Community Grants – National Deaf Children’s Society

The National Deaf Children’s Society community grant is an initiative offering between £1,000 to £10,000 to UK groups supporting deaf children and their families.

The aim of our grants programme is to build communities that unite families of deaf children. For parents with a deaf child, having a strong community is vital, particularly during those first few years when families are still finding out what their child needs.

The early years are a crucial time for all children. For deaf children, this is even more true. Without adjustments, accommodations and the right support, young deaf children can find it more difficult to develop their language, communication and social skills.

This is why, for this funding cycle, they are focusing on projects that support deaf children in the early years (aged 0-5). This can be directly or indirectly, and projects can also involve older deaf children, deaf young people, families and professionals.

Each grant is for 12 months and is intended to cover the essential running costs of your project, such as:

• venue hire
• transport
• promotional costs
• wages for sessional workers, interpreters and language tutors
• equipment that is essential for the project, such as play equipment or technology

This is a rolling programme, which means you can apply at any time throughout the year.

To be able to apply, all applicants must:

• be based in the UK
• be a group or organisation with a UK bank or building society account
• have a safeguarding policy, procedures, training and checks in place (if you work with or are in contact with children and/or vulnerable adults)
• conduct risk assessments as standard for all activities
• have appropriate insurance in place
• have a governing document or constitution
• produce annual accounts

The grant cannot be used to fund:

• work that has already taken place
• projects based outside of the UK
• projects that will be used for financial gain or profit
• salaries for organisation members
• core costs such as rent and utilities
• alcohol
• VAT that can be reclaimed

Grants must also not be used for services that are provided as standard by government funded education or health services.