Frequently Asked Questions
Please read the relevant grant guidelines before applying. The questions below explain some of the most common reasons applications are rejected, delayed or returned for further information.
Applications for individuals and families
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No. Applications must be submitted on their behalf by a health or social care worker, charity professional or support worker who is directly working with them.
Applications submitted by individuals or families themselves will not be considered.
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Yes. The geographical criteria depend on the fund:
Manchester Relief in Need supports adults and families living within the City of Manchester local authority area.
Children’s Relief in Need supports children and young people under 25 living within the City of Manchester local authority area.
The District Nursing Fund supports eligible people living in the local authority areas of Manchester, Salford or Trafford.
Please be aware that having a postcode beginning with M, or including “Manchester” in the postal address, does not necessarily mean that an address is within the City of Manchester. Some Manchester postcodes are administered by other local authorities.
Before applying to Manchester Relief in Need or Children’s Relief in Need, use the GOV.UK local council checker to enter the applicant’s full postcode. The result must show Manchester City Council as their local council.
Applications to these two funds will be rejected if the individual or family lives outside the City of Manchester.
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The household finance section must be completed fully and accurately using monthly figures.
Please make sure that:
all household income and expenditure is included;
the total income and total expenditure have been calculated;
the figures relate to the whole household; and
any surplus or deficit is clearly explained.
An application may be rejected if this section is incomplete or the figures do not add up. The Trustees use this information when making their decision.
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No. Grants for flooring are currently paused. Applications for flooring will be rejected.
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The funds cannot normally support:
requests for cash;
general everyday household costs, such as heating, lighting or rates;
taxes, fines or other payments to public funds; or
requests that do not identify a specific item or form of practical help.
The application should explain exactly what is needed, how much it will cost and how it will make a practical difference to the individual or family.
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As long as the grant award was over 12 months ago then yes.
Please include details of any previous grant so that the Trustees have all the information they need.
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Grants for individuals and families are generally no more than £500.
If you are requesting more than this, please explain the circumstances clearly. However, funding above this amount should not be expected.
Applications from organisations
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The people who will benefit from the grant must live within the City of Manchester local authority area.
Please be aware that:
having a postcode beginning with M does not necessarily mean that an address is within the City of Manchester;
an address containing “Manchester” may be administered by another local authority; and
living elsewhere in Greater Manchester does not meet this geographical requirement.
Before applying, use the GOV.UK local council checker to enter the beneficiaries’ full postcodes. The results must show Manchester City Council as their local council.
Applications may be rejected if the people who will benefit from the grant live outside the City of Manchester.
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Organisations may apply for up to £5,000. The grant must be used to benefit people in need directly.
Applications above £5,000 will not normally be considered.
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Please complete every section of the application form. If a question does not apply, or information is unavailable because you are a new organisation, explain this rather than leaving the section blank.
Applications may be queried or delayed if they do not include:
a clear description of the organisation’s work;
details of who will benefit, where they live and how they will be helped;
confirmation that the beneficiaries live within the City of Manchester;
a full breakdown of the amount requested;
the organisation’s income and expenditure statement and balance sheet accounts for the last two years;
information about safeguarding and the organisation’s governance;
details of other funding received or applied for; and
the required signatures.
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If the application includes specific items of equipment, please provide copies of estimates. This helps the Trustees understand how the amount requested has been calculated.
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Explain who will benefit, how many people you expect to support and how you have confirmed that they live within the City of Manchester.
You should also explain how the grant will relieve need and what practical difference it will make.
Applications may be queried if the intended beneficiaries, their location or the benefit of the proposed work are unclear.
Application deadlines and decisions
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Applications should normally be received by the 15th of the month to be considered at the next Trustees’ meeting. The December deadline is the 11th.
Applications received after the deadline may be carried forward to a later meeting.
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No. Every eligible application is considered by the Trustees, but completing the form does not guarantee that funding will be awarded.
The Trustees consider the applicant’s circumstances, the purpose of the request, the information supplied and the funds available.
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We may contact the person who submitted the application to request further information. This can delay a decision.
Incomplete applications may be rejected, so please check the form and supporting documents carefully before submitting them.
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If you are unsure whether a request is eligible or need help with the application form, please contact us before submitting:
Email: grants@reliefinneed.co.uk
Telephone: 01204 414 317
Application forms can only be submitted through the website.