Cash for struggling families

West Lothian families on a low income, raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people have the chance to receive help with higher costs of living.

Families with children up to the age of 18 are being urged to reach out for support from national charity Family Fund, to help ease winter pressures and current sky-high prices.

It costs three times as much to raise a disabled child and families often face severely reduced income to provide round-the-clock care to their children.

Family Fund, the UK’s largest grant-making charity for families with disabled and seriously ill children and young people, provides essential grants for items ranging from clothing and bedding; white goods, furniture and appliances to sensory and play equipment and digital devices.

Family Fund provided more than 8,000 families in Scotland with grants and services in the past year.

Families are asked to apply as soon as possible to gain support while it is available, thanks to ongoing funding from the Scottish Government.

Family Fund delivered more than 170,919 grants and services across the

UK, worth more than £37 million, to families on low incomes in the past year.

As the winter months progress this is timely help, as a recent cost of caring report by Family Fund shows that nine in 10 families on a low income raising disabled children are struggling, or falling behind with, their regular household bills and many are forced to forego living essentials such as food, heating, basic furniture like beds, flooring, washing machines and fridges, to try to help make ends meet.

For more information visit www. familyfund.org.uk/