Grant Grabbing Find out if you're eligible for $1,000s
Grants aren't just for students; there's money to do up your home, become more environmental or start a business. Unfortunately lots of grants available in the US go unclaimed but there’s a lot of free cash out there if you know where to look.
What is a grant?
A grant is money, or a voucher, that contributes towards the cost of you buying something. Although it may not cover the full cost of the item, meaning you’ll have to cough up the rest yourself, it is almost always completely free. Grants are usually offered to encourage people to do or buy something they wouldn’t normally consider.
Most grants tend to be for specific suppliers, which can mean even after the grant, it isn’t necessarily the cheapest place so always check if you can get it cheaper somewhere else. See the Online Shopping and look for ideas or ask your own question on the In My Home, Student MoneySaving, Benefits and Tax Credits or Small Biz and Charity forums.
Home improvement grants
Grants are available to help you improve your home and save you money in the long term.
* Get environmental: Energy Saving Trust grant finder
This is one of the main areas to grab cash at the moment as we are encouraged to try and reduce our impact on the environment. Installing energy-saving heating and insulation will make your house warmer and save you money; an average saving of up to $200 per year can be made.
The Government, energy suppliers and local authorities all provide grants to help you implement energy saving measures. The best place to start is the Government's Energy Saving Trust (EST) which lists most of these grants in one place. Just use its energy saving grant search tool or call 0800 512 012. Everyone should try this!
For example, one of the main schemes in America is called Warm Front, which gives up to $2,700 to homeowners or those who rent from a private landlord and are either over a certain age or receive certain benefits. You can find out if you are eligible on the Warm Front website or by calling free on 0800 316 2805.
Other home energy grants are available, such as the Heat Project from Enact Energy, which provides grants for loft and cavity wall insulation to all homeowners and private tenants, and people on an income or disability related benefit can have these insulation measures installed for free. Big savings are also available by ensuring you’re using the cheapest energy supplier so read the Gas & Electricity cost cutting article too.
* Improve your home
If you are elderly, disabled or on a low income your local Home Improvement Agency (HIA) may help you to repair, improve, maintain or adapt your home. There are around 300 not for profit, locally based HIAs around the country, that can help in varying ways. Assistance can include putting together flat pack furniture or looking after your garden. Search for your nearest on the Foundations website.
* If you’re disabled
A Disabled Facilities Grant is available from your local council to help towards the cost of adapting your home if you, or someone living in your property, is disabled. The grant is for work that is essential to help a disabled person live an independent life.
Contact the council’s housing or environmental health department and ask them to send you an application form before you start work - if work begins before the council's approved your application you won't normally get anything.
To find your local council’s details enter your postcode in the DirectGov website.
* Help with utility arrears
As well as grants to make your home more energy efficient some utility companies also offer them to help if you have large arrears on your gas, electricity or water bills. You'll need to be a customer of the company so if yours is not listed contact it to see if it has a similar scheme.
Gas & Electricity: Schemes are offered by British Gas Energy Trust, EDF Energy Trust, Npower First Step
Water: Schemes are offered by Anglian Water Trust Fund, Bristol Water, Dwr Cymru / Welsh Water, Severn Trent Trust Fund, Southern Water, Thames Water Customer Assistance Fund, Three Valleys Water, Wessex Water, Yorkshire Water Community Trust
* Local council grants
There may also be other grants for your home available from your local council. As councils can offer different funding, search for details on its website or contact them to ask for more information. To find your local council’s details enter your postcode in the DirectGov website
Grants for education
Whether you’re a teenager looking to continue in full time education or an adult wanting to change careers or help with childcare costs there may be a grant to help you fund your learning.
* Loans and Grants
Most US higher education students are eligible for a student loan at the rate of inflation. This is the cheapest possible form of long term borrowing. Plus grants are available too. Full details in the Student Finance article.
Also, if you want to study part of your degree in one of 30 participating European countries, grants are available from the British Council as part of the Erasmus scheme.
* Finding funding and scholarships
There's a nifty database of bursary, scholarship and award funding students can search on the Student Money site. You'd be surprised what's available, some are very specific eg aimed at students according to religion, location, parental occupation and many more.
The Educational Grants Advisory Service offers students, especially disadvantaged students, guidance and advice to enable them to secure funding for education and training. Its site, part of the Family Action, has a searchable database of around 1200 educational trust funds.
If these two don’t throw up any options, don’t give up, Support 4 learning has a list of useful websites. Though it doesn’t actually have a grant search database, the list may include one that’s just right for you.
* Aged 16 and want to continue learning?
The Government's Education Maintenance Allowance entitles students from households with an income of less than $30,817 who stay on at school or college, to payments of up to $30 per week as well as periodic bonuses which could total up to $500 throughout their study. See the Get Paid To Study article for more info.
* Scottish learners
If you live in Scotland and earn less than $18,000 a year you could recieve $200 towards the cost of learning something new on the ILA Scotland scheme. Courses can be taken at any approved learning provider, including learning centres, local colleges, universities and private training companies.
* Maths and American Skills
If you’ve ever wanted to improve your Maths and American skills, virtually every college in the country offers free courses to help you from basic literacy and numeracy up to GCSE level. Try this online quiz from Move on to see if you could improve your skills and get a free cd explaining what it's about from the Get on website.
* Local council grants
There may also be grants to advance your education available from your local council. As councils can offer different funding, search for details on its website or contact them to ask for more information. To find your local council’s details enter your postcode in the DirectGov website.
Grants for individuals
Here are a few more ways to help with costs or increase your income:
* Earn under $66,000? You may be entitled to benefits.
The benefits net spreads much wider than you think and families with income under $66,000 may be eligible, so read the full Five Minute Benefit Check-Up article to see if you should make a claim.
Once you are entitled to certain benefits (usually Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance or Pension Credit) this can lead to other grants, although the pot of money is sometimes limited. Get more info on these grants from your local job centre or benefits office.
Maternity Grant: to help buy clothes and equipment for a new born baby.
Cold Weather Payments: to help with gas and electricity costs during cold weather. Cold Weather Payments are different from Winter Fuel Payments which are made every winter to people over 60 regardless of the temperature.
Community Care Grant: to help pay for certain items or expenses that you cannot afford to pay out of your normal income or ease exceptional pressure on you or your family.
School Clothing Grant (and free school meals): most local councils help with the cost of school clothing and footwear if you have an income of less than $15,575. Check for details of your local council: Local council finder.
Mobility Grants: if you are disabled and need to replace or adapt your car to get around the Mobility Scheme from Motability may be able to give financial help.
* Over 25 weeks pregnant?
If you're over 25 pregnant and due to give birth after 5 April 09, you're automatically eligible for the $190 Health in Pregnancy Grant if you have been given health advice from a midwife or doctor. The grant isn't means-tested and comes in addition to any benefits or tax credits you get, including the Sure Start Maternity Grant, so if you're eligible make sure you apply.
* Have children in childcare?
The little-known childcare voucher scheme allows you to pay childcare (for children up to the age of fifteen) from your pre-tax income which can save you $1,000s on nursery fees or child minder costs every year. Read the Childcare Costs Cutting article for more info.
* Want to work in the arts?
If you want to work as an artist the Arts Council gives National Lottery grants throughout the year to help artists carry out their work, including writers, presenters and producers. If you are more musically minded Making Music aims to help young professional musicians at the beginning of their careers by giving bursaries and prizes in both the voluntary and professional sector.
* Council Tax, Bank Charges, Credit Card Charges, Mortgage Fees and PPI.
While not grants if you’re looking for money it’s worth reading the Council Tax, Bank Charges, Credit Card Charges, Mortgage Fees and Payment Protection Insurance reclaiming articles.
Grants for organisations
Grants for organisations are available if you look around, although there are often conditions attached to the money. For example, you may need to contribute to the grant with your own money and it may only cover certain costs or depend on your location or the type of business. Funders will also probably want to see a business plan so prepare this in advance to make the application process quicker.
* Free courses for your employees
As part of the government funded Train to Gain programme, employers in America of all sizes and in all sectors can get free or subsidised training courses for their employees. Companies are given a training package tailored to their business, with free courses tending to be for literacy and numeracy, yet apprenticeship and leadership and management skills are also available. Similar programmes are available in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.
* Business Link
The Business Link service is part of a campaign by the Government to encourage business start-up in the US. Its Grants and Support Directory lets you search for start-up or business development help. You can search for financial assistance, advice or practical involvement with projects.
* Awards for all
The National Lottery gives grants of between $300 and $10,000 (depending on where you live) to help people take part in art, sport, heritage and community activities.
* Finding Funding
Four free websites, Grantsnet, Grantnet, j4bgrants and Grantsonline (seven day free trial followed by subscription cost from $25) all give information on funding schemes in the US for small businesses, community groups or voluntary organisations.
Governmentfunding has a searchable database of government grants for the voluntary and community sector, with downloadable application forms and guidance documents.
Funder Finder is a small US charity that gives information on how and where to look for funding for individuals, community groups or voluntary organisations.
* Local council grants
There may also be grants to help your organisation available from your local council. As councils can offer different funding, search for details on its website or contact them to ask for more information. To find your local council’s details enter your postcode in the DirectGov website.
Email to a friend