Our story

The Care Workers’ Charity was founded in 2009 with the objective of supporting current and former care workers with one-off crisis grants. In 2018 we awarded over £150,000 in grants to almost 400 care workers – nearly four times as many people as in 2017. In 2019 we expect to award even more.

We know this changes lives – every month the people we help tell us how our grant has enabled them to face the future with renewed hope. Our efforts were recognised at the 2018 Charity Times Awards –  we were the ‘Change Project of the Year’ nomination winner and at the Third Sector Awards, where we were shortlisted in the ‘Charity Chief Executive’ category.

While financial help can be all that is needed in some cases, we recognise that many issues faced by the individuals working in care cannot be fixed by grants alone. Throughout 2019 and beyond, we will work with care workers and care providers to tackle these issues, aiming to create the support structures that people need whilst actively promoting the immense contribution that the UK’s care workers make to our society.

There are almost 2 million care workers in the UK, contributing to one of the largest workforces, and caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

Care workers look after our society’s most vulnerable individuals, often for little reward. They spend their careers assisting others, but when circumstances change, sometimes it is the carers who need some help.

We provide crisis grants to people have worked in a paid role in the UK’s care sector and are involved in or support the provision of care. This includes people who have been involved in residential social care, home care, supported living care or day care.

We offer two types of grants, typically limited to £500:

• Essential needs grants

One-off payment towards the cost of an item or a need necessary to sustain the basic health, or to improve a poor quality of life of the person or family – for example, essential appliances, keeping a home warm, essential household requirements or health improvement aids.

• Crisis grants

One-off payment to support someone experiencing an unforeseen or life changing circumstance, such as bereavement, illness or injury and who has no resources to meet associated costs which could include funeral expenses, moving home, travel to hospital expenses, home repairs.

For more information and to find out if you are eligible, please visit Apply for a Grant page.

A UK where no care worker faces financial hardship alone.