The Family Fund Trust (FFT) was formed in 1973 by the UK Government, originally to support families affected by Thalidomide. The Family Fund is now the UK’s largest grant-giving organisation helping families with disabled children aged 17 or under, and is primarily funded by the UK Government and devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The Family Fund allocates grants according to specific criteria relating to the child’s disability, receipt of a range of benefits, and proof of UK residency. The Family Fund has 187 advisers who undertake home-based assessments of families who apply for a grant for the first time. Grants can come in the form of cash or bank transfer or, more commonly, through gift vouchers negotiated with UK retailers such as Argos, New Look and Haven Holidays. In 2011/12, the Family Fund provided 96,397 grant items to 59,166 families across the UK, equating to an average of 1.6 items per family.