The 3h Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £256,850 (expenditure 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 4 weeks for initial response; 4 weeks after documentation submitted
• Grant Range: £250 - £550
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (excluding Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Eire)

Contact Details

Website: www.the3hfoundation.org.uk

Email: info@the3hfoundation.org.uk | 3hgrants@the3hfoundation.org.uk

Phone: 01892 860207

Address: B2 Speldhurst Business Park, Langton Road, Speldhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 0AQ

Office Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9am to 3pm

Overview

The 3H Foundation (formerly known as 3H Fund - Helping Hands for Holidays) was established in 1975 and has been supporting people with disabilities and carers for nearly 50 years. The charity is registered under number 286306 and operates as a company limited by guarantee (01690253). With an annual expenditure of £256,850 (2024), the foundation focuses exclusively on providing respite opportunities through holiday grants, group holidays, carer spa days, and youth programmes. The organization is staffed by just four employees and supported by seven volunteer trustees, making it a small but focused charity. Their patron is Dr Karen Darke MBE, a London 2012 Paralympics silver medallist and Rio 2016 gold medallist in hand-cycling, appointed in July 2020.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Holiday Grants (for people with disabilities): £250 - £550

The foundation's flagship programme established in 2000 provides grants to low-income families with a disabled member to organize their own UK holiday. The grant covers accommodation costs only and is paid directly to the chosen venue via bank transfer. Applications are accepted when the programme is open (periodically throughout the year based on funding availability). One grant per household per programme year.

Carer Respite Grants: £250 - £300

Awards grants to main carers for UK holidays taken without the person they care for, ensuring genuine respite from caring duties. Payment is made directly to accommodation providers via bank transfer. One grant per individual/family per programme year, with a two-year waiting period before reapplication.

Group Holidays Programme

Provides subsidised group holidays for adults and young people with physical disabilities, supported by volunteer carers, giving beneficiaries the opportunity for a holiday independent from their day-to-day carers.

TeensPLUS Programme

Supports teenagers and young people aged 13-25 with disabilities and young carers through funded days out, group activities, and home-based challenges to combat social isolation.

Carer Support Programme

Offers carers respite spa days at chosen spa hotels around the country, including welcome soft drink, 60-minute treatment, 2-course lunch, spa swimming pool access, and afternoon tea. Also provides pamper hampers.

Priority Areas

• People with mental, physical, or learning disabilities (no age limit)
• People with life-limiting illnesses
• Main carers of people receiving PIP/DLA/AA
• Families on means-tested benefits with no additional undeclared income
• UK residents (living in UK for 6+ months)
• Recipients of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Recipients of Carer's Allowance

What They Don't Fund

• Holidays outside the UK (including Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Eire)
• Transport costs or holiday activities (accommodation only)
• Online booking platforms (Airbnb, Booking.com, TripAdvisor) - they cannot pay these services
• Applicants who have taken or booked a holiday in the current grant programme year
• Households with unclear or suspicious financial activity in bank statements
• Venues that do not accept bank transfer payments

Ready to write a winning application for The 3h Foundation?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (7 trustees, none receive remuneration)

• Dave Pate - Chairman
• Nicci Levy - Deputy Chair
• Stephen Clark - Trustee
• Tony Lavender - Trustee
• Eric Maude - Trustee
• John Moreland - Trustee

Staff (4 employees)

• Corina Rumsey - Charity Manager
• Suzanne Vidamo - Grants Administrator
• Claire Sanderson - Operations and Marketing Lead
• Sarah Dean - Corporate and Trusts Fundraiser

Patron

• Dr Karen Darke MBE (since July 2020) - London 2012 Paralympics silver medallist and Rio 2016 gold medallist in hand-cycling

Ambassadors

• Callie-Ann Warrington - Paralympic silver medallist in S10 100m Butterfly
• Carrie-Ann Lightley - Accessible travel advocate and founder of a UK accessible travel blog

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through an online application form on the foundation's website or via a printable form. The grant programme operates periodically based on funding availability - the foundation advises applicants to regularly check their website for announcements when the programme reopens.

Application Process Steps:

1. Submit Application: Complete the online or printed form with all questions fully answered
2. Initial Response: Wait up to 4 weeks for contact if you meet criteria and funding is available
3. Provide Evidence: Submit all required documentation by the deadline given (incomplete applications are automatically declined)
4. Decision: Receive decision within 4 weeks of submitting all documentation
5. Accept Grant: Respond by phone, email, or letter by the specified acceptance date

Critical Warning: “There is no guarantee that your application will be successful...therefore, holidays should not be booked until you have received a grant offer in writing.”

Required Documentation

For Holiday Grants:

• Medical letter (dated within 12 months) from non-family professional (GP, Health Worker, Social Worker, Hospital Consultant) confirming disability, name, and address
• Current benefit statements (Universal Credit, ESA, Pension Credit, Carers Allowance, Housing, DLA/PIP)
• One month recent bank statements (within 3 months) for all household adult accounts showing account holder name and address

For Carer Grants:

• Carer's award letter
• Income proof (Universal Credit, ESA, Pension Credit, JSA, PIP/DLA statements)
• One month's bank statements for all household adults' accounts (dated within 3 months, showing name and address)

Important: “Unfortunately, we are unable to progress applications without the required documentation” and “incomplete forms will be declined without prior notification.”

Decision Timeline

• Initial response: Up to 4 weeks after application submission
• Final decision: Within 4 weeks after all documentation is received
• Total timeline: Approximately 8 weeks from application to decision (assuming documentation is submitted promptly)

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose success rates or the number of applications received versus grants awarded. They note that “funding is limited” and “we try to help as many people as possible,” suggesting competitive demand. The application guidance emphasizes that “there is no entitlement to a grant and all cases are assessed on an individual basis.”

Reapplication Policy

Holiday Grants: Only one grant may be awarded to a household within a grant programme year. Applicants can reapply in future programme years if they continue to meet eligibility criteria.

Carer Grants: Once awarded a carer grant, individuals are ineligible to reapply for two complete years.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's detailed guidance documents, successful applications demonstrate:

Complete and Timely Documentation

The foundation is emphatic about this requirement: “any applications missing information by the deadline will be automatically declined.” Successful applicants provide all requested evidence by stated deadlines. The grants team states they “are unable to provide individual assistance with completing the application form. Applicants who require help are advised to seek support from a family member, carer or Citizens Advice.”

Straightforward Financial Records

Bank statements must show clear, verifiable income sources. The foundation cannot process applications with “unclear or numerous deposits requiring investigation.” Holiday-related transactions (hotel payments, flights, currency exchange) trigger automatic cancellation, as these suggest the applicant has already booked a holiday.

Genuine Financial Need

Applicants must be receiving means-tested benefits with no additional undeclared income. All household adult bank accounts must be disclosed, demonstrating transparency about financial circumstances.

Proper Venue Selection

Contact holiday providers by telephone before booking to confirm they accept bank transfers. The foundation “cannot pay them because they do not accept bank transfers” to online agents like Airbnb or Booking.com. This is a technical requirement that can derail otherwise qualified applications.

Authentic Respite Need (for Carer Grants)

Carer grant applicants must be taking the break “without the person you care for,” ensuring genuine respite from caring duties. The person cared for must receive PIP/DLA/AA, and the applicant must receive Carer's Allowance.

Common Reasons for Rejection:

• Missing evidence by deadline
• Suspicious financial activity
• Incomplete forms
• False or misleading information
• Unclear bank statements
• Holiday already booked before grant approval
• Venue doesn't accept bank transfers

Unique Insight: Unlike many grant-makers, this foundation's rejection criteria are highly operational rather than strategic - most failures stem from documentation issues, payment method incompatibility, or premature holiday booking rather than lack of mission alignment. This suggests that qualified applicants who follow instructions carefully have better chances of success.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Don't book before approval: The foundation explicitly warns that holidays must not be booked until written grant approval is received - this is a major cause of application failure
• Documentation is non-negotiable: Incomplete applications are automatically declined without notification; ensure all evidence is submitted by stated deadlines
• Verify payment compatibility early: Contact accommodation providers by phone to confirm they accept bank transfers before including them in your application - online booking platforms are not supported
• Clean bank statements matter: Financial records must show straightforward income; unclear deposits or holiday-related transactions can trigger automatic rejection
• Seek help with applications: The grants team cannot assist with form completion, so applicants needing support should seek help from family, carers, or Citizens Advice before submitting
• One grant per household/individual per cycle: Plan applications carefully as successful recipients cannot reapply for 1-2 years depending on grant type
• Monitor the website for reopening: The programme operates periodically based on funding availability; regular checks are essential as there are no fixed application deadlines

References

• The 3H Foundation - Official Website -
• About Us - The 3H Foundation -
• Holiday Grants - The 3H Foundation -
• Holiday Grant Guidance - The 3H Foundation -
• Carer Grant Guidance - The 3H Foundation -
• Contact - The 3H Foundation -
• Charity Commission - The 3H Foundation (286306) -
• WellChild - The 3H Foundation -