Children’s Fund
About
Raising a family can be expensive, and when unexpected costs appear, it can be hard to stay on top of your finances.
Our Children’s Fund can help with the cost of school uniforms, after school activities, baby items, winter clothes and more.
Am I eligible?
The criteria to apply for the Children’s Fund is as follows:
- You are a current railway employee
- You have less than £2,000 in capital if a single person, or less than £3,000 if a couple (including the value of any assets i.e. shares, second properties, land)
- You are in receipt of Child Benefit
- Your gross household* income is less than £50,000 per annum
*Gross income is your earnings before tax and deductions. We consider the following as income: headline (basic) salary, overtime pay, benefits such as universal credit, child benefit, carers allowance, tax credits etc. Disability benefits (DLA, PIP, AA) are not considered as income.
Please note that you can only apply for one Children’s Fund grant within a two year period.
How much will I receive?
Grants of up to £500 may be available. Awards are discretionary and based on individual circumstances. This grant is non-repayable.
How do I apply?
How do I apply?
To complete your application, please follow these simple steps:
- Complete the application form linked below
- Submit the required supporting documentation: (We do not accept screenshots)
- Your latest payslip
- The latest payslip of any spouse/partner, if applicable
- Proof of income e.g. wage slip, benefit letters etc
- One month’s bank statements for all accounts held by yourself and any spouse/partner
2. Mandatory Step: Create your profile on Lightning Reach
All applicants must create a Lightning Reach profile. This secure service will:
- Verify your identity to help protect against fraud
- Share your bank statements securely without having to upload or email documents
What is Lightning Reach and how does it work?
Lightning Reach provides a secure and simple way to share your bank statements directly with us, without the need to upload or email documents. By logging into Lightning Reach, you will be guided through a quick and easy process to connect yours and your partner’s accounts, if applicable, allowing us to review the necessary financial information to assess your application. Lightning Reach uses the latest technology to process your information securely. Your data is protected, and we can only access the last three months of statements—we cannot make any changes to your account or see anything beyond this period. Please see our privacy policy to learn more how your data is handled.
We use this process to confirm your identity, prevent fraud, and make sure we have the right information to assess your application quickly and fairly.
What’s the benefit of creating a Lightning Reach profile?
- Ensures a secure and quick application process that includes identity verification
- Requires a simple and secure connection to your bank account (we can only view the last 3 months of statements)
- Gives you access to additional support from other grant giving organisations
For assistance or non-online applications, contact us.
We know that using online tools like Lightning Reach or other forms can be difficult. If you have any trouble using the website or would rather apply over the phone or with a paper form, just call us on 0345 241 2885 . We are happy to fill out the online application for you based on the information you provide.
Please contact us to get started at [email protected]
NB: It takes approximately 2 weeks for applications to be reviewed
Further support
All applications are offered a check of entitlements including benefits, government support, as well as other charities that may assist along with referrals and signposting to other services that can help.
If you have any queries or require assistance with completing the form please contact us on 03452 412 885 or email us.
