Carer Grant Guidance Notes

Guidance Notes

The 3H Foundation awards grants to carers, on low income, to help them to organise a break for themselves in the UK.

The grant programme is funded by the generous donations of charitable trusts, businesses and individuals. If we are unable to help you because we do not have the funding, please check our website for updates on available funding or telephone the office on 01892 860207.

Grants are generally awarded of between £250 & £300.

Funds are restricted and grants are awarded at the discretion of the Trustees.

YOU MAY APPLY IF YOU ANSWER YES TO THE FOLLOWING

You are the MAIN UNPAID CARER (no age restriction).
You are having a break WITHOUT THE PERSON YOU CARE FOR; therefore you have respite from your caring role.
You have lived in the UK for 6 months or more.
You have a total low household income of £35,000 or less. This includes the income of all persons in your household.
You are in receipt of carers allowance.
The person you care for receives PIP/DLA/AA.

HOW TO APPLY

Complete the on-line application form, ensuring all questions are fully completed. Alternatively, a hard copy can be printed from our website.

AFTER YOU HAVE APPLIED

If you meet our criteria, and we have funding available, you will be contacted by us within 4 weeks of applying. (Times can vary considerably depending upon the volume of applications we are dealing with). At this stage we will require evidence of your TOTAL household income (all family members), see below.* This will need to be received by the date given in your letter, otherwise your application will be cancelled. If you have a problem meeting the deadline, please let us know before this date. Once all the requested evidence has been received and assessed, we will contact you with our decision. This can take up to 4 weeks.
If you are awarded a grant, please let us know that you wish to accept it. Grants promised may be accepted by telephone, email or letter by the date given.
You are then able to arrange your holiday. Please note that we do not book holidays on behalf of applicants. When you know the payment details, please let us have these in writing.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to remind us when payment becomes due. Please note that payment is made direct to the holiday company by bank transfer only. We cannot issue payments direct to the applicant. (For private rentals please provide evidence of ownership.)
Grants are for the accommodation part of a holiday only;
Only one grant may be awarded to a carer within a grant programme year.
Please ensure you read our Terms and Conditions – These can be found on our website.

*EVIDENCE

Main Carer – this could be a letter from a medical professional, e.g. GP, Health Worker, Social Worker, Hospital etc. It must state your name and that you are the main carer. Alternatively, details of your carer’s allowance.
Low Income – Income Support, Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits, ESA, Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance, DLA/PIP
Bank Statement – 1 months bank statements for all accounts will be required. These must be recent copies and clearly show the account holder’s name and address.

Terms and Conditions

You must read these terms and conditions and our privacy policy carefully before accepting them and making an application as they make up your agreement with us, together with the information on our website and all other communications that you receive from us in relation to the application. These terms and conditions apply to the application made by you to us. By making an application to us you are making a declaration that you accept these terms and conditions.
Help from The 3H Foundation is discretionary and subject to funding. There is no entitlement to a grant and all cases are assessed on an individual basis.
If you are successful in being offered a grant you will be given a unique grant reference number. Please make a note of this number and quote it in all future correspondence with us. In the meantime, please use carer’s surname to identify your application.
Applications may be made by the carer, by a member of their family or by a referring agency (permission from the applicant, in writing, required).
If the supporting evidence is not returned by the date given your application will be cancelled.
There is no guarantee that your application will be successful, or funding still available, therefore, holidays should not be booked until you have received a grant offer in writing from us.
Holidays must be taken in the year the grant is awarded.
Please book your holiday and provide payment information/invoice by the deadline in your offer letter.
Please note that The 3H Foundation does not book holidays, under any circumstances, on behalf of applicants.
Do not make bookings online, as we cannot refund any payments made by yourself. This being a deposit or full payment.
We can only make payments via bank transfer direct to the venue. Therefore, it is advisable to contact the holiday company by telephone to explain this payment method before booking.
We do not have the facility to pay by credit card.
Please do not book your holiday via an on-line agent such as Airbnb.co.uk, booking.com, or tripadvisor.com as we are unable to pay them because they do not accept bank transfers. If you are unsure, please contact the office to discuss.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to remind us of when payment becomes due. Payment is made direct to the holiday company by bank transfer (BACS). We cannot issue payments direct to the applicants. For private rentals please provide evidence of ownership. We will not issue payments to individuals without it.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to pay the balance if the holiday is over the amount that has been awarded to you.
We do not accept any responsibility for the services or actions of the accommodation providers in connection with the holiday.
Please note that only one grant may be awarded to an individual/family within a grant programme year. If you are awarded a grant, you will not be eligible to apply again until two complete years have lapsed, i.e. grant awarded in 2025, you can reapply in 2028.
Holidays must be taken in the United Kingdom only (this does not include the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Eire).
If you or the family wish to complain about the accommodation or service received while on the holiday, then you or the family must complain directly to the provider of the accommodation, in line with their complaint’s procedures. The providers individual complaints procedures can be found on their website.
The 3H Foundation may require that you agree to be bound by additional terms and conditions before specific grants are made.
The information you have provided to The 3H Foundation must accurate and not misleading. If not, this may lead to the grant being withdrawn.
By accepting a grant, you agree to complete a Post Holiday Questionnaire which can be found on our website.

The 3H Foundation, B2 Speldhurst Business Park, Langton Road, Speldhurst, Kent. TN3 0AQ

Tel. 01892 860207 www.the3hfoundation.org.uk 3hgrants@the3hfoundation.org.uk

Registered Charity No: 286306