Funding

We aim to be flexible and responsive in our funding and make grants where the Fund might make a real difference, such as:

• Covering prescription charges for patients who don’t receive them free, but may find them difficult to pay
• Paying travel costs for patients to attend regular clinics/appointments, providing they are not receiving government benefits, in which case they can reclaim these costs (see Department of Health Leaflet, Help with Health Costs http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/13/89/53/04138953.pdf)
• Paying a small food allowance for patients, especially those who are rough sleepers, to access nutritious meals
• Supporting activities for children such as the “Kids Coping Corner” held at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington which helped to motivate and support children through the long treatment.
• Providing Dosset boxes or other resources to help patients remember when to take their medication (please note: Treatment diaries are available free from TB Alert, sponsored by Genus Pharmaceuticals – contact Angela on admin@tbalert.org or 020 8998 1949).
• In exceptional circumstances supporting retraining for patients who are not able to continue their normal work due to permanent effects of TB
• Support training and awareness raising activities run by TB nurses for patients and/or GPs or other non-specialist staff or
• Support activities which raise awareness within at-risk groups and the general public

Grant amounts

Our grants have ranged from £25 to £340 but the average grant is £150. Grants at this level can usually be agreed and paid within 10 working days.

Grants of up to £1,000 may be considered in exceptional circumstances.  In this case more information will be requested and the applicant may be asked to come to an interview.