If you’re a kidney patient struggling to make ends meet we can help you.
We provide individual and hardship grants to help pay for:
- Domestic bills
- Household items
- Travel expenses
- Higher education / training / qualifications
Who is eligible for Kidney Care UK grants
Our personal grants are normally available to:
- Dialysis patients and families on low income
- Transplant patients and those receiving conservative care, if health and quality of life is being seriously affected by your renal condition
However, these are not the only criteria. If your life has been affected by kidney disease it might still be worth applying. Whilst we can't guarantee every application, we do our best to help where we can.
What we can fund
Financial aid: if you are on a low income we may be able to help with the cost of an outstanding domestic bill such as gas, electricity or water, or with car insurance or heating costs.
Domestic costs: we may be able to help with the purchase of domestic goods like washing machines, cookers, beds and carpets.
Travel costs: we may be able to help with travel costs to your hospital if you have to travel a long way and have no support from your unit. We are unable to help with travel costs for ongoing dialysis.
Further education and training: we may be able to help with a contribution toward the cost of training or other short educational courses that will increase employment opportunities..
Download our Applying for a grant leaflet
Before applying for a grant it's a good idea to download and have a read through our Applying for a grant leaflet (if you'd prefer a printed copy, please contact us).
If you are applying for a grant for a holiday or respite break, please make sure your application is sent to us at least 8 weeks before travel and/or payment is due.
If you’re a social worker or member of a kidney care team applying on behalf of a patient, please don’t hesitate to call 01420 541 424 with any questions you may have.
Applying for a Kidney Care UK grant
You’ll need to contact your kidney unit social worker or a member of the kidney care team, as all applications for financial aid should come to us on a grant form completed with their input.
However, if no member of staff from your kidney unit is able to help, our advocacy officers can be contacted by calling the main Kidney Care UK telephone number: 01420 541 424 or emailing [email protected].
Help with keeping your home warm
If you struggle to keep your home warm for whatever reason, there may be help available. Many UK utility companies have their own charitable trusts and there are a number of other schemes and benefits you can apply for.
Find out more on our keeping your home warm advice page.