PRACTICAL & FINANCIAL SUPPORT FUND
Help with a one-off cost, or a piece of equipment.
A single fund covering two kinds of request: an urgent one-off cost that's standing in your way, or help getting a new piece of equipment you need. Open to anyone living with muscular dystrophy (or a related neuromuscular condition), or their carer or family member — not just people already connected to MDC.
Hardship support
A one-off cost that's stopping you from accessing support or managing day to day — transport to an appointment, an urgent essential bill, or a similar necessary cost.
Equipment support
Help getting a new item you need. This isn't a secondhand exchange scheme — and where equipment is available free through the council's Occupational Therapy team, we'll always check that route with you first.
HOW IT WORKS
From request to decision.
01
Get in touch
Use the form below, call, or speak to us in person at a support session — whichever is easiest for you.
02
A real conversation
Everyone gets a phone call or in-person chat before a decision — not just a form processed in silence.
03
A decision, quickly
We aim to decide within 48–72 hours, so support that matters urgently actually arrives that way.
04
Paid directly where possible
Wherever we can, we pay the supplier, taxi firm, or biller directly — you’ll get confirmation once it’s done.
This means everyone is treated the same way, whether it's your first ever contact with MDC or your fiftieth — proportionate checks rather than requiring proof of prior involvement.
MAKE A REQUEST
Tell us what you need.
Prefer to talk it through first? Call us on 0800 099 1000, available 24/7 — or use the form below.
QUESTIONS
Before you apply.
Do I need to already be involved with MDC?+
No. This fund is open to anyone living with muscular dystrophy (or a related neuromuscular condition), or their carer or family member — whether or not you’ve been in touch with us before.
What counts as a hardship cost?+
A one-off cost that’s getting in the way of accessing support or managing day to day — transport to an appointment, an urgent essential bill, or a similar necessary cost.
What if the equipment I need is available free through the council?+
We’ll always check this with you first. A lot of equipment and home adaptations are available free through the council’s Community Occupational Therapy Team, which accepts self-referral. Where that applies, we’ll point you to it, or fund a stop-gap while an assessment is pending if the wait is long.
What evidence do I need?+
A quote or invoice for the cost, proportional to the size of the request. For larger requests, we may also ask for a short confirmation of your condition from a GP, OT, consultant, or MDUK — not full medical records, just enough to confirm genuine need.
Is there a limit on how much I can request?+
Yes — the fund has caps per request and per person, so it can reach as many people as possible. We’ll talk through what’s realistic with you directly.
Will my request definitely be approved?+
Decisions are discretionary and based on the information available, including the conversation we have with you. We’ll always explain the outcome, but we can’t guarantee approval.
Not sure this is the right fit?
Get in touch anyway — we'd rather talk it through than have you miss out on something that could help.