£18,000 for the Marvellous Family Support Service
What did the project do?
Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children’s Charity created the Marvellous Family Support Service to connect families of seriously ill children with expert help to access the financial help and benefits to which they are entitled.
These funds are vital in helping these families overcome the unique life challenges that come with having a child with a complex, incurable, lifelong illness - relieving the associated stress and anxiety caused by financial worries. The support service, delivered in partnership by Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity together with Citizens Advice Cardiff and Vale, allows Roald Dahl Specialist Nurses to refer families in for direct help with benefits forms, applying for grants, support with appeals and tribunals and to manage debt.
This included:
- Training support line staff on the unique challenges these families face
- Providing training for Roald Dahl Specialist Nurses about the service and the benefits available for families in their care
- Completing benefit entitlement checks for families
- Providing support and guidance to complete benefit applications, and advising on steps for mandatory reconsiderations or appeals.
What did families say?
“Bethan – our Roald Dahl Specialist Nurse - signposted me to the family support service to help me complete a PIP form for Hollie as she has turned 16. The contact with Megan (the benefits advisor) was very quick and easy. She was there to listen and advise about the PIP form and what information I needed to include which was invaluable, as the form was very large and required lots of thought. As a parent of a child with special needs and now some ongoing health needs, you get use to everything being ‘your normal’ and I found it so helpful talking through with Megan all the different areas of support which my daughter requires. This meant I could work out what additional support she has above what a ‘typical’ 16 year old needs. The service has been amazing for me in helping me get through the past few months, which I have found to be incredibly stressful and hard.”
Was there any feedback for the organisation?
Some families didn’t want to call the phone number to register for the service as they were concerned about the costs and time of doing this. As a result, the charity started a free SMS option allowing families to text ‘SUPPORT’ to a dedicated free number, to register their interest in using the service – allowing the charity to follow up and refer them to the Marvellous Family Support Service. This option is making the service more efficient and accessible for families.
Accessibility of the service was also supported through use of the ‘Language Line’ so that it is accessible to all families, regardless of language or geography.
Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity Registered Charity No: 1137409
Assura Community Fund is managed by Cheshire Community Foundation, Registered Charity No: 1143711