SEND Directory

Access to Work can help you get or stay in work if you are 16 or older and have a physical or mental health condition or disability.

You can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help with the costs of a course at a college or training provider in England.

Loan eligibility does not depend on your income and there are no credit checks.

If you’re studying a level 3 qualification, you might be eligible for an ‘Adult Education Budget’ grant instead of an Advanced Learner Loan. If you get a grant, you do not need to repay it. Ask your college or training provider about grants before you apply for a loan.

Lifeline 4 Kids is a London-based charity that provides life-changing equipment for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities.

Parents and caregivers can apply for various types of specialised equipment, such as electric wheelchairs, mobility aids, iPads, and more. 

Please visit their website for the latest information on how to apply and what equipment is available.

• Application for help webpage

Newlife is the UK’s largest charitable provider of specialist equipment for disabled children.

Newlife offers a lifeline for families, providing life-changing and life-saving equipment when and where its needed. Alongside equipment, they campaign to improve the outlook for disabled children and change lives. They support parents, work with health professionals and strive for a future where all disabled children get the equipment they need and deserve.

Find out if you're eligible for free NHS prescriptions and any help with other NHS costs, including sight tests and NHS dental treatment.

You may qualify for one of the following council tax discounts, reductions, or exemptions:

Help if you're a undergraduate or postgraduate student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability

Support for parents and carers who are experiencing difficulty in finding suitable childcare.

Family Fund is the UK's largest grant-making charity for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, on a low income. Find out about the various grants they deliver, eligibility criteria and how to make an application on their website

Use our benefits calculator to find out what benefits you can claim.