Wokingham United Charities
Wokingham United Charities

Essential Item Grants

White Goods

We realise sometimes everyone needs a helping hand. Our essential item grant programme is aimed at individuals or families who have found themselves in circumstances of financial hardship and are in need of an essential item. If you find yourself with a broken cooker and don’t have the funds available to buy a replacement, or you have moved into new accommodation and need a fridge freezer and money is tight, you may be eligible for an essential item grant. Essential item grants aren’t limited to white goods, previously we have helped individuals and families with an award for a dyslexia assessment for their child, funding towards mobility scooters to allow people still be independent, working with other local funders we were able to help finance a bespoke electric wheelchair. We may also be able to help with transport costs, debt-related fees, school trips, counselling and other essential items or services. We review each individual application on its own merits.

Essential Item Grant Application Criteria

  • The application must be completed by a professional referrer who can endorse your request.
  • Eligible referrers include:
    • Housing officers
    • Social workers
    • Family support workers
    • Staff from local charities or community organisations
  • The professional referrer is responsible for submitting the online application on your behalf.
  • After submission, the charity will contact you directly to confirm acceptance of the grant.
  • The charity will then coordinate the fulfilment of the grant.
  • Bank statements are required for all individuals aged 18 and over in the household,
    • unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Please note: We are not a crisis support service.
We aim to provide a decision on your grant application within 10 working days. However, this timeframe depends on receiving all required information and may be extended if we need to make further enquiries.

Please note, Grant awards for flooring are considered only in exceptional circumstances, typically when a member of the household has a vulnerability or long-term health condition that necessitates the need for specific flooring or carpet. When applying for such a grant, please be aware that funding is limited to essential flooring that is hardwearing, budget-friendly, and easy to install. The focus is on providing practical, durable solutions that meet basic needs. Requests for upgrades, luxury options, or any variations outside these criteria will not be considered.

To be eligible for an essential item grant you must:

  • Live in our area of benefit: The Borough of Wokingham. If you are not sure please type the recipient’s postcode into
    https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council and check the postcode is in “Wokingham Borough Council”
  • Be a UK citizen or have been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK
  • Not have received a previous essential item grant in the last 12 months
What CAN be covered by a grant?
  • An essential item that will reduce the need, hardship or distress of people in difficult circumstances e.g. furniture / white goods
  • An essential service that will reduce the need, hardship or distress of people in difficult circumstances e.g. educational school trips, transport costs, training courses, counselling
  • Debt associated fees i.e. cost of passport, bankruptcy fee
What costs CANNOT be covered by a grant?
  • General living costs
  • Debts
  • Non-essential items
  • Items that are the responsibility of the state or local authority
  • Retrospective payments for items already purchased
  • More than one request per recipient per calendar year

If you would like to apply for a grant, please click here.

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