The Parish Support Office is able to offer funding via churches and other organisations in Derbyshire advocating on behalf of lone parents in particular need.  

Amounts up to £150 can be applied for by writing to Lone Parent Fund, Derby Church House, Full Street, Derby, DE1 3DR marking the envelope and letter confidential or apply by email to Gareth.Greenwood@derby.anglican.org  Please include a brief description of what the grant will be used to purchase.  Please also include the client's initials, so that we can use these as part of the BACS reference, enabling your organisation to identify any award payment apperaing in their bank account.

The Lone Parent Fund provides emergency grants for lone parents, usually to assist with buying an essential domestic item. A referral letter or email is required from a member of the clergy, or staff of an appropriate voluntary organisation. Applications will not be accepted directly from the person who will benefit from the grant.

The definition of a lone parent for the purpose of this grant: 

a) A parent who has care as a single person without the resident support of an adult spouse or partner (which could be demonstrated for example, by their receipt of lone parent element of child benefit for that child and a tenancy in one adult persons name) and excluding a parent who remains part of a couple but whose partner or spouse works away from the family home or is temporarily absent. 

b) The lone parent must be living with and be the carer of a son, or daughter, or be the guardian of at least one child, or young person resident in their home and placed in their permanent care who is 18 years of age or younger.

Please include bank details of the referring organisation, as grants will not be made direct to the lone parent. The referrer is expected to be able to vouch for the genuineness of the application and ensure the money is spent according to the application. Any evidence of this (copy of receipt) should be forwarded to the office. Applications are dealt with as soon as reasonably possible and with care to keep applicants names confidential.

Grants are typically made where a family have fled to emergency accommodation because of domestic violence or similar danger and they are in need of essentials which had to be left behind. Grants are also made where there are additional pressures or vulnerabilities for the family e.g. children who have been victims of abuse, a member of the family has a disability with significant impact to family life, the active parent is particularly young, or the family have had recent experience of homelessness / temporary accommodation. Grants are not made for reoccurring outgoings such as purchasing school uniforms, and also not made to contribute to paying off accumulated debts.

We welcome applications on behalf of lone parents of the Christian faith, other faiths, or who have no faith allegiance. Please mark them as confidential. Where the agency or worker is unfamiliar to us you should expect that we will make checks to ensure the application is bona fide.

We are grateful for the donations made by Christian Groups and individuals across the Diocese which have supported this fund in recent years. Donations can be made to the Lone Parent Fund with cheques made payable to “Derby Diocesan Board of Finance”.