Apply for a grant
Subject to available funding, the current deadline for new grant applications is 22nd January 2027.
The V for Life grant scheme aims to help older vegans and vegetarians living in the UK who are in financial need maintain their healthy lifestyle, and/or to be as independent as possible.
V for Life invites applications from UK organisations that work with older people who may need this kind of assistance. Please note, applications from individuals are no longer accepted.
The V for Life grant scheme aims to help older vegans and vegetarians living in the UK who are in financial need maintain their healthy lifestyle, and/or to be as independent as possible.
V for Life invites applications from UK organisations that work with older people who may need this kind of assistance. Please note, applications from individuals are no longer accepted.
The scheme is not for cash grants, rather V for Life will purchase goods and services on behalf of the applicant (see examples in the case studies below).
We expect the supporting organisation or professional to know the beneficiary well and be able to give a clear and comprehensive assessment of their needs. Furthermore, they must be able to help provide robust evidence that the applicant is vegan or vegetarian.
V for Life accepts applications from the following types of UK organisation:
- Health and social care practitioners
- Care and Repair
- Charities
- Faith-based groups
- Mutual aid groups
- Community larders
- Citizen’s advice teams
Deadlines for applications fall four times per year.
Applications must include evidence for all three elements of the eligibility criteria.
Accepted forms of evidence include:
Age
Birth certificate, passport, statutory pension documentation or pension credit documentation (or similar benefit).
Financial status
Documentary evidence of benefits the applicant is currently in receipt of, or a bank statement.
Vegan/Vegetarian
Written confirmation from the organisation submitting the application that they know the applicant well enough to be able to confirm their vegan/vegetarian status.
Evidence must include proof of age, financial status, and that the applicant is a practising vegan/vegetarian. Scanned or photographed documentation must be current, have the applicant’s name, address, and any official letterheading clearly visible.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a grant, the supporting organisation or professional must be able to provide evidence that:
- The person whose application they are supporting is aged 60 or over.
- They are in financial need.
- They have been a practising vegan or vegetarian for at least a year.
The application must also be accompanied by a covering letter from the submitting organisation, describing their relationship to the applicant and how long they have been in contact. It will need to confirm that the applicant is vegan or vegetarian.
The letter must also include as much information as possible about the applicant’s situation and how the grant will help. It must describe exactly what they wish to apply for and be accompanied by three estimates/quotes for all items and services requested.
V for Life’s Trustees will aim to make a decision within 6 weeks of each deadline, although further supporting information may be required. For this reason, the V for Life grant scheme is not suitable for emergency financial support.
More information on how to apply can be found in the Eligibility Requirements shaded box and will be included with the application form.
A history of the grants scheme.
The Vegetarian and Vegan Fund was launched in 2010 and we were pleased to make our first award in May of that year. This first grant was for a stairlift to enable a vegetarian lady to move out of care and back to her own home, so she could resume independent living. Since then we have helped many more older vegans and vegetarians to keep their independence. You can read some of their stories below.
Further information
In order that the grants fund can be used most effectively, we request applicants, and their representatives check whether their needs can be met through statutory service provision or community resources (e.g., a local care and repair service) prior to making their application to V for Life.
There are many medical conditions where equipment should only be provided following assessment by a health professional (e.g., occupational therapist, physiotherapist) to ensure the equipment is right for that individual. Applications for such equipment will only be supported if we are able to contact the professional concerned to discuss the specific circumstances and requirement.
Items requested should clearly link to a defined need and/or obvious enhancement of the quality of the applicant’s life.
Applications will not normally be considered from anyone who has already benefitted from the grant scheme within the last 3 years.
- Applications will not be considered until all the documentary evidence (as stated above) is available.
- Grants are provided for ‘one-off’ purchases and are not suitable for ongoing expenditure.
- Grants are normally subject to an upper limit of £3,000 for individuals, but this may vary if the grant would benefit more than one eligible person.
- Each application will be judged on its individual merit by the Trustees of V for Life, whose decision is final.
- Applications will be accepted for consideration four times a year.
- Applicants will be expected to provide consent (if application approved) to providing quotes and/or photographic evidence of the benefit experienced by obtaining support from the grant. These are for the purposes of promotion or publicity relating to V for Life’s services. These can be placed in the public domain in a manner that will protect your privacy but will require direct contact with our staff team.
Please ensure you have read through the eligibility criteria and guidance prior to proceeding to making an application. Doing so will help us to consider your application most effectively and timeously. If you have any questions, supporting organisations can contact us at info@vegetarianforlife.uk.
Start a grant application
Supporting organisations can start an application by completing the short form below with the applicant’s details and your own. We’ll then send the full application form to the supporting organisation.
How our grants have helped
Here are just some of the older vegans and vegetarians who have received a V for Life grant.
Peter
Peter applied for a grant for a new mobility scooter and was delighted with the freedom it gave him.
My mobility scooter has allowed me to move around more easily and safely, significantly improving my independence and quality of life. Thank you V for Life!
Lorna
Lorna applied for a grant for a scooter, electric hob, tumble dryer and laptop.
Thank you for the stove top. Being able to cook healthy meals for my family is a big blessing. We don't have to wait to wear dry clothes anymore, and its good to be checking for my health appointments on ‘My Chart’. My family sends a massive ‘Thank You!!’ to V for Life.
Kryztof
Kryztof applied for a grant for a scooter.
Thank you so very much for purchasing my Mobility Scooter, and also for the one I wanted. I can't quite believe that I was successful in my application. To say that my life will be a lot easier and that I won't be housebound is an understatement.
Maureen
Maureen applied for a grant for a cooker, rugs, and curtain poles.
Following the death of my daughter 2020, I soon after lost my home and found myself in social housing. l had nothing, but V for Life provided a grant...for carpets, curtain poles, but most amazingly a cooker! I love to cook, vegetarian of course! I cannot thank V for Life enough. Amazing!
Pauline
Pauline applied for a new fridge-freezer.
The new large fridge-freezer kindly supplied by VfL has made a tremendous and immediate improvement to our life. Now we have more capacity to keep food in stock, which has been desperately needed as getting to a supermarket regularly has been increasingly difficult due to Eric having Alzheimer’s. I am so very grateful to VfL for providing this upgrade to our situation. Many thanks to you all for this life-changing purchase!
Gary
Gary applied for a grant for a laptop and sofabed.
I received a computer and sofa bed from you. I'm extremely grateful for your help, I pray you can always help people.
Margaret
Margaret applied for a grant for a television.
I applied to the V for Life grant scheme for a television as mine had broken. I supplied information on the TV of my choice and was overwhelmed with the result. They assisted me by ordering it, and arranged delivery and installation to suit me. I am totally delighted and very thankful indeed..
Suzanne
Suzanne applied for a grant towards the purchase and installation of an immersion heater, as she had no hot water in a property she was moving into.
I applied to V for Life requesting help with obtaining an immersion cylinder and arranging for a plumber to install it. I now have hot water!! I have been a vegetarian for 45 years, and am so pleased that they could assist.
Khalda
Khalda applied for a grant for a cooker to help her live an independent life.
The charity awarded me a grant for a cooker which has made a major positive impact on my life. The cooker enables my carers to cook and provide me with freshly cooked warm meals and enables me to live independently at home and in surroundings I am very familiar and comfortable with.
Inma
Inma applied for a grant for a cooker, fridge freezer, laptop, and robotic vacuum cleaner.
I very much appreciate how the grant has been spent to provide me with these things. The old fridge was broken and the cooker all rusty after a flooding in December 2020.Now after being awarded the grant I have a nice and fresh cooker and fridge. Because I have got osteoarthritis that has reduced my mobility , the laptop is helping me to do all the shopping online, use social media to be in contact with friends and family, and research in google. And the robot vacuum is very helpful to keep my floor clean now that I haven't got the mobility to use an ordinary vacuum .Thank you very much again for all these things that have made an improvement to my life, I haven't got the words to express my appreciation.
Jennifer
Jennifer applied for a grant for a mobility scooter so she could go out with her family.
This lightweight Luggie scooter has changed my life. It means I can get out and about and experience life again. We had a hoist fitted to our car so it is easy to get in and out. I will always be grateful to V for Life.
Larysa
Larysa applied for a grant for a laptop so she could keep connected with the world, and access vegetarian recipes.
Thank you so much once again for the computer, I am very happy and am still in shock at how amazing you guys are at V for Life! It really has given me a new wave of independence!
