FAMILY GrantS: Help for low-income families in the UK

Family Grants are short-term financial support provided by Save the Children UK to low-income families with children. They help cover essential costs such as food, clothing and household items, and are accessed through referrals from schools, charities and local services.

The earliest years of a child’s life matter – and so does the world around them.

Children are more likely to grow up happy, healthy and ready to learn when their families have the support, stability and resources they need. But across the UK, rising living costs and increasing poverty are making this harder every day.

Right now, around four million children are growing up in poverty in the UK. Many families with children are struggling to afford everyday essentials like food, clothing and household items. When families are under this kind of pressure, the impact goes far beyond finances. It can affect children’s ability to learn, play and develop, and place significant strain on parents’ wellbeing.

At Save the Children UK, our Family Grants programme provides practical financial support to low-income families with children - helping them create more stable, secure home environments.

Learn more about our work tackling child poverty in the UK.

Family Grants provide short-term financial support to low income families with children, helping them to meet essential needs and create more stable home environments.

The Family Grants programme is shaped by what families tell us matters most. Support is provided straight away through a system co-developed with Evouchers.  By providing vouchers, the families get the flexibility to choose what they need—whether that’s food, clothing or other essentials.

We deliver Family Grants through trusted local partners, ensuring support reaches families quickly and in a way that works for them.  This strengthens our partnership with community organisations in areas we are working and with our partners we build evidence and insight to tackle child poverty across the UK.

Since 2021 we have:

• Delivered over 10,000 grants reaching over 20,000 children
• Funded more than £3 million in support as grants for low-income families
• Worked with over 120 local partner organisations across 30 communities in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales

Family Grants are about more than immediate relief. The programme also helps to:

• Connect families with wider support through local services they trust
• Amplify families’ voices, building a clearer picture of life in poverty
• Inform our policy and advocacy work to drive lasting change

We have been offering grants to families since 2021, supporting families with young children during the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis.  Working with partners throughout the UK , we have heard :

• Grants provide direct financial support which reduces immediate hardship and stress for families. 100% of our partners surveyed told us that Family Grants reduce stress and improve the wellbeing of parents and children,.
• Our partners have told us the main issues facing families in need are parent mental health; finances and budgeting (including food and fuel poverty); support to access services; and housing.
• Most partners are supporting families facing multiple challenges with complex and compounding needs.
• Strong local partnerships are key to reaching families effectively and providing holistic support for all their needs
• 94% of our partners told us Family Grants in the UK provide early support for families that would not otherwise be available

Family Grants are part of Save the Children UK’s wider mission to end child poverty, by improving families’ access to money, services and power. 

By working alongside families, communities and partners, we are not only responding to immediate need—but also building the evidence and momentum needed to drive long-term change.

The Family Grants are primarily funded through donations.  If you would like to support our work in the UK, please click here.

Together, we can help ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow, learn and thrive - no matter their circumstances.