Find Support

Best Start Grant — Early Learning Payment

One-off grant for costs when a child is between two and three-and-a-half years old.

Best Start Grant — School Age Payment

One-off grant to help with preparing a child for primary school.

Education Maintenance Allowance — Wales 2026–27

Income-assessed weekly support towards continuing an eligible education or training course.

Financial Contingency Fund — Further Education Wales

Discretionary hardship assistance for learners at risk of leaving further education due to financial problems.

Free School Meals — Northern Ireland

Free meals for eligible school pupils based on qualifying benefits or special circumstances.

Home-to-school transport assistance: ask your council

Some children qualify for free home-to-school transport based on distance, eligibility, disability or special educational needs.

Means-tested and expanded Secondary Free School Meals — Wales

School meal support for eligible secondary school learners, including phased September 2026 expansion.

School Essentials Grant — Wales 2026–27

Financial assistance towards school clothing, equipment and related essentials.

School Uniform Grant — Northern Ireland

Help with school uniform costs for eligible primary, post-primary and special-school pupils.

Welsh Government Learning Grant — Further Education 2026–27

Means-tested grant towards further education costs for eligible adult learners.

Family Action · check-provider

Family Action — Educational Grants Programme

Educational grant programme administered through qualifying education institutions and applicants.

Application: referral

Teaching Staff Trust · open

Teaching Staff Trust — Hardship Grants

One-off financial support for eligible people who have worked in education of under-19s for at least five years and face unexpected hardship. Application processing may be delayed by high demand.

Application: direct

Royal connection recorded · Organisation, not necessarily a grant fund

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Orchestral concerts, education and community music programmes. Not a general household grant provider.

Royal connection recorded · Organisation, not necessarily a grant fund

The King’s Foundation

Education, traditional skills, community regeneration and wellbeing programmes; consult the foundation for current opportunities.

Royal connection recorded · Organisation, not necessarily a grant fund

The Wildlife Trusts

Local wildlife conservation, education and volunteering opportunities.

Royal connection recorded · Organisation, not necessarily a grant fund

WWF-UK

Wildlife and nature conservation, education and campaigning. Not a household cash-grant programme.

Access to Work: financial help with work adjustments — practical guide

Access to Work may fund eligible practical support to start or stay in employment or self-employment.

Access to Work: support in employment

Access to Work may help eligible disabled people with practical work-related support.

Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods in Scotland

Scottish family payments can support pregnancy, early years and healthy food purchases.

Child Benefit: applying and reporting changes

Child Benefit may help with the cost of raising a child.

Child Maintenance: arrangements and support

Child maintenance supports the cost of raising children when parents live separately.

Childcare support: compare your options

Help with registered childcare costs can depend on employment, benefits, the child's age and your nation.

Free Childcare for Working Parents in England — practical guide

Some eligible working parents can obtain funded childcare hours for children from nine months to school age.

Free school meals in England: checking 2026 rules — practical guide

Children may qualify through infant school provision or the applicable income/benefit criteria.

16 to 19 Bursary Fund

Eligible students in England may get support for participation costs, such as travel, books or equipment, through their school or college.

Next step: Ask the education provider about eligibility and application

Free school meals in England

Families may qualify for free school meals. For the 2026–27 academic year, the rules include children in households receiving Universal Credit.

Next step: Enter a postcode to find local application guidance