If you are a parent or carer and you are being made redundant by Karen Millen or Coast, our grants might be able to help your family.  

About our charity

Our grants provide essential items for children of UK fashion and textile employees who are struggling financially. It's why our charity was founded back in 1853.

If you are a parent or carer of a child (aged 0-18 years) and you have been working for Karen Millen or Coast for at least one year within the last nine years, you might be able to apply for a grant for your child. Please read on, to find out more about our grants. 

How we can help your family

Our grants can help to fund essential items for your children such as school uniform and clothing for the year ahead, or essential household items. 

It doesn't matter where you work in the business, from store, to concession, head office, to warehouse.  You can apply if your redundancy may cause you financial difficulties. 

You might want to apply if you have been affected in any of the following ways:

• You are currently facing arrears on your household bills or have debt
• You have limited access to savings to cover your loss of earnings
• You have not been offered a transfer to another placement (this may apply to contracted staff or some concession staff)

You may not feel your financial situation will be negatively affected by your redundancy, however you might be coping with family situations which place a strain on your finances, such as:

• You are caring for a child or family member with ill health or additional needs
• You have recently suffered a relationship breakdown, separation or divorce 
• You are a kinship carer
• You have suffered the bereavement of a close family member

If any of these situations are causing you financial difficulties, please click through to the next step and see what we can fund.

Next: What we fund 

When we found out the company was closing, it was like someone had taken a sledgehammer to my life. My son needed equipment for his college course and with no savings, I had no idea how I would afford it. Claire, Mum of Sam. Read Claire's story