Useful Links
These are links to external charities and organisations which you may find useful;
Birkdale Trust – this charity exists to provide financial support to children and young people who have a hearing impairment and to organisations who provide help to them http://www.grantsforthedeaf.co.uk/
Bolton Toy Library – The service loans quality, learning resources and specialised resources for families, childcare settings and practitioners across Bolton within Health, Education, Social Care as well as running drop-in sessions and having a multisensory room. https://www.boltontoylibrary.org/
Bolton Local Offer – Information and services for families including events, activities and advice all in one place. https://mylifeinbolton.org.uk/send.aspx
Borrow Box – Borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks free from your library using our BorrowBox app. https://www.borrowbox.com/
Council for Disabled Children – the umbrella body for the disabled children’s sector with a membership of over 300 voluntary and community organisations and an active network of practitioners that spans education, health and social care. https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/
Deafblind UK – National charity for people who are deafblind. https://deafblind.org.uk/
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who:
is under 16
has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability
Eligibility criteria apply, you can find out more here https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is support to cover the study-related costs in further education you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability.
This can be on its own or in addition to any student finance you get.
The type of support and how much you get depends on your individual needs – not your household income.
You do not need to pay back DSA. You can find out more information here https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa
Family Fund – The UK’s largest charity providing grants for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people. https://www.familyfund.org.uk/
Guide Dogs – Support for Visually Impaired people including grants for equipment. https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/getting-support/help-for-children-and-families/
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People – National charity training Hearing Dogs to alert Deaf people to important sounds. https://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/
Henshaws – A northern charity supporting people living with sight loss and a range of other disabilities. https://www.henshaws.org.uk/
NDCS – the National Deaf Children’s Society, the leading charity for deaf children. https://www.ndcs.org.uk/
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you are over 16 years old and have both:
a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition
You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.
You can find out if you are eligible here https://www.gov.uk/pip
The NDCS has a useful tool to support you in completing your PIP application and is available from their website;
https://www.ndcs.org.uk/information-and-support/money-and-benefits/personal-independence-payment-pip
RNIB – Royal National Institute of Blind people, one of the UK’s leading sight loss charities and the largest community of blind and partially sighted people. https://www.rnib.org.uk/
RNIB Bookshare – opens up the world of reading in education for learners with a print-disability, including those with dyslexia or who are blind or partially sighted. https://www.rnibbookshare.org/cms/
RNID – Royal National Institute of Deaf people, a national charity for deaf and hearing impaired people. https://rnid.org.uk/
Sense – a UK charity, here to help everyone who is living with complex disabilities or who is deafblind to communicate and experience the world. https://www.sense.org.uk/