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Contents
Government grants are available in the UK, but they’re for specific purposes, not general handouts. Here’s what actually exists and how to access it.
Read more: See our Energy Grants guide for a complete overview of this topic.
The Reality About Grants
What Grants Are Available
Genuine Grants Exist For
No Grants For
Energy efficiency
General “free money”
Disability home adaptations
Paying off personal debt
Business start-ups
No-strings cash
Childcare costs
Anyone who applies
Specific hardship
General living costs
Types of Government Support
Support Type
How It Works
Grants
Money you don’t repay
Benefits
Regular payments for circumstances
Tax relief
Reduced tax bill
Subsidies
Government pays part of cost
Loans
Must be repaid
Energy Efficiency Grants
ECO 4 Scheme (Energy Company Obligation)
Feature
Details
What it funds
Insulation, heating systems, solar
Who qualifies
Low income, benefits, poor EPC home
Who provides
Energy companies
Cost to you
Free if eligible
Apply
Through energy suppliers or council
Duration
Extended to 31 December 2026; no confirmed direct successor obligation announced — check current status
Eligibility
Qualifying Benefits
Also Consider
Pension Credit
Universal Credit
Income Support
Child Tax Credit (low income)
JSA (income-based)
Working Tax Credit
ESA (income-related)
Housing Benefit
Great British Insulation Scheme
Feature
Details
What it funds
Single measures (e.g., cavity wall)
Who qualifies
Homes EPC D-G, or low income
Apply
gov.uk/apply-great-british-insulation-scheme
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Feature
Details
What it funds
Heat pump installation
Grant amount
£7,500 for an air source or ground source heat pump (both now the same rate)
Time-limited uplift
£9,000 for eligible off-gas-grid oil/LPG properties, 21 July 2026 – 31 March 2027
Eligibility
Replacing fossil fuel heating
Apply
Through MCS-certified installer
Deadline
Scheme runs to 31 March 2028
Home Adaptation Grants
Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG)
Feature
Details
What it funds
Home adaptations for disability
Maximum grant
£30,000 in England (rules and caps differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)
Who qualifies
Disabled person, based on assessment
Examples
Ramps, stairlifts, bathroom adaptations
Apply
Through local council
Eligibility
Requirement
Details
Assessed need
Occupational therapist referral
Means-tested
May have to contribute (adults; usually not means-tested for children)
Property
Owner-occupied or rented (with permission)
Childcare Support
Tax-Free Childcare
Feature
Details
How it works
Government adds £2 for every £8 you pay in
Maximum boost
£2,000/year per child (£4,000 if disabled)
Who qualifies
Working parents, income under £100,000 each (confirm current threshold on gov.uk, as this is reviewed periodically)
Apply
gov.uk/tax-free-childcare
Free Childcare Hours
Child Age
Hours Available
9 months to 4 years (working parents)
Up to 30 hours/week — fully rolled out since September 2025
3-4 years (all)
15 hours/week universal, regardless of working status
Exact term-time vs stretched-hours arrangements vary by nursery and local authority — confirm with your childcare provider and gov.uk/free-childcare-if-working for the current position.
Business Grants
Start Up Loans
Feature
Details
Type
Loan (not grant) but government-backed
Amount
£500-£25,000
Interest
7.5% fixed for applications from 6 April 2026 (loans approved before that date keep the previous 6% fixed rate)
Apply
startuploans.co.uk
Innovation Grants (Innovate UK)
Feature
Details
What it funds
R&D, innovation projects
Who qualifies
Businesses with innovative ideas
Competition
Award-based
Apply
apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk
Local Business Grants
Source
What’s Available
Local council
Area-specific schemes
LEPs
Regional growth funding
Combined authorities
City region programmes
Check your local council website for schemes specific to your area.
Education and Training
Learner Support Funds
For
Available Support
Further Education
Hardship funds
Higher Education
University bursaries
Care leavers
Additional grants
Adult learners
Skills funding
Specific Funding
Programme
Details
Advanced Learner Loan
For Level 3-6 courses
19+ Education
Adult education budget
Apprenticeship funding
Government pays training
Charity Grants
Turn2us Grant Search
Feature
Details
What it does
Searches thousands of charitable funds
Who can use
Anyone
Cost
Free
Find it
grants-search.turn2us.org.uk
Types of Charity Grants
Category
Examples
Profession-specific
Medical, teaching, trades
Location-based
Local area charities
Circumstance
Single parents, illness, bereavement
Age-related
Young people, pensioners
Examples of Charity Funds
Charity
Who They Help
Royal British Legion
Veterans and families
Railway Benevolent
Rail workers
Turn2us
Various circumstances
Local charities
Your area residents
Council Support
Local Crisis Support
Feature
Details
What it is
Crisis support for essentials
England
The Household Support Fund ended 31 March 2026; replaced from 1 April 2026 by the Crisis and Resilience Fund, run by local councils
Scotland/Wales/NI
Continue via their own schemes (e.g. Scottish Welfare Fund, Discretionary Assistance Fund)
What it covers
Food, energy, essentials
Apply
Through your local council
Local Welfare Assistance
Council Scheme
Covers
Crisis payments
Emergency one-off grants
Community care
Items like furniture
Food bank referrals
Food support
How to Find Legitimate Grants
Official Sources
Source
What They List
gov.uk
All government schemes
Local council website
Local grants
Citizens Advice
Verified information
Turn2us
Charity grants
Red Flags for Scams
Warning Sign
Why It’s Suspicious
Fee to apply
Grants are free to apply for
Guaranteed approval
All grants have criteria
“Unclaimed money”
Not how grants work
High-pressure tactics
Scammer behaviour
Unsolicited contact
You apply to them, not vice versa
How to Apply for Grants
General Process
Step
Action
1
Identify relevant grant
2
Check eligibility criteria
3
Gather required documents
4
Complete application form
5
Submit through official channel
6
Wait for assessment
What You’ll Need
Document
Purpose
Proof of income
Means-testing
Benefit letters
Eligibility evidence
ID documents
Identity verification
Quotes (for work)
Cost evidence
Supporting letters
From professionals
Summary: Finding Help
Need
Where to Look
Energy efficiency
ECO4, Great British Insulation, Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Home adaptations
Disabled Facilities Grant
Childcare
Tax-Free Childcare, free hours
Business help
Start Up Loans, Innovate UK
General hardship
Turn2us, local council, crisis/hardship fund
Specific circumstances
Charity grants via Turn2us
Be realistic about grants — they exist for specific purposes and have eligibility criteria. For ongoing financial help, benefits are usually more relevant than grants.