Find Support

Best Start Foods

Prepaid-card help to buy healthy foods during pregnancy and for children under three.

Best Start Grant — Pregnancy and Baby Payment

One-off help towards the costs of pregnancy and a new baby.

Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods

Scottish Government pregnancy and early years financial support.

Child Benefit: financial support for parents

Payments for people responsible for raising a child, with National Insurance credit benefits even when payments are not taken.

Child Funeral Fund — Northern Ireland

One-off help towards eligible funeral costs following the death of a child or qualifying stillbirth.

Childcare Offer for Wales — Ages 3 and 4

Up to 30 hours per week combining funded nursery education and childcare, for up to 48 weeks yearly.

Flying Start — Funded Childcare for Two-Year-Olds

Up to 12.5 hours weekly funded childcare for two-year-olds, with wider early-years and family support in eligible areas.

Free Childcare for Working Parents in England

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

Free school meals — England

Use the government finder to check school meal support in England.

Healthy Start: food and vitamins for young families

Healthy Start supports eligible pregnant people and families with young children in buying specified healthy food and accessing vitamins.

Help with childcare costs

Official guidance on childcare financial support and eligibility.

Maternity Allowance: support around childbirth

Payment for some people taking time off to have a baby who cannot obtain Statutory Maternity Pay or meet alternative qualifying conditions.

BBC Children in Need · open

BBC Children in Need — Emergency Essentials

Essential items for children and young people facing severe poverty, including beds, cookers and crisis clothing. Applications are made only by registered referrers through Family Fund Business Services. Verify availability with the programme.

Application: referral

Buttle UK · check-current-opening

Buttle UK — Chances for Children grants

Tailored grants for children and young people impacted by a recent significant crisis that affects wellbeing and learning. Grant applications must be submitted by a frontline professional; families cannot apply directly.

Application: referral

Family Fund · open-with-restrictions

Family Fund — England disabled children grants

Support for lower-income families raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person aged 17 or younger in England. Applications are limited to first-time applicants until the end of March 2027. Grants may cover essential household items, clothing, technology or family breaks.

Application: direct

Family Fund · check-current-opening

Family Fund — Northern Ireland grants

Grants for eligible low-income families raising disabled or seriously ill children or young adults in Northern Ireland. Check live programme eligibility and available funding.

Application: direct

Family Fund · check-current-opening

Family Fund — Scotland grants

Financial support programme for families on low incomes raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people in Scotland. Check current application availability and reapplication rules with the provider.

Application: direct

Musicians Union · check-provider

Musicians Union — Parental Grant

Parental grants for eligible Musicians Union members after qualifying membership; supporting documentation required. Confirm current award conditions and amount.

Application: contact

Railway Benefit Fund · check-provider

Railway Benefit Fund — Children’s Fund

Fund listed by the railway charity to help eligible railway families with costs and unexpected expenses of raising children. Check specific fund criteria and current availability before publication.

Application: direct

Royal connection recorded · Organisation, not necessarily a grant fund

Barnardo’s

Support for children, young people and families, including safeguarding, mental health and practical family services. Local services and referral routes vary.

Royal connection recorded · Organisation, not necessarily a grant fund

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

Animal welfare, rescue, rehoming and practical advice for pet owners. Not a general cash grant.

Organisation, not necessarily a grant fund

Buttle UK

Chances for Children grants: applications are submitted by eligible support professionals, not by families directly.

Royal connection recorded · Organisation, not necessarily a grant fund

Child Bereavement UK

Support for bereaved children and families and for families facing the death of a child.

Organisation, not necessarily a grant fund

Family Fund

England – Support for Families with Disabled Children: grants for eligible low-income households caring for a disabled or seriously ill child. First applications only for the current temporary restriction through March 2027.

Organisation, not necessarily a grant fund

Family Fund – England disabled children grants

Grants for lower-income families caring for a disabled or seriously ill child aged 17 or younger. England programme: first-time applicants only until the end of March 2027.

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: how to check locally

Children may qualify for free school meals depending on their circumstances and local rules.

Healthy Start: food and vitamins for families

Healthy Start may help eligible families buy certain foods and access vitamins.

Healthy Start: food and vitamins for young families — practical guide

Healthy Start supports eligible pregnant people and families with young children in buying specified healthy food and accessing vitamins.

Free Childcare for Working Parents

Funded childcare may be available for eligible working parents with children aged 9 months to 4 years. Check work, income and age conditions.

Next step: Check eligibility and apply through GOV.UK

Tax-Free Childcare

Eligible working parents may receive a government contribution towards approved childcare bills. Cannot normally be used together with Universal Credit childcare support.

Next step: Check the rules before choosing a childcare scheme