Applying for a RISE Grant
Guidance Notes - Please read very carefully
RISE grants are only available to those participating in the RISE Initiative. This grant programme is supported by The Albert Hunt Trust.
We will try to ensure that your application is processed efficiently and that your experience is as positive as possible. However funds are limited, so to maximise your chances of success please follow our guidance carefully. Further information is available in our FAQs.
How much can you apply for?
Our grant awards normally range from £100.00 to £750.00 but can be up to £1,000. Please apply for what you need.
Our grant awards are normally made in the form of e-vouchers, bank transfer or direct to a supplier, under certain circumstances we may also be able to award emergency funds via a cash point (max £500)
Who can apply?
You can apply for yourself or refer a RISE participant.
If you are applying for yourself you must meet the minimum criteria listed below and supply a statement or letter of support from your RISE Coach
If you are a RISE Coach making a referral the applicant must meet the minimum criteria and you must know the applicant and their circumstances well.
Please note - applicants can only receive one grant award in any 12 month period to a maximum of three in any three year period.
Other organisations worth contacting are:
Lightning Reach - free online portal that connects financial support from various sources to the people that need it, quickly and securely - Visit website here >
Turn 2 Us - free Benefits Calculator; Grants Search; details about Turn2us' direct grant-giving funds; and links to other sources of information and help - Visit website here >
The Association of Charitable Organisations - free directory of benevolent organisations which make grants. These are especially relevant if you have worked in a particular trade or industry - Visit website here >
What is the minimum criteria?
All applicants must be participating in the RISE Project, have UK citizenship or been granted leave to remain. They must be over 18 years old and have been resident in the UK for at least 12 months.
In addition they must be in receipt of all state benefits they are entitled to (except where they are waiting for benefit to be awarded for example PIP or appealing against a decision of the DWP to refuse or withdraw a benefit)
They must be able to supply a letter or statement from the RISE Coach and have applied to other trade related benevolence funds they may be entitled to. Many of these can be found on the ACO website listed above.
What can you apply for?
This is an open fund and we will consider applications for whatever is needed to help the applicant progress with RISE. We cannot fund legal costs but here are some examples of things we might fund.
1. Help to pay for a service, equipment or tools to set up a business.
2. Help to get connected with a laptop/smartphone.
3. Help with short term childcare costs e.g. to attend an interview.
4. Help with specialist clothing or uniform.
5. Help with essential household goods e.g. fridge, table
6. Help with documentation such as a passport.
7. Help with driving lessons or license.
8. Help with transport, storage and travel costs.
In exceptional circumstances you may also apply for help;
- To buy a disability aid if details of the aid are supplied and show that a government grant is not available and it will help the applicant participate fully in RISE. Grants towards electric wheelchairs will not be funded.
- To pay for minor home repairs or garden improvements, if details of repairs and a written estimate of cost are supplied and can show that the adaptation or repair will help you participate fully in RISE
- To pay rent arrears, if it can be shown that the arrears have arisen due to a procedural failure in the benefits system, a significant life event, long-term ill health, or disability. A recent rent arrears statement will also need to be supplied and it must be shown that the applicant has received debt advice from a recognised agency and tried to set up a repayment plan with the landlord and have applied for a discretionary housing payment (if eligible) and have been threatened with legal action by the landlord.
In addition if the applicant is in social housing the landlord will need to:
A) Demonstrate that they will let you stay in your home or move to more suitable housing /area e.g. move closer to your family or away from abusive ex-partner, if your arrears are reduced.
B) Remove the threat of legal action if a grant towards arrears is awarded.
What happens after your application is received?
We will aim to review your application and make an initial response within 10 working days, however, this could take longer in times of high demand or other circumstances beyond our control.
You will then receive an email from us which will either;
1. Let you know the outcome of your application and if successful, when and how an award will be made.
or
2. Ask you to provide further information or documentation
or
3. Let you know that your application will be considered by our Welfare Committee (applications which are exceptional, are always considered by the Welfare Committee and therefore take longer to process)
Important !
1. We are a very small, committed team but due to the volume of applications we receive, and for security reasons, we can only process applications through the online application form. Please respond to requests for further information as soon as possible.
2. Please contact us via email rather than telephone.
3. We will ask to see your bank statements belonging to the applicant which are no more than two months old. To do this they can choose to either attach a pdf of the bank statement at the end of the application form (multiple screenshots are not acceptable) or ask for a link to connect to your bank account - this will come from our partner Lightning Reach.
4 . We will not award a grant to an applicant considered to be in active addiction, as this activity will likely to be contributing towards financial difficulties. This includes where we can identify transactions on their bank statements which show significant household income spent on gambling or other addictions. However, a grant may be considered if they can evidence they are actively seeking help and advice for their addiction.
5. Please do not purchase your goods while the application is in process as we cannot make awards retrospectively.
How to Apply
Please fill in the application form below and ensure you have completed everything on the checklist before sending it to us.
If you are applying for yourself you will need:
1. To provide a Statement or Letter from your RISE Coach which includes: a description of your current circumstances, what you are applying for, how they are professionally involved with you and that they support your application. The referrer statement or letter can either be pasted into the box provided in the application form or attached as a file at the end.
If you are a RISE Coach or applying for yourself you will need to;
2. Provide the applicants monthly income and outgoings
3. Provide a full months bank statement as a pdf at the point of application (for the account income goes into) which is no more than two months old (we do not accept multiple screenshots) or request to connect to a bank account.
4. Provide Medical Evidence from your GP, NHS Consultant or Specialist etc, if it is relevant to the application.
If you are a RISE Coach making an application on behalf of a client, please give your clients (applicants) name, email and contact details at the start of the application form and your details in the For Referrers section at the end of the application form.
Checklist
- Ensure all your personal details are complete; including full income and outgoings based on the whole household. This must include every member of the household that is contributing to the daily living costs.
- Ensure that the consent questions have been signed. Please read our Privacy Statement
- Upload all evidence requested and evidence of your medical condition (if applicable to your application). This must be in the form of a statement from your doctor, hospital or other medical professional confirming your condition.
- Explain how the grant will help you - giving as much information as possible about your circumstances, why you are asking for a grant
- Upload your RISE Coach referrers letter or paste your referrers statement in the box provided and given your referrers contact details in the section For Referrers.
