Last year we ran a small pilot with local groups to look at how we can offer more help to people living with MS, during the cost of living crisis.
Our Health and Wellbeing Grants don’t cover daily living costs, and the process is designed for more specialised items. So we developed a framework to deliver small one-off grants towards essential cost of living needs. Ten groups joined the pilot to test the process and impact of grants, awarding 47 grants totalling just over £15,000. Three of the groups secured additional funding specifically for giving these grants.
Our evaluation was positive, showing that people had urgent needs that could be supported through the grants. Groups found the grants easy to deal with, and applicants had a quick, short process. We’re now working on small changes that came from the evaluation, and preparing to roll out the scheme to all groups that would like to offer Cost of Living Grants.
About the Cost of Living Grants:
- Grants of up to £350 towards essential needs including household bills, food and clothes, and white goods.
- A short application form, as this process needs less information than Health and Wellbeing Grants need.
- We don’t need a letter of support, just written confirmation the applicant has been diagnosed with MS.
- Grants can be paid directly to applicants, as lower grant amounts mean lower risk. And with the type of needs covered, it’s not practical to pay a supplier.
If your group wants to offer Cost of Living Grants:
- You’ll need to come to an information session where we'll run through the process and documents.
- Your Coordinating Team will then need to agree a budget and how you’ll fund and promote grants. Once agreed, we’ll give you the documents you’ll need to get started.
- Sign up to a Zoom session here. If you can’t make any of these dates, please email our Grants Coordinator ([email protected] so we can look at alternatives.
