Cambridgeshire Children's Fund

A Fund to help disadvantaged children (0-18 yrs) in Cambridgeshire within families on very low income and facing other factors such as the aftermath of domestic violence, mental health issues or addictions. The fund helps where real need exists and statutory funding is insufficient. Small grants go to families who are referred by social services, housing associations and other support agencies. The grants cover essential items that cannot otherwise be afforded.

Although Cambridgeshire is perceived as a wealthy county, there are areas of severe deprivation. Some parents struggle to provide their children with the most basic, everyday needs such as clothing and bedding.

A small grant from the Fund provides not only practical help but also much needed care and support from the community – a small sum can make a huge difference.

Recent grants awarded include £100 awarded to buy a special child proof safety harness for car seat for a child with epilepsy and development delay from a low income family with indebted parents and 5 children, of which 2 have special needs and £100 to buy school clothing for a child with Down’s syndrome as the mother was very short of money and pregnant with third child.

Donations to the fund are welcome, whatever the size. To make an online donation to Children's Fund please visit the Children's Fund page on the Localgiving.com website

To apply, please download the application form noting:

• The form can only be submitted by a sponsoring organisation (such as Sure Start or housing associations) that is working with family living in Cambridgeshire.
• The family must be in need of financial help and facing other factors such as mental health issues, disability, teenage pregnancy, addictions, long term illness, or the aftermath of domestic violence.
• Awards in the region of £100- £150 are to provide for the basic needs (such as clothing, bedding, special needs equipment) of their children (0-18 years).
• Financial help is not available for:
  Rent & Mortgage payments
  Catalogue debts
  Credit card debts
  Loan repayments
  Court costs and fines

The cheque will be paid to the sponsoring organisation, or to the shop/service provider – not to the applicant.

ONLY ONE GRANT REQUEST CAN BE MADE FOR A FAMILY PER YEAR

The replies to the questions must be typed (i.e. not handwritten) and sent as an email attachment to info@cambscf.org.uk as a word document – not as a scanned image.
Your email will be acknowledged and a reference allocated. You will hear of the outcome by email within 2-3 weeks of the initial acknowledgement – please do not chase CCF for the outcome. If the request is successful, a cheque will be sent to the sponsoring organisation

Regrettably, there is not enough funding to help all those that request support.