Variety, the Children's Charity

Charity Number: 209259

Annual Expenditure: £5.9M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £5.9 million (2023 expenditure)
  • Annual Income: £5.5 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not specified - rolling assessment
  • Grant Range: Most grants under £5,000 (equipment); Varies (wheelchairs); 65% subsidy (Sunshine Coaches)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide

Contact Details

Website: www.variety.org.uk

Phone: 020 7428 8100

Email:

Overview

Founded in 1949, Variety, the Children's Charity (registered charity 209259) exists to improve the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children and young people across the UK. In 2023, Variety supported 160,399 children through wheelchair grants, specialist equipment grants, Sunshine Coaches, Great Days Out, and medical care. With total income of £5.5 million and expenditure of £5.9 million in 2023, the charity maintains a strong national presence, reaching children in 132 towns and cities. The charity works with 31 corporate partners, 21 trusts and foundations, and 8 other charities. Under the leadership of Chairman Andrew Carnie and CEO Laurence Guinness, Variety focuses on providing practical support that makes tangible differences to children's lives, emphasising mobility, independence, and access to opportunities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Individual Equipment Grants - Most grants under £5,000

Applications accepted on a rolling basis via application form with healthcare professional support letter and equipment quote. There is no lower or upper limit on grant amounts, though most grants are under £5,000 and many requests are for sums under £1,000. Variety funds a broad range of specialist equipment including hoists (in-home and mobile), orthopaedic beds and seating, car seats, sensory equipment, walkers and gait trainers, communication aids, adaptive bathing/toileting equipment, sleep systems, specialist sports equipment, defibrillators, oxygen generators, and outdoor play equipment.

Wheelchair Grants - Variable amounts (full or partial funding)

Rolling applications accepted for lightweight manual wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs, sports wheelchairs, and all-terrain wheelchairs. Custom-fitted to individual needs. Requires application form, healthcare professional support letter, and equipment quote. For sports wheelchairs, an additional letter from the sports club is required.

Sunshine Coaches - 65% subsidy

Wheelchair-accessible minibuses for SEND schools and non-profit organisations. Available in 4 configurations: 13 and 17-seater with rear tail lift, 14 and 17-seater without tail lift. Applicant organisations contribute approximately 35% of costs through fundraising. Applications accepted at any time; organisations don't need full funding in place before applying. Over 5,800 Sunshine Coaches have been funded across the UK.

Organisation Grants - Currently closed

Previously offered grants averaging £250-£600 for youth clubs affiliated with national youth organisations (such as Ambition, UK Youth, or Association of Boys and Girls Clubs) for equipment costing over £1,000. Uniformed organisations not funded. Programme suspended due to increased demand for individual grants.

Priority Areas

  • Children and young people (under 19) with recognised disabilities or long-term health conditions
  • Low or no income families
  • Mobility and independence support
  • Educational and recreational access
  • Sensory and communication needs
  • SEND schools and non-profit organisations supporting disadvantaged young people

What They Don't Fund

  • Cash grants (all funding goes directly to suppliers)
  • Equipment available through local wheelchair services
  • Uniformed youth organisations (for organisation grants)
  • Organisations not affiliated with national youth bodies (for youth club grants)
  • Applications for children over 19 years old
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Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Andrew Carnie - Chairman (since January 1, 2026)

CEO of Soho House & Co, bringing extensive experience leading global brands. Andrew has demonstrated longstanding commitment to supporting disadvantaged young people through his previous charity role as a Trustee of Centrepoint, where he fundraised through ultra-endurance events including expeditions to the North and South Poles.

Laurence Guinness - Chief Executive Officer (since August 2024)

“No child should ever miss out on the wonderful experiences, excitement and friendship that promotes their learning and development. Every child should receive the support and opportunities they need to flourish, no matter what.”

Past Leadership

Professor Jonathan Shalit OBE - Chairman (2023-2025)

Led the charity through significant growth, with Variety reaching over 160,000 children and young people in 2024. "It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve as Chairman of Variety. I'm delighted to hand over the reins of a thriving and ambitious charity to Andrew."

Tushar Prabhu - Co-Chair (2023-2025)

Trustees

Stef Reid MBE, Tesula Mohindra, Candice Sammeroff, Andrew Geddes, Ben Whittle, Dilly Kitchlew Williamson, Talya Shalson, Helen Davies, Tania Bryer OBE

How to Apply to Variety, The Children's Charity

How to Apply

Individual Equipment and Wheelchair Grants:

  1. Complete application form (available on website)
  2. Obtain letter of support from relevant healthcare professional (occupational therapist, physiotherapist, or paediatrician)
  3. Get quote for equipment from preferred supplier
  4. Submit via email or post

Sunshine Coaches:

  1. Complete application form
  2. Email to coaches@variety.org.uk
  3. No requirement to have full funding in place before applying

Application Type: Rolling - applications accepted at any time

Pre-Application Support: Available - contact grants team to discuss speculative applications on 020 7428 8100

Decision Timeline

Applications are assessed on a rolling basis by volunteer assessors. Specific decision timeframes are not publicly disclosed. Each application is evaluated on its own merit.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. In 2023, 143 children received wheelchair and equipment grants.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified in publicly available information. Contact grants team for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Assessment Criteria

Variety explicitly states that each application is assessed based on:

  • Financial situation - preference for low or no income families
  • Frequency of equipment use - how often the equipment will be utilised
  • Maintenance costs - how ongoing costs will be covered
  • Safe storage - appropriate storage arrangements
  • Impact on the child - the difference the equipment will make to the child's life

Documentation Requirements

  • Healthcare professional support is essential - applications must include a letter from an occupational therapist, physiotherapist, or paediatrician
  • Detailed equipment quote from supplier
  • For sports wheelchairs, additional letter from sports club demonstrating engagement
  • Clear demonstration of need and impact

Success Story Example

"A wheelchair from Variety has given Alfie a lot more freedom. He can now finally use the family's garden on his own, as he can move around it with ease."

What Variety Values

The charity emphasises practical, tangible support that makes measurable differences to children's lives. CEO Laurence Guinness states their mission is focused on ensuring children “receive the support and opportunities they need to flourish, no matter what.” The focus is on:

  • Independence and mobility
  • Access to education and recreation
  • Social inclusion and confidence building
  • Practical equipment that enables participation

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Apply with professional backing - Healthcare professional support letters are mandatory; ensure these clearly articulate the child's needs, the equipment's benefits, and why statutory services cannot provide it
  • Demonstrate financial need - Variety prioritises low or no income families; be transparent about financial circumstances
  • Show impact and frequency of use - Clearly explain how the equipment will be used regularly and the specific difference it will make to the child's independence, education, social participation, or quality of life
  • Rolling applications are advantageous - No fixed deadlines means you can apply when ready; don't rush incomplete applications
  • Be specific about equipment - Include detailed quotes and specifications; demonstrate research into appropriate options
  • Emphasise practical outcomes - Focus on mobility, independence, access to education/recreation, and social inclusion rather than abstract benefits
  • For Sunshine Coaches, start before full funding - Organisations don't need 35% contribution in place before applying; Variety team can advise on fundraising strategies

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Apply with professional backing - Healthcare professional support letters are mandatory; ensure these clearly articulate the child's needs, the equipment's benefits, and why statutory services cannot provide it
  • Demonstrate financial need - Variety prioritizes low or no income families; be transparent about financial circumstances
  • Show impact and frequency of use - Clearly explain how the equipment will be used regularly and the specific difference it will make to the child's independence, education, social participation, or quality of life
  • Rolling applications are advantageous - No fixed deadlines means you can apply when ready; don't rush incomplete applications
  • Be specific about equipment - Include detailed quotes and specifications; demonstrate research into appropriate options
  • Emphasize practical outcomes - Focus on mobility, independence, access to education/recreation, and social inclusion rather than abstract benefits
  • For Sunshine Coaches, start before full funding - Organizations don't need 35% contribution in place before applying; Variety team can advise on fundraising strategies

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