Follow our straightforward application process
Step 1: Your application
First, we suggest you read the section of this website called Grants for Gardening. This explains what we will and won’t consider paying for, and how the process works in more detail.
PLEASE READ :
We reserve the right to investigate applications including visits to your garden, Google and Google Earth searches. We insist on seeing receipts for materials and work carried out, matched to the grant.
It is your responsibility to check planning permissions, landlords consent and other statutory permissions. Before digging make sure you know the route of any utility services.
We prefer to pay builders/suppliers on your behalf. Never pay builders “up-front”. Please please ensure that you are using a reputable supplier – ask around for recommendations or use a trusted trader scheme.
In some circumstances, it may be possible to obtain VAT-relief on the cost of adaptations required for your personal use as a result of your disability. We cannot advise on this and recommend you seek the advice of a tax specialist: it remains your responsibility to check whether your work is eligible for such relief. You may find some useful information here.
Normally, we don’t give grants to children, because our aim is to help people back into gardening for themselves…and only in very exceptional circumstances would we feel that children meet this criterion.
We rarely (almost never!) pay for decking for anyone, and we never pay for clearing, cutting down trees, general maintenance or fencing or garden furniture.
APPLICATION FORM
There are a few ways you can send us your application form.
You can either ‘Apply online’ using the button below and upload the attachments: this may work best in areas where you have good broadband speeds.
You can download the Word application form and e-mail it or post it to us with all the essential information about your project and yourself. Simply click on the download button (you may need to look in your downloads folder once its downloaded).
You’ll need to send us:
- What you are needing and how much it costs. We need the detail here. For example, if you would like a raised bed, then you might need to detail raised bed £x, potting compost £y.
- Alternative Quotes from 3rd parties: If you are using a 3rd party to do some of the work..for example, a contractor to install an access ramp, you’ll need to get 2 quotes for this work and include them in your application. PLEASE PLEASE ENSURE YOU USE REPUTABLE TRADESPEOPLE…if in doubt ask around locally amongst friends, family or in trusted trader schemes.
- Health/medical Information. You’ll need to include an up-to-date letter about your health and disability. You may have already something like a consultant’s letter which details your situation, or ask a health professional such as your GP or social worker to write a short note explaining it for us. A PIP confirmation is also acceptable. (We keep your information safely and use it for the purpose of assessing your suitability for a grant. You can check out our privacy policy here)
If it’s helpful to include photos, sketches or diagrams to explain your project a bit better, then please feel free to do so.
It’s always good if you can enlist friends, family or voluntary organisations to carry out some of the labour for you if you are unable to do it yourself/need extra help.
Please note:
You can upload all of the information to us on the online application form above, or send it to us as an email at: info@gardeningfordisabledtrust.org.uk, or pop it in the post to: Gardening for Disabled Trust, PO Box 285, Tunbridge Wells. Kent. TN2 9JD
Step 2: Grants for Gardening
Your application will be passed to a member of the committee, who may come back and ask you further questions to clarify any points about your project.
Your application will then be reviewed at a meeting of the committee. If your application is successful, we will come back to you and let you know. We then aim to get the funds to you as soon as possible so you can start your project. This will normally be in the form of vouchers or payment directly to your chosen supplier.
If you’re not successful, we’ll also let you know, and the reason why.
Bear in mind that the committee meet roughly every 2 months and although we’ll process your application as soon as we can, it might take a little time.
Step 3: Implementation & Follow-up
We’ll be in touch to see how your project is going and to ask you for some photos of what the grant has paid for. If possible, we love to come and visit ourselves, and will get in touch to arrange a suitable time for this.Some of our clients keep in touch with us for years afterwards and we are delighted by that.