Grants to help older vegetarians and vegans in financial need

Vegetarian for Life administers two charitable funds, The Vegan Fund and The Vegetarian Fund, on behalf of The Vegetarian Housing Association, our sister organisation. The Funds were launched in 2010, and we were pleased to award the first grant in May 2010 - for  a stair lift to enable a vegetarian lady to move out of care, back to her own home, to resume independent living.

In 2009, VfL commissioned a survey of care homes, where we found that the percentage of vegetarians and vegans in care is quite small, at only 1.25% of residents, compared to 3% in the general population. This may well be because older vegetarians and vegans are more likely to be independently-minded and try to remain in their own homes for longer. They may also, of course, be healthier for longer. There comes a time, however, when some older people find it increasingly difficult to stay in their own homes, possibly due to health problems such as arthritis or general mobility problems. Financial assistance may be available, but can be difficult to access due to a great deal of demand. This is where the new funds hope to help.

The main details are:
• To be eligible for a grant from either fund you must be:

• aged 60 or over
• in financial need (i.e. with a relatively small regular income and relatively low savings - we follow the limits used for eligibility for means-tested state benefits)
• and - for a grant from The Vegan Fund -  a practising vegan
• or - for a grant from The Vegetarian  Fund - a practising vegetarian 

• Grants are awarded on a one-off basis. They are not suitable for ongoing expenditure.
• Grants are normally made to assist ‘independent living’, for example: to provide ramps, grab handles, minor kitchen/bathroom adaptations, stair lifts, or perhaps respite care (a short stay in a care home for a person being cared for at home, to provide a break for the carer).
• Applications for other uses will be considered – as long as the grant will benefit one or more older vegetarians or vegans.
• Individual grants are normally subject to an upper limit of £3,000, but this may vary if the grant would benefit more than one eligible person or, at the Trustees’ discretion, if there are other extenuating circumstances.
• Each application will be judged on its individual merit by the Trustees of Vegetarian Housing Association, whose decision is final.

For further information and for application details please contact Tina Fox on 0151 608 1595 or info@vegetarianforlife.org.uk