Cash for Kids

UK-wide grant-giving charity (Bauer Media’s official charity) providing free, practical grants and items for children and young people affected by poverty, illness, neglect or additional needs

Who It’s For: Children and young people from birth up to and including 18 years old, living in poverty or affected by illness, neglect or additional needs, and their families, across the UK (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland).

What They Offer: Cash for Kids is the official charity of Bauer Media, made up of regional teams across the UK, each linked to local radio stations and embedded in their communities. The charity is dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged children and young people from birth up to and including age 18, helping with the impact of poverty, illness and neglect, supporting families of children with additional needs, or simply offering a helping hand when it’s needed most. Rather than handing over cash, the charity funds specific items and services — from essential household items and specialist equipment to therapy sessions, school trips, respite breaks and Christmas gifts.

Support Includes:

• General Grants for essential items such as beds, specialist equipment, or school uniforms — average grants are between £1,000 and £3,000, though smaller or larger amounts may be considered
• Mental Health Grants, which can fund up to six months of therapy sessions or other support for a child’s mental health and wellbeing
• Group/Impact Grants supporting holiday hunger clubs, school trips and residentials for disadvantaged children who would otherwise be excluded, and respite breaks for children with disabilities or life-limiting conditions
• An annual Christmas gift appeal for children in need in the local area

Referral / Access: Applications are made online through the regional Cash for Kids team covering the family’s area — families can find their local team via the Cash for Kids website. For Mental Health Grants, an application may be made by a parent or guardian, or by a professional supporting the application, but it must include an independent supporting referral letter from a recognised professional, not connected to the delivery of the service being funded, detailing the impact the grant would have on the child’s mental health and wellbeing, along with proof of benefit entitlement and quotes for the item or service. Grants aren’t paid as cash — items are purchased or invoices paid directly to the supplier. Because funding depends on local donations, application windows open and close depending on capacity, so they may not be available in every area at all times — it’s worth checking the website regularly or asking a school, GP, health visitor or social worker for help with timing and the supporting letter.

Why This Matters: When money is tight, even essential things — a proper bed, school uniform, support for a child’s mental health, or a short break for a family caring for a seriously ill child — can feel completely out of reach. Cash for Kids exists for exactly these moments, with local teams who understand their communities and want to help. A parent doesn’t have to navigate this alone either — a supportive letter from someone like a teacher, health visitor, or social worker as part of the application can make all the difference, and many of the professionals already involved in a family’s life will be familiar with how to write one.