P-27 Identifying sources of one-off financial support in England and Wales, that people living with terminal illness are eligible for

White, Nicola and Pettitt, Natalie and Hopewell-Kelly, Noreen and Harrop, Emily and French, Maddy and Bosco, Alessandro and Kupeli, Nuriye (2025) P-27 Identifying sources of one-off financial support in England and Wales, that people living with terminal illness are eligible for. BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, 15 (Suppl.). A20.3-A21. ISSN 2045-435X

Abstract

Background People living with a terminal illness are often unable to work and may require one-off grants to fund expenses such as equipment, electrical items, and travel (Stone, Hirsch. Poverty at the end of life. Loughborough University & Marie Curie; 2022; Rowley, Richards, Carduff, et al. Palliat Care Soc Pract. 2021 Sep 12;15:26323524211033873). Identifying these sources can be extremely challenging. Aim To identify sources of one-off grants across England and Wales. Methods Through a systematic search of the Government register of charities in England and Wales, we identified 5,783 charities that offer grants to individuals for the relief/prevention of poverty. We have extracted data about them from the register (including years running, annual expenditure, charity aims). We contacted all charities with a survey link. The survey asks them: what they provide one-off grants for, their eligibility criteria, the application process, and the outcome. They are also asked if they have a grant that is specific for people living with terminal illness. Results The analysis of the register is ongoing, and the survey is still open to respondents. At the conference, we will present the most recent data from the charities register and the survey. We will present an overview of the charities register including location, purpose statements, and expenditure. Currently we have completed survey data for 78 charities. Out of those, 65 (83%) of respondents give one-off grants only in England. Thirty-six charities (46%) offer national funding, with the others focused on local/regional support. The largest portion of grants was for a holiday or respite care (56/88 charities), followed by a small one-off payment (54/78 charities). Most charities (53%) received 0 to 2 applications per week for support, with success rates being a median of 77% (range 11% up to 100%). Ten charities (13%) provided funding specifically identified for people living with terminal illness. Conclusion Findings from this study will help to improve the equity of accessing one-off grants for people living with terminal illness.