Grant criteria
Individually tailored grants of up to £2,400 — for children and young people rebuilding after crisis.
Our grants give children and young people the things that matter in childhood, right when they need them most. Each grant is tailored, intentional and designed to support those who have experienced a recent crisis. One that is having a significant and lasting impact on their wellbeing and engagement in education.
Grant amount: up to £2,400.
Contact us: 020 7828 7311
What is a Buttle grant?
A Buttle grant delivers individually tailored support for children and young people whose lives have been disrupted by crisis. These grants fund the items, opportunities and practical essentials that restore stability, rebuild confidence and help young people reconnect with education and learning.
This can include essentials for the home, tools for school or college, wellbeing support and activities that help a child feel like themselves again.
Who can apply?
Applications can only be made by frontline professionals working for a:
- registered charity
- housing association
- public sector organisation
Professionals
must:
- work directly with the child or young person
- have completed a full assessment of their needs
- have carried out at least one home visit (optional for schools and colleges)
If a grant is awarded, the professional is responsible for:
- managing the funds
- uploading receipts within eight weeks
- completing a short evaluation survey
Who we support
We can support:
- children aged 2–18 (including 18-year-olds) living with a parent or carer
- young people aged 20 and under living independently with little or no family backing
The child or young person must have:
- recently experienced a crisis (see list below)
- a significant and enduring impact on their wellbeing, development or education
- engagement in early years, primary, secondary, post-16 education or training (minimum 12 hours per week)
- a low income and clear financial hardship
- begun to take steps, with support, to move on from risk or crisis
Use our eligibility guide to check if a Buttle grant may be right for the child or young person you’re supporting.
Crises we support
The child or young person must have been significantly affected by one of the following:
Physical or sexual abuse.
They have experienced abuse and are now working with services to support their recovery.
Emotional abuse or neglect.
Long-term emotional harm caused by a parent or caregiver, reaching Child in Need or Child Protection level (including recently de-escalated cases).
Domestic abuse.
The child has witnessed or been directly harmed by domestic abuse in the home, and the situation has changed due to intervention such as:
- fleeing to refuge
- support from a domestic abuse agency
- MARAC involvement
- Child Protection, Child in Need or Early Help plans
Violence, severe bullying, harassment or exploitation.
Significant, long-term harm — including sexual exploitation or criminal exploitation — leading to major changes such as police, social care involvement or a school move.
Estrangement from both parents.
Little or no contact with either parent, with the young person supporting themselves emotionally and financially.
Parent, caregiver or sibling receiving end-of-life care.
A family member is terminally ill and receiving hospice or specialist care.
Bereavement.
The death of a parent, primary caregiver or sibling.
Sudden and traumatic life-changing incident.
A major event that has drastically changed the child or young person’s life, where they are receiving support from a relevant agency.
Who we are unable to support
There are some instances where Buttle will not be able to provide support, including:
- when poverty, poor housing or homelessness are the primary issues
- cases where the main reason is disability, chronic illness or additional needs of a child or parent (see Family Fund Disability Grants)
- cases where family separation or contact arrangements are the main issue
- Looked After Children
What we fund
We fund a package of support designed to improve wellbeing and help a child or young person re-engage with education and learning. This may include home essentials, study items, wellbeing support, activities and other items that help them feel safe, stable and ready to learn.
You can read our guide to items, prices and what we do not fund here.
Applications must:
- have consent and input from the parent, carer, child or young person
- demonstrate a clear assessment of their emotional and educational needs
- show how the items or activities will meet those needs
- explain how the grant fits alongside other support
Please note
- We assess applications using only the information provided. Incomplete applications may be declined or delayed.
- Our grants complement statutory support — they do not replace it. Statutory funding must be explored first.
- We have a limited budget, and we may need to decline applications even when they meet the criteria.