Grants to individuals

The aim of CFCT’s hardship awards’ programme is to make small grants of up to a maximum of £500 to underprivileged/disadvantaged young people living in Kent to help them navigate the difficult journey into adulthood and employment.

Applicants should be living in low-income households and must fit into one or more of the following categories:

• Educational underachievers – aged 14-18, not expecting to achieve, or having not achieved, five GCSEs (or equivalent) grades 4-9 (previously C – A*) • Unemployed – poorly skilled, educational underachievers aged 16-25 not in education, training or employment (NEETS) • Young people at risk of offending and ex-offenders – aged 14-25 • Young people in or leaving care – aged 14-25.

Grant awards will be made to cover the costs of:

• tools or equipment for a job or qualification e.g. hairdressing kit, carpentry tools, chef's whites, personal protection equipment (PPE), or equipment that will facilitate participation in an event/activity that builds confidence, enhances skills etc. • I.T. equipment where the acquisition can be shown to facilitate an individual’s progress at college, school or in, or toward, work. These awards will be capped at £400.00 unless specialised equipment is required and can be evidenced. • fees for employment linked services/checks e.g. CSCS construction card or Disclosure and Barring Service (DRS) checks to enable work with children. Cost of obtaining essential identification – e.g. birth certificate, provisional driving licence, passport. • fees for courses leading to a recognised qualification or activities that enhance confidence, build skills and support the individual into work. • interview clothes or clothing that will facilitate an individual’s participation at school/college or in an environment that enables advancement towards work or other activities that enhance a young person’s confidence/achievements. • Furniture and other items that help secure an individual’s transition to independence or facilitate an improvement in their quality of life, enabling them to progress and/or maintain achievements at school, college or within work. • childcare costs to help single parents access short term education.