Children’s Fund
About
Raising a family can be expensive, and when unexpected costs appear, it can be hard to stay on top of your finances.
Our Children’s Fund can help with the cost of school uniforms, after school activities, baby items, winter clothes and more.
Am I eligible?
The criteria to apply for the Children’s Fund is as follows:
- You are a current railway employee
- You have less than £2,000 in capital if a single person, or less than £3,000 if a couple (including the value of any assets i.e. shares, second properties, land)
- You are in receipt of Child Benefit
- Your gross household* income is less than £50,000 per annum
*Gross income is your earnings before tax and deductions. We consider the following as income: headline (basic) salary, overtime pay, benefits such as universal credit, child benefit, carers allowance, tax credits etc. Disability benefits (DLA, PIP, AA) are not considered as income.
Please note that you can only apply for one Children’s Fund grant within a two year period.
How much will I receive?
The maximum amount awarded is £300. This grant is non-repayable.
How do I apply?
It’s quick and easy to apply. Please click on the link below to apply online.
If you require an application form by post please contact our office on 0345 241 2885 or email support@railwaybenefitfund.org.uk
Along with the application form we will require the following supporting documentation:
- Your latest payslip
- The latest payslip of any spouse/partner, if applicable
- Proof of income e.g. wage slip, benefit letters etc
- One month’s bank statements for all accounts held by yourself and any spouse/partner
It takes around 2 weeks for applications to be reviewed.
Submitting Bank Statements
You can now provide bank statements securely and conveniently in one of two ways:
- Using our secure online connection through Lightning Reach – This method allows you to share your financial information directly from your bank, safely and quickly. It reduces paperwork and speeds up the application process.
- Uploading copies of your bank statements – If you prefer, you can still upload digital copies (such as PDFs). If you would like to submit postal copies please contact the office.
You will be asked on the application form which method you prefer.
What is Lightning Reach and how does it work?
Lightning Reach provides a secure and simple way to share your bank statements directly with us, without the need to upload or email documents. By logging into Lightning Reach, you will be guided through a quick and easy process to connect your accounts, allowing us to review the necessary financial information to assess your application. Lightning Reach uses the latest technology to process your information securely. Your data is protected, and we can only access the last three months of statements—we cannot make any changes to your account or see anything beyond this period. Please see our privacy policy to learn more how your data is handled.
Further support
All applications are offered a check of entitlements including benefits, government support, as well as other charities that may assist along with referrals and signposting to other services that can help.
If you have any queries or require assistance with completing the form please contact us on 03452 412 885 or email us.
