Please note: Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic we are currently unable to accept applications for gym membership or exercise classes. We are still accepting applications for home exercise equipment up to a maximum of £200.
What are health and wellbeing grants?
These grants of up to £350 assist children and adults living with CF with buying items or services that will be of benefit to their health and wellbeing. Applications are assessed by a panel that meets every two months.
Examples of items or services that can applied for include:
- Household appliances
- Essential items of furniture
- Decoration/flooring
- Exercise equipment (max £200)
- Activity classes (such as singing lessons)
Who can apply for a health and wellbeing grant?
We prioritise applications where the person living with CF (the applicant) would not otherwise be able to afford the item or service, due to being in financial need. The applicant, their parent/carer, partner or a member of their CF team can complete the application form. Regardless of who completes the form, the ‘applicant’ is always the person living with cystic fibrosis. If the applicant is over 18, they need to be made aware that the application is being made on their behalf.
How do I apply?
Please read the guidance on this page. Once you have done this, please download and complete the application form.
Download the application form
We are working hard to keep our services running as normal, but may struggle to access our post and anything posted to us may be delayed. Please email applications to helpline@cysticfibrosis.org.uk if you can.
Please take a look at these other frequently asked questions before applying for a grant:
| Item |
Set amount |
| Fridge |
£170 |
| Freezer |
£170 |
| Fridge freezer |
£250 |
| Washing machine |
£250 |
| Tumble dryer |
£220 |
| Washer dryer |
£275 |
| Cooker |
£250 |
| Exercise equipment |
£200 |
You can apply for up to £350. The panel award set amounts for common items (see table). We can only fund up to £200 for a piece of exercise equipment. If a more expensive item is needed, please explain why (e.g. if a specific fridge is needed to fit a kitchen).
The panel are more likely to award a grant if it will cover the full cost of the item or service. If the grant will not cover the full cost, please explain how you will pay the difference (e.g. with savings or family support).
We accept applications for multiple items. The panel may choose to fund only one item, or to fund part of the costs.
Yes. Please include evidence of costs for the item(s) or service(s). This can be a link to a webpage, a screen shot, photo, formal quote or price list. If this is not included, the application will be rejected.
Yes. The supporting statement needs to be completed by a member of the applicant’s CF team (the endorser) and either signed by them or emailed to us from their professional email account.
Our panel consider the endorsement carefully when making their decisions. It should provide more details about how the item or service requested will specifically benefit the health and wellbeing of the applicant. General information, for example, on the benefits of exercise for people living with CF, will not be enough for the panel to give a grant. This is due to our limited budget.
If this is proving difficult please contact us.
When we receive an application we carry out an initial assessment. It is important to provide as much detail as possible in the application to explain why the item or service is expected to be of benefit to the health and wellbeing of the applicant. All applications must also have an endorsement and evidence of costs before they can be submitted to the panel.
If any information is missing or we feel the application would be better suited to another of our grants we will contact the applicant or parent/carer to let them know. We may also contact the endorser for further information.
The applications are anonymised before being submitted to our independent panel for assessment. The panel meets every two months and our panel members have a detailed knowledge and understanding of cystic fibrosis. They will consider whether to give an award based on what the item or service is and how it will be of benefit to the health and wellbeing of the applicant.
Meetings are in January, March, May, July, September and November each year.
Next panel date:
- Thursday 21 January 2021. Deadline for applications is Tuesday 12 January 2021.
We inform applicants and endorsers of the outcome within two weeks of the panel date.
If the application is successful, payment will be made into the bank account provided two to four weeks after the panel date. If bank account details are not included in the application this will delay payment being made.
Our panel will consider most applications, but due to limited budget, we cannot give grants for:
- Items that have already been purchased
- Items or services that should be funded through statutory services
- Medical treatment or equipment
- Computer equipment or equipment needed for work
- Costs towards purchasing a car or the cost of driving lessons
- Gym membership or exercise classes, due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Costs towards buying an electric bike, except for in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear medical reason due to the applicant’s CF health.
The demand for exercise grants for children is higher than our limited budget can cater for. Our panel recognise that exercise is beneficial for all children with CF, however due to pressure on our budget they prioritise applications from those who couldn’t otherwise afford to exercise at all, or those who have been through a particularly difficult period with their health.
Health and wellbeing grants can be given once every 12 months. Our panel may prioritise those that have not received a grant in the past.
We recognise the importance of regular exercise and the need for this to be sustained. However, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic we are not currently accepting applications for gym membership or exercise classes. We can instead accept an application for home exercise equipment (max £200).
We encourage applicants to buy new white goods and furniture which are covered by warranty. We expect them to last several years. If your item has broken, please tell us why and how you’ve tried to repair it. As of September 2020, any grant for a new mattress will also include £15 to cover the cost of a waterproof mattress protector, to help it to last.
Yes. We are happy to consider re-applications for the same item or service, if there is further, relevant information to add. We can also consider new applications for different items or service.
It may be possible to apply for an emergency grant if there could be an immediate and negative risk to the applicant’s health. Please go to our Emergency grants page for more information.
I have a question. Can I speak to someone?
Yes. Please call our Helpline on 0300 373 1000 or email helpline@cysticfibrosis.org.uk to discuss any aspect of the grant.