Hardship grants are small grants of £150 to £1,000. They can be used to:

• provide short-term financial relief

• support stability and wellbeing

• prevent difficult situations from becoming more serious.  

They are not emergency grants. You'll receive an initial response within 15 working days (three weeks), and if the application is successful, it can take up to another 10 working days (two weeks) to receive the grant.

Applications are accepted from individuals or advice or support workers applying on a client's behalf. Use the relevant application option below for more information.

To ensure grant applicants are in genuine hardship, and grants are made to those most in need. All applications must include a supporting statement from an advice or support worker.

An advice or support worker is a professional or a trained volunteer within an organisation, who knows the applicant's circumstances well and is helping the applicant. It cannot be a family friend or relative.

This could include:  

• An advice worker working in housing, citizens advice, local authority, legal aid or refugee services

• A housing or tenancy support officer working for a housing provider  

• A charity officer working with domestic abuse survivor/victims, supporting families or offering money or debt advice

• A health worker working in mental health services or physical health services  

• A welfare officer working in a University, College or School  

• A social worker working with families or the elderly

• A probation officer  

The support or advice worker must give:

• a brief description of your current circumstances

• what you are applying for

• how they are professionally involved with you

• confirmation that they support your application

Applicants must:

• be experiencing poverty or financial hardship

• be aged 18 or over

• live in Bristol, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire or Swindon

• have lived in the UK for the last 12 months

• have UK citizenship or Indefinite Leave to Remain

• be receiving all state benefits they are entitled to, unless they are waiting for a benefit decision or appealing a decision by the DWP, such as a PIP decision.  

• Not have received a grant in the last 12 months.

• Not have received more than three grants in any five-year period.  

• Not live in the same household where an application has been successful in the past 12 months.

• White goods e.g. fridge, freezer, microwave, air fryer, washing machine or cooker

• Essential household goods, e.g. bedding, beds, furniture and kitchen equipment

• Food

• Clothing

• Priority debts, e.g. gas, electricity, water and council tax, if advice has been received from a money or debt advice agency

• Bankruptcy costs, if advice has been received from a money or debt advice agency

• Training or work tools, if the course or tools will help secure employment

• Floor coverings, if eligibility criteria are met.

In exceptional circumstances:

• Disability aids, if a government grant is not available, and details of the aid are shown. Electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters, or powered wheelchairs are not fundable.

• Minor home repairs or garden improvements, if details and a written estimate are provided and show that the work will significantly improve wellbeing.

• Rent arrears, (private tenants only) if the arrears are linked to a benefits system issue, a significant life event, long-term ill health or disability, where advice has been received from a recognised debt advice agency. Please read the FAQs for other requirements relating to rent arrears applications.

• The grants are between £150 and a £1000. If the application is successful, the amount awarded will depend on what has been applied for and personal circumstances. This is at the discretion of the charity.  

• Grants are usually paid as e-vouchers, by bank transfer, or direct to a supplier. A list of stores that accept e-vouchers is available in the FAQs.

• A full-month bank statement, no older than 2 months, showing your income must be supplied with each application by connecting to your bank account.  For more information about how to include them in the application click the link below.

• Applicants may receive a request for further information through Lightning Reach. Please respond through Lightning Reach.

• The consents and statement of truth at the end of the application form must be signed and ticked.

• A grant will not be awarded if an applicant appears to be in active addiction, and this is contributing to financial difficulty, including where bank statements show significant household income spent on gambling or other addictions. We may consider an application if the applicant can show they are actively seeking help and advice.

We aim to review applications within 15 working days after which an initial response will be emailed. Please be patient and treat our small, committed team with respect.