Funding Local Causes

Grants of up to £500 for families in crisis

Applications are open to professional referrers. Approximately 1-month for a decision.

Since 1996 we have supported disadvantaged children (ages 0–18, or up to 25 with disabilities) in Hertfordshire by funding essential household items like cookers, washing machines, and children’s beds to help keep families safe, healthy, and clean.

Applications must come from a supporting professional and will only be considered for eligible items.

**Due to high demand and limited funds, we can only fund one white good per family**

Please read our full guidance notes before applying.

Who Can Apply?
Applications must be submitted by professionals who support the family and can assess their needs. If approved, the award is given to the supporting professional who must manage and supervise its use.

Eligible professionals include:

  • Hertfordshire County Council Social Services

  • Children’s Centres

  • Housing associations

  • Charitable and voluntary groups e.g. debt advice agencies, family support etc


We cannot accept applications directly from individuals or families

What We Fund
We offer grants for the essential items outlined in our guidance notes only. Please read our guidance notes before applying.
  • Essential white goods (e.g. cookers, washing machines, fridge freezers)

  • Children’s single beds and bedding (not beds for parents)
  • Baby items
  • Specialist medical equipment for children


How Much You Can Apply For
To help us support as many families as possible, grant requests must not exceed £500 in total. We will only fund items up to the maximum award amounts listed. Requests above these limits will not be considered.

What is the Application Process?
  1. Read full guidance notes.

  2. Apply for a grant through our Fundseeker Portal

  3. Your application will be reviewed by our team

  4. We’ll contact you by phone or email if we need more information

  5. Applications are considered by our panel, with decisions made within approximately 1 month

  6. You’ll receive the outcome by email

If your application is successful:
  • Beds/Bedding: We’ll email you and our supplier so you can arrange delivery for the family.

  • White Goods: You’ll receive an Argos e-voucher to place the order on behalf of the family. You must email us proof of purchase within 1 month.

  • Baby Items or Medical Equipment: You’ll receive an Argos or Amazon e-voucher to place the order on behalf of the family. Proof of purchase must be emailed within 1 month.

If your application is unsuccessful:
We’ll email you to advise. Please see below for Other Sources of Local Support which may be useful.

Support the Fund
As well as a small endowment, we rely on generous donations to meet the growing demand for the Fund. If you or someone you know would be interested in supporting the Fund by making a donation or fundraising on our behalf, we’d love to hear from you!
Other places to find support
We are aware that many of the families seeking support through the Hertfordshire Children’s Fund need more help than we are able to provide. As a result we try to keep track of other sources of support or information that may be useful and share them here. If you know of any organisation or funding programme that may be useful to those applying to the Children’s Fund, please let us know and we’ll add it to the list below.

Local Funding:
  • Hertfordshire Charity for Deprived Children (Countywide)- https://hertscfdc.wixsite.com/herts-charity-child
  • Wellfield Trust (Hatfield) - http://wellfieldtrust.co.uk/
  • Dacorum Community Trust (Dacorum) - www.dctrust.org.uk
  • Stevenage Community Trust (Stevenage & Aston, Benington, Cromer, Datchworth, Graveley, Knebworth, Little Wymondley, Old Knebworth, Walkern, Watton-at-Stone Weston, and Woolmer Green) - http://stevenagecommunitytrust.org/
  • Harpenden Trust (Harpenden) - http://theharpendentrust.org.uk/
  • Charlie’s Gift (Herts, Beds, Bucks) - https://www.charliesgift.co.uk/
  • The James Marshall Foundation - www.jamesmarshallfoundation.co.uk
  • Sawbridgeworth Trust / United Charities - Contact details here/

    National Funding:
  • COSARAF - https://www.cosaraf.org/what-we-do/hardship-grants/
  • Family Action (national) – www.family-action.org.uk
  • The Buttle Trust (national) – www.buttleuk.org
  • New Life Charity (national) - www.newlifecharity.co.uk
  • Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (national) - www.thebrightsideoflife.org.uk/
  • Turn2Us - www.turn2us.org.uk
  • Glasspool Charity Trust (national) - www.glasspool.org.uk/home/homepage
  • Greggs Foundation Hardship Fund (national) - www.greggsfoundation.org.uk/
  • British Gas Energy Trust (Grants for white goods and to clear energy debt) - British Gas Energy Trust Grants/
  • League of Helping Hand (LHH) - https://lhh.org.uk/apply-for-assistance/s/

    Additional Support:
  • Herts Help – www.hertsdirect.org/hertshelp or 0300 123 4044
  • Hertfordshire County Council Welfare Assistance Payment (one off payment for crisis for essentials like food and bills - Hertfordshire Welfare Assistance/
  • Citizens Advice - Find your local one on www.citizensadvice.org.uk
  • Herts Frontline (East Herts and Broxbourne) - Find details on local health and wellbeing support https://hertsfrontline.org.uk/
  • Foodbanks – details of local foodbanks are available on www.HertsDirect.org
  • Local Baby Bank Finding Tool www.littlevillagehq.org/uk-baby-banks/

    Second hand furniture:
  • Freecycle - http://uk.freecycle.org/
  • Gumtree - https://www.gumtree.com/
  • PreLoved - http://www.preloved.co.uk/
  • Emmaus - https://www.emmaus.org.uk/
  • Furniture ReUse Network – www.frn.org.uk
  • Spruce (Stevenage Furniture Re-use Scheme) - https://www.spruse.org.uk/aboutus/
  • Give a Dog a Bone (Broxbourne Furniture Re-use Scheme) - https://giveadogabone.org.uk/
  • Exchange (Bishop's Stortford Furniture Re-use Scheme with free local delivery) - https://stortfordbaptist.org/exchange
  • 9 Lives Furniture (Rickmansworth). Discount on furniture for those on means tested benefits. Can deliver items for a small fee. - https://www.9livesfurniture.org.uk/
  • WasteAware Reuse Shops (Hertfordshire County Council scheme. Shops in Harpenden, Stevenage, Ware, Garston & Welwyn Garden City). If you are a worker supporting a family, please contact us to find out about free reused furniture from WasteAware. - https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/recycling-waste-and-environment/recycling-and-waste/where-can-i-recycle/reuse.aspx

    School Uniform/Clothing:
  • Hand on Heart Trust (Free, preloved children's coats and winter clothing) - https://www.handonhearttrust.com/projects/back-to-school-backpack-campaign-aug-2022/
  • School In a Bag - https://www.schoolinabag.org/product/buy-one-fund-one/
  • Coats 4 Kids (Free, preloved children's coats and winter clothing) - https://www.1impossiblething.com/
  • Sports Shoes (Free, preloved sports shoes) - https://www.facebook.com/coats4kidsherts/


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