The grants to individuals programme helps people that are in need, hardship or distress, or people who are suffering from ill health, are convalescent or have a disability.
Planned opening dates for applications to the Grants to Individuals scheme in 2025:
- Wednesday 3rd September
- Monday 6th October
- Monday 3rd November
- Monday 1st December
The portal is opened at 9:30am and closed once the monthly budget has been met.
How to apply for a grant
Bristol Charities only accepts grant applications from support professionals, who act as a Sponsor on behalf of their clients.
Sponsors may be a social worker, support worker, housing officer or an education or healthcare professional etc. (Please click the link below if you are a support professional and you would like to become a Sponsor).
The Sponsor is responsible for filling in the application form, validating financial details and acting as a point of contact between Bristol Charities, their client, and suppliers.
Once a grant application has been submitted, we will review it and let the Sponsor know the outcome by email, and what further steps to take.
Items we fund
We can help with ONE of the following:
White goods (washing machines, electric cookers & fridge/freezers)
Small electrical equipment - vacuum cleaners, microwaves, kettles, irons and toasters
Basic furniture such as beds, sofas, storage, tables & chairs
Kitchen starter sets i.e. pots, pans, cutlery, crockery etc.
Flooring - we do not routinely approve flooring grants for new tenancies. Additional criteria apply for flooring grants only
Furniture grants may be offered in the form of vouchers for British Heart Foundation Home Stores (The Horsefair, Brislington & Kingswood stores only)
Eligibility
Applications will be considered if all of the following criteria are met:
The applicant lives within a 10 mile radius of the centre of Bristol
They have not received previous funding from Bristol Charities in the last 3 years
The household is on a low income
PLEASE NOTE: We do not usually award grants to applicants living in emergency or temporary accommodation or to those who do not have a right to reside in the UK and/or no recourse to public funds.
There are additional criteria for flooring grants only. Applications may be considered if all the above criteria are met, and one or more of the following apply:
There is a child aged 4 or under in the property and the current flooring is unsuitable or presents a hazard
A member of the household has a physical disability or mobility issue, and the current flooring is unsuitable or presents a trip hazard
There has been an event i.e. flood or fire and the flooring needs to be replaced and cannot be done so through insurance or by the landlord
We cannot help with the following:
Clothing
Gas cookers
Food costs or household bills
Housing clearances, cleaning fees, decorating costs or moving costs
Repairs or adaptations to properties
Rent arrears, Debt Relief Orders or any kind of debt
Tumble dryers or dishwashers
Televisions, computers, or audio equipment
Medical equipment or treatments
Applicants who are due to move to a new property
Please do not make a grant application if the person you’re supporting has not yet moved into their property or they are due to move soon. Please only apply once the move has taken place. This is so that our limited funds are used to provide support when it is most needed.
Residents of Frome Vale, Stockwood and Henbury and Brentry
If you are a professional working with clients living in Frome Vale, Stockwood or Henbury and Brentry that require assistance with items/services not offered through the Grants to Individuals scheme, please get in touch with the Bristol Charities’ Community Team to see what support may be available on 0117 930 0301 or .
Grants awarded in 2023/24
of funds distributed in 2023/24
“I’ve just spoken to my client. The cooker is in and she is so grateful. She’s not had a cooker in five years! So really been missing the kinds of things you can cook on the hob particularly… It’s making a huge difference! I think this is one of the most rewarding grant cases I’ve worked on.”