Fulton MacGregor MSP met with local families to find out more about the support they have received from Family Fund, the UK’s largest charity providing grants for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people.
In Scotland, Family Fund supported 6,176 families last year, with grants worth £2.9 million and in Central Scotland they supported 1,151 families with grants worth £540,463.
Following the meeting with families, Fulton MacGregor said “Families raising disabled or seriously ill children need extra support which Family Fund does an excellent job of providing both across Scotland and right here in Coatbridge and Chryston. I fully support Family Fund’s commitment to provide 150,000 grants and services to families across the UK by 2022.”
Kinship carer Jean, whose grandchild Zoe, aged 18, is disabled, said “Family Fund have provided the only support I have received to care for Zoe, supporting us to get a break.”
Family Fund supports families on low incomes raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people to have the same opportunities as others, and help to break down some of the barriers families face on a daily basis.
Families can see if they’re eligible to apply for a grant by visiting www.familyfund.org.uk. The charity provides grants for a wide range of items, such as kitchen appliances, sensory toys, family breaks, tablets, furniture, outdoor play equipment and clothing.
Family Fund also provided 1,751 Take a Break grants for families in Scotland last year. Take a Break supports carers and their families to have a break, and help improve the quality of life, health and wellbeing of the whole family. For more information see: www.takeabreakscotland.org.uk
Salena Begley, MBE, Scotland’s Partnership Development Manager for Family Fund, added “Improving the outcomes and wellbeing of disabled and seriously ill children and young people is at the heart of what we do in Family Fund. Raising a disabled child can be up to three times more expensive compared with other children.[1]
“At Family Fund, we are committed to providing more grants and services to families raising disabled and seriously ill children and young people across the UK. We are grateful for Fulton’s support and hope to see more families finding out about our work and applying for our grants and services, by visiting our website www.familyfund.org.uk”
Fulton MacGregor 