligibility: UC/IS/JSA + usually your first baby — but you can still qualify with other children if it is a multiple birth, if you have refugee status or humanitarian protection or came from Afghanistan or Ukraine, or if you care for someone else’s child who was over 12 months old when the arrangement startedApply: gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant
Best Start Grant (Scotland)
£796.65 first baby + more
Scotland equivalent of Sure Start. Bigger amounts: £796.65 first baby Pregnancy & Baby Payment + £398.35 each subsequent + £331.95 Early Learning + £331.95 School Age. The higher £796.65 rate can also be paid for a child who is not your first in some circumstances — including kinship care or adoption of an older child, and leaving home because of domestic abuse.
Eligibility: on certain Scottish benefitsApply: mygov.scot/best-start-grant
Buttle UK Chances for Children
Up to £2,000
UK charity grants for children + young people facing crisis. Individual application. Strong for educational + welfare needs.
Every English council has emergency-support funding — the Crisis and Resilience Fund, which replaced the Household Support Fund and runs to March 2029. Amounts and rules vary by council. Apply via council website. Same-day to 14-day decisions.
Find council: gov.uk/find-local-councilNote: Scotland/Wales have separate schemes
School uniform grant (council-administered)
£80-£150/child
Most UK councils offer free or subsidised school uniform grants for low-income families. Worth checking even if not on means-tested benefits.
Apply: council website · usually annualBonus: free school meals = Pupil Premium funding too
SortedUK: also run /better-off scan for full UK benefits sweep + /family hub for school + childcare + emergency money routes. Always cross-check on Turn2us for newer single-parent trusts.
Disabled adult or child — UK statutory + charity grants
UK statutory benefits (PIP, Attendance Allowance, DLA for under-16s) are the bigger wins. Charity grants help with: equipment, adaptations the council won't fund, respite, family activities.
Disabled Facilities Grant
Up to £30,000
UK statutory grant from your council for home adaptations — stairlift, walk-in shower, ramp, downstairs bathroom. England £30k cap; Wales £36k; NI £25k. Children's grants not means-tested.
Apply via: council Occupational Therapy referralStatute: Housing Grants CRA 1996
Family Fund
£300-£2,000 typical
Top UK grant route for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child under 18. Equipment, breaks, kitchen appliances.
UK charity (1141253) grants for people with long-term illness or disability. Covers equipment, adaptations, beds, white goods. Application via professional referrer.
UK charity (222377) running learning-disability support including small individual hardship grants + benefits/advocacy help. Free helpline 0808 808 1111.
Free practical + emotional support for UK families with a child who has a life-threatening or terminal illness. Practical support hours, financial help via case-workers.
If you care 20+ hours/week for someone, you may be entitled to Carer's Allowance, Carer Premium UC, NI credits + various carer-specific grants for respite, technology + household.
Carers Trust grants programme
Avg £300-£800
UK national carer charity (1145181) operating local Carer Centre Network. Many local Carer Centres offer small respite/wellbeing grants for unpaid carers.
Charis Grants administer several UK energy hardship + carer-support funds (British Gas Energy Trust, EDF Customer Support Fund). Strong route if energy bills are crushing.
UK statutory redundancy pay first (up to £751/wk × 30 weeks cap). Then UC Advance Payment in 3 days. Then occupational/charity grants while you find work.
UC Advance Payment
Up to first UC instalment
Interest-free advance within 3 working days of UC claim. Repaid from later UC over 24 months. Critical bridge while you wait for first UC payment.
Most UK industries have benevolent funds for past members. Examples: The Royal Theatrical Fund (theatre), Care Workers' Charity, Construction Industry Helpline0345 605 1956, HospitalityAction0808 802 0282.
Cross-check: Turn2us by occupation
Local council Crisis and Resilience Fund
£100-£500
Runs to March 2029 in every English council. Emergency cash, vouchers, energy support. Amounts vary by council.
Apply: via council website
Skills Bootcamp + free training
Free training + interview
Not a cash grant but huge value: 12-16 weeks free training (DDaT/digital/construction/green skills) with guaranteed interview at end.
Apply: gov.uk/skills-bootcamps
SortedUK: /crisis-mode · job loss for full 7-day plan. /earn-more for free UK training routes. Cross-check at Turn2us for your specific occupation's benevolent fund.
Recently bereaved — UK statutory + funeral support
UK statutory Bereavement Support Payment is up to £9,800 over 18 months if partner died before State Pension age. Funeral Expenses Payment up to £1,000 + burial/cremation if on certain benefits.
Bereavement Support Payment (DWP)
Up to £9,800 / 18 months
£3,500 lump sum + £350/month for 18 months if partner died before State Pension age. Apply within 21 months of death.
Apply: gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment
Funeral Expenses Payment
Up to £1,000 + costs
DWP support if you're responsible for funeral costs + on certain benefits. Covers burial/cremation + £1,000 toward other costs. England + Wales.
Apply: gov.uk/funeral-payments
Funeral Support Payment (Scotland)
£1,327.75 standard
Scotland equivalent. £1,327.75 standard rate + burial/cremation fees. Higher rate for those on certain benefits.
Apply: mygov.scot/funeral-support-payment
Cruse Bereavement Support
Free emotional support
UK national bereavement charity (208078). Free helpline + Hope Again for young people. Not grants but vital support.
Low income / working poor — UK grants + statutory top-ups
Statutory routes (UC, Working Tax Credit successor, Council Tax Reduction, social tariffs) are bigger money. Charity grants help with one-off crisis costs + items benefits don't cover.
Charis Grants — energy + hardship
£300-£1,500
Administers British Gas Energy Trust, EDF Customer Support Fund, OVO Hardship Fund. Open to anyone in UK financial difficulty.
Site: charisgrants.com
Buttle UK Chances for Children
Up to £2,000
UK charity grants for children/young people in crisis. Application via referrer (school, social worker, charity).
Site: buttleuk.org
Family Action (FA) Welfare Grants
Varies + practical
UK charity (264713) running FOOD Clubs (£3.50/week for £15 groceries) + Welfare Grants Programme. Strong on practical + ongoing support.
Site: family-action.org.uk
Trussell Trust + IFAN food banks
3-day emergency parcel
UK's largest food bank network (Trussell) + Independent Food Aid Network. Free emergency food via referral.
Find: trusselltrust.org + foodaidnetwork.org.uk
Council Tax Reduction
Up to 100% off
Statutory UK council scheme for low-income households. Avg award £900/yr (Policy in Practice 2025). Apply at your council.
Apply: gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction
Water + broadband social tariffs
£200-£400 + £240/yr
Most UK water + broadband providers offer social tariffs for low-income households. £15-£25/month broadband; capped water bill.
Apply: direct to your supplier
Local council Crisis and Resilience Fund
£100-£500
Runs to March 2029 in every English council. Apply for emergency support. Amounts vary by council.
Healthy Start NHS vouchers + Sure Start Maternity Grant + Best Start Grant (Scotland) are the main statutory routes. Charity grants help with equipment + emergency family costs.
Healthy Start NHS vouchers + vitamins
£4.65-£9.30/week
NHS vouchers for food + free vitamins for pregnancy + under-4s on certain benefits. Loaded to a prepaid card.
Apply: healthystart.nhs.uk
Sure Start Maternity Grant
£500 one-off
DWP one-off payment for new babies if you're on certain benefits + usually no other children under 16 in the household. England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Exceptions let you claim even with other children — multiple birth, refugee/humanitarian protection or arrival from Afghanistan or Ukraine, or kinship care of a child who was over 12 months old when the arrangement started.
Apply: gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant within 6 months
Best Start Grant (Scotland)
£796.65 + more stages
£796.65 first baby Pregnancy & Baby Payment + £398.35 each subsequent + £331.95 Early Learning + £331.95 School Age. Scotland only.
Apply: mygov.scot/best-start-grant
NCT crisis grants
Equipment + breastfeeding
UK national childbirth + parenting charity (801395) operates limited UK crisis grants + free pregnancy/parenting support helpline 0300 330 0700.
Site: nct.org.uk
Maternity Action emergency advice
Free legal advice
UK charity (1128776) specialist UK maternity rights + benefits advice. Free helpline 0808 802 0029.
UK charity specialising in immigration law. Free advice clinics. Strong on family reunion + judicial review.
Site: jcwi.org.uk
British Red Cross refugee support
Emergency packs + cash
UK charity (220949) runs emergency packs (clothing, hygiene), small cash payments + family-tracing services for refugees + asylum seekers.
Site: redcross.org.uk
City of Sanctuary network
Local support hubs
UK movement with 100+ Cities of Sanctuary. Local hubs offer English classes, food, social activities + signposting to local resources.
Site: cityofsanctuary.org
Help Refugees / Choose Love
Item donations
UK charity running emergency item donations + funding for grassroots refugee groups. Strong on warm clothing during winter.
Site: chooselove.org
SortedUK: never give immigration advice ourselves (IAA-regulation requirement). Always route to /find-professional for IAA-registered advisers + Refugee Council + JCWI.
Care leaver / care experienced — UK targeted support
UK statutory leaving-care support runs to age 25 (Children + Social Work Act 2017). Personal Adviser entitlement, education bursary, accommodation support, council tax exemption.
Setting Up Home grant (statutory)
£3,000+ varies by council
Every UK council must offer Setting Up Home Allowance for care leavers moving to independent accommodation. Statutory under Children Act + extension to 25.
Apply: via Personal Adviser
Care Leaver Council Tax exemption
100% off Council Tax to 25
~120 UK councils now offer 100% Council Tax exemption for care leavers up to age 25. Worth checking your council.
Apply: council Council Tax team
Buttle UK Chances for Children
Up to £2,000
Strong for care leavers + care-experienced young people. Educational equipment, household items, transition costs.
Apply: via referrer
Care Leavers Foundation
£100-£500
UK charity (1106920) specifically for care leavers age 16-29 facing crisis. Small individual grants.
Site: thecareleaversfoundation.org
Higher Education Bursary (statutory)
£2,000 lump sum
UK Higher Education Bursary for care leavers entering HE. Paid by local authority. Plus universities have additional bursaries.
Apply: via local authority PA
SortedUK: /family hub covers UK family + childcare routes. /employment for first-job navigation. Cross-check at Turn2us for care-specific trusts.
The complete UK grants database.
This page surfaces ~70 of the highest-value UK charity + statutory grants per situation. The full canonical UK database is at Turn2us Grants Search — 3,500+ UK trusts including occupation-specific funds (every UK profession has at least one benevolent fund) + faith-based grants + region-specific local trusts.
SortedUK's value here is situational discovery + cross-link to the wider UK schemes Sorted already covers (/better-off for benefits sweep, /local-help for the council Crisis and Resilience Fund, /crisis-mode for emergency money). Use both: this page for the top-impact grants, Turn2us for completeness.
No application fees should ever be charged for any UK charity grant. If a "grant service" charges you to apply, it's not legitimate — walk away.
Apply to everything you may qualify for.
Most UK adults underclaim because they don't know what exists. This page is for situational discovery. Turn2us is for completeness. SortedUK's Better Off scan is for benefits. Use all three.
Want this handled, not just explained? Tell Sorted what actually happened and it will check your rights, money, deadlines and next action. Sort this for me →