About The Programme
Business Services (FFBS) Aims to provide grant items that meet a child or young person’s most basic needs or are critical to their wellbeing.
Please note BBC Children In Need DO NOT accept applications directly from parents, guardians or young people in their own right.
Applications must be submitted to BBC Children In Need on your behalf by approved Referrers. Ardrossan Community Sports Hub is an approved Referrer.
Who we can help
Applications are only considered on behalf of children and young people from birth up to their 18th birthday.
Applications can also be made on behalf of young people aged 16-17 who are living independently.
The programme accepts applications on behalf of children and young people who are facing exceptionally difficult circumstances or who are also in crisis; are living in severe poverty and suffering deprivation as a result, and who are affected by additional social issues such as domestic abuse, substance misuse, estrangement, disability or serious illness, mental health or behavioural difficulties, abuse, or neglect.
Applications are accepted where the child or young persons’ family are:
- Experiencing a crisis or emergency, and do not have access to support and have insufficient resources to meet their needs, and
- Experiencing poverty* or destitution**, or are in receipt of any one of the following means tested benefits:
– Income support – Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income related – Employment and Support Allowance – Any housing element/benefit – Universal Credit.
*poverty, we mean a child or young person’s resources are not sufficient to meet their minimum needs and their or their family income is less than 60% of the current UK median income.
**destitution, we mean where a child or young person does not have essential basics such as shelter, heating or clothing and has experienced any of the following, twice or more in a month:
- Sleeping rough
- Having one, or no meals a day, for two or more days
- Being unable to heat or light your home for five days or more
- Going without weather appropriate clothes or without basic toiletries.
The child or young person must be:
- A UK or EU citizen who are normally resident in the UK (including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), or
- Have leave to remain or have been granted refugee status. Discretion may be given where a child or young person, or their family, have an asylum application under assessment or in circumstances where residency criteria is not consistent across the family unit.
Referrers may apply for one grant per household within a 12 month period. The application for each household will take into account the needs of all children under the one application, it does not mean only one child per household can be supported.
If the applicant is in the process of moving home, please wait until they are in their new address before applying.
Who we can’t help
Applications based mainly on financial hardship will not normally be considered. By financial hardship we mean families or young people who are struggling to meet everyday living costs and cannot afford to purchase or replace essential household items. Facing financial hardship alone does not make an applicant eligible for our support and they need to be facing additional social welfare issues in order to be considered.
The programme is not able to accept applications relating to:
- Adults aged 18 and over.
- Those who do not meet income criteria as defined by the programme.
- Those who are leaving care who have access to separate, specific statutory provision.
- Children and young people who do not meet the residence criteria as defined by the programme.
- Where a child has not yet been born.
- Where a child is under local authority care and the local authority is financially responsible.
Who can make grant applications
Applications must be made by registered referrers on behalf of families, children or young people who have exhausted all other statutory funding. The programme encourages professionals from a wide range of professional services supporting vulnerable children and young people.
As a registered referrer, Ardrossan Community Sports Hub are capable of assessing need, supervise the grant to ensure it is fully spent to meet the needs of the child/children or young person and commit to provide case studies and impact assessments about the grants awarded.
You can only submit an application via Ardrossan Community Sports Hub as we are a registered referrer.
Making An Application Via ACSH
Please note BBC Children In Need DO NOT accept applications directly from parents, guardians or young people in their own right.
Applications must be submitted to BBC Children In Need on your behalf by approved Referrers. Ardrossan Community Sports Hub is an approved Referrer.
BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme delivered by Family Fund Business Services is committed to supporting its referrer network to make quality applications on behalf of those in most need. The programme offers support, training, communication, and engagement through our regional Partnership Managers.
What we help with
The programme awards grants for critical household items, typically:
- Cookers
- Fridges, freezers and fridge-freezers
- Washing machines and tumble dryers
- Children’s beds and bedding (including cots)
- Kitchen equipment and small appliances
- Furniture
- Clothing
- Baby equipment
This is not an exhaustive list. If requesting more than one grant item, please apply in order of priority. There is limited funding available, so all grants are discretionary.
What we cannot help with
We cannot help with the following items:
- Payment of fuel/utility bills, council tax or rent
- Payment of loans or debts, bankruptcy fees
- Rent costs or deposits
- Household repairs/adaptations/additions
- Holidays, school trips or play schemes
- Childcare/childminding/afterschool clubs
- Children’s toys/Christmas presents
- Specialist medical equipment
- Computers, laptops or mobile phones
- Televisions, DVD or other entertainment equipment
- Musical instruments
- Driving lessons
- General subsistence cost
- Funeral costs including cost of headstones
- Items solely for the use of parents e.g. beds for parents
- Flooring
Items supplied directly to the applicant
Kitchen appliances will be delivered and installed directly to the applicant’s home. If the applicant is in the process of moving home, please wait until they are in their new address before applying. The award email will outline how the grant item will be supplied as some are by e-voucher or gift card. The applicant will be contacted within three working days of confirmation of award to arrange delivery. Most awarded kitchen appliances will have a three-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Any kitchen appliances being replaced will be removed at time of delivery. These items should be ready to remove (emptied and disconnected and any refrigeration appliances fully defrosted).
Beds and other home items will be delivered directly to the applicants. home.
Some items may be delivered as flat pack, but most will be assembled on site following delivery. This may require attendance at the recipient’s property for an extended period. It is important that:
- The applicant is made aware that they will be contacted about delivery/installation
- The correct delivery address and phone number are provided to prevent delays in redeeming the award
- The applicant is at the premises for all delivery appointments
We are unable to offer preference on items in respect of colour, make and models, however we recommend you check particular dimensions associated with the item location.
Clothing will be awarded as a clothing card which can be redeemed at multiple high street retailers. This is posted to the applicant directly and is valid for three months from date of award. Receipts must be kept as you may be asked to provide them. Referrers will receive the pin number to verify the card.
Cash grants
Where possible we will provide items directly rather than awarding a cash grant as this will ensure the applicant receives their award quickly and safely.
Where there is no suitable alternative to a cash grant, the referrer will need to manage how the applicant receives this.
Making An Application Via ACSH
Please note BBC Children In Need DO NOT accept applications directly from parents, guardians or young people in their own right.
Applications must be submitted to BBC Children In Need on your behalf by approved Referrers. Ardrossan Community Sports Hub is an approved Referrer.
BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme delivered by Family Fund Business Services is committed to supporting its referrer network to make quality applications on behalf of those in most need. The programme offers support, training, communication, and engagement through our regional Partnership Managers.
