Funding Focus: Chances for Children, Buttle UK
Jo Stephenson
Saturday, June 1, 2024
Buttle UK’s Chances for Children grants support vulnerable children and young people who have experienced a recent crisis or change in life that has had a significant impact on their wellbeing and their education.
The charity was named after the Reverend Frank Buttle who, in 1937, had the idea to accumulate £1m to become the capital of a trust to assist deprived children.
When he died in 1953, he’d nearly met the target and the fund was used to establish Buttle UK.
The endowment value is now worth £50m and generates more than £1m in revenue to distribute.
How much is available?
Individually tailored grants of up to £2,400 are available for children and young people who have experienced a crisis that has recently had a significant and enduring impact on their wellbeing and educational engagement.
It funds items and activities to help improve children and young people’s wellbeing, and increase their capacity to engage in education and learning.
Who does it help?
Children and young people must meet the following criteria:
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Aged from 2 to 18 if living with a parent or carer or aged 20 and under if living independently with little or no support from their family.
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Accessing early, primary, secondary or post 16 education/training for a minimum of 12 hours per week
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Living on a low income and experiencing financial hardship
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Have experienced a crisis that has recently had a significant and enduring impact on their wellbeing or their development and education
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The family or young person has recently taken action to improve their situation, are actively engaging with support and are moving on from the crisis.
What does it fund?
Holistic packages of support for children and young people that can include:
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Items and activities to support learning and development such as laptops, books, wi-fi, educational toys, tuition, etc.
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Clothing and school uniforms
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Social, sporting and leisure activities
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Family activities
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Items for children’s or young people’s bedrooms
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Household items that are not available from other sources and which directly address children’s needs
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Boarding school places for children who are unable to stay in their family home.
Who can apply?
Chances for Children grants can only be applied for by frontline professionals working for a registered charity, housing association or public sector organisation who:
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are working directly with the child/young person
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have made a full assessment of the child’s or young person’s needs
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have carried out at least one home visit (optional for schools and colleges).
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If successful, the professional will need to manage the funds, upload receipts within eight weeks of receiving the grant, and complete an evaluation survey.
What/who won’t it fund?
The grants will not fund items or activities covered by a statutory duty and applications for single items such as a cooker will not be accepted. It will not fund debt repayments, items for parents or carers, legal costs nor medical treatment.
Buttle is also unable to help looked-after children; where poverty, housing or homelessness is the main issue; children in crisis and at serious risk; where the main issues is linked to a disability or where a parent or carer’s health is the key concern.
How to apply?
Applicants must have consent from the parent/carer or the young person, be completed with their input, have a clear assessment of the child’s needs and demonstrate how the items or activities applied for will address these.
Workers applying for grants need to commit to working with the child for three months after a grant is made, have made a full assessment of the child’s emotional and learning needs, and agree to manage the grant on behalf of the family.
Grants can be applied for any time of year.
More from: www.buttleuk.org
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