If you are in financial need, the The Mayor’s Benevolent Fund can offer you a small one-off grant.

To qualify for consideration, you must:

  • have lived in the borough for at least one year
  • be in receipt of income related statutory welfare benefits (such as Income Support or Child Tax Credit).

Purposes

Grants are awarded for:

  • household goods (maximum award £200): purchasing or replacing household appliances (such as a cooker, refrigerator or washing machine) or furnishing or equipping a new property (sourcing recycled items where possible)
  • school uniform (maximum award £60 per child): a contribution to the cost of buying compulsory items of school uniform for children transferring from primary to secondary school or starting a new secondary school (excluding schools which operate their own schemes of financial assistance to parents in need)
  • families with a new baby: help with essential items needed to care for a new born child beyond what might be funded through statutory sources
  • clothing for adults: where an applicant can demonstrate exceptional needs, such as for clothes or shoes that have to be specially purchased
  • relieving a financial crisis: where financial hardship has arisen from unforeseen circumstances.

How to apply

You should make an application in writing, either by e-mail or letter to Ken Argent, Grants Manager. We will accept requests from a third party, such as a social worker, a health visitor or an advice agency, so long as the correspondent has first-hand knowledge of your circumstances.

Ken Argent – Grants Manager

Applications should include:

  • the applicant’s name, address and contact telephone number
  • confirmation of how long they have lived in the London Borough of Barnet
  • the number of family members resident in the household, including the ages of all dependants
  • details of the family’s regular income
  • proof of entitlement to at least one form of income-related statutory welfare benefits
  • a brief summary of an applicant’s circumstances in support of the request for help
  • details of the item(s) for which a grant is requested, including a quotation of the cost of any household appliance
  • reference to other sources of funding that have been approached.

How often can I apply?

Applicants are restricted to a maximum of two awards from the benevolent fund.

Decisions

The Grants Manager will seek additional confirmation from the Revenue and Benefits Service that you are in receipt of at least one form of income-related statutory welfare benefits. All applications are considered by the trustees of the benevolent fund. It usually takes about four weeks to obtain a decision so long as applications contain all of the information required. The trustees’ decisions are final.

Notification and payment of awards

All decisions are notified by letter to the named correspondent. Awards are paid by cheque in favour of the supplier of the goods (or services) in question. Cheques cannot be paid to applicants or any other person.

Enquiries

For further information, please contact the Grants Manager.