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Mummy's Star Small Grant Programme is currently closed to new applications. However, our Support Team remains available to help you identify and access other sources of financial support.  

grant application guidelines

Who we support 

Mummy's Star supports women and birthing people diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy, or in the 12 months after their baby is born.

We are here for you if you were:

  • Diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy

  • Diagnosed with cancer within 12 months of birth

  • Diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy and later experienced loss*


* If you were diagnosed with cancer during your pregnancy and later experienced a loss with that pregnancy, including TFMR, stillbirth or neonatal death, or you have been diagnosed with a cancerous form of Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD), we are here for you.
 

About our grants programme

Mummy’s Star operates a small grants programme to support mums and birthing-parents residing in the UK and Ireland who have been diagnosed with cancer in and around pregnancy. Our grants programme is designed to provide financial relief and breathing space for families during this incredibly difficult and challenging time. 

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The maximum grant is £350.

 

You must refer for support before you apply  

You cannot apply for a grant directly. To access a grant application, you must first refer for our support.

We know how much stress families are already under when they come to us, so we use a single referral route rather than a separate application process. Once you have referred:

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  1. A member of our Support Team will contact you.

  2. They will explain what information we need.

  3. They will send you the grant application form.

 

To refer yourself or someone else, please complete the relevant form: 

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What you will need to provide

Once connected with one of our Information and Support Workers, you will need to provide the following documents: 

 

  • Medical confirmation of your cancer diagnosis and pregnancy 

  • Proof of name 

  • Proof of your UK or Irish address 

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If your diagnosis was made after giving birth, or if you're applying for a grant post-partum, we may also require a copy of your baby’s birth certificate. 

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You will also need to give a clear, detailed breakdown of the financial support you are asking for, with accurate costs.

 

How we handle your documents

Copies of your ID and medical evidence are deleted once we have reviewed them. Information we need in order to assess your application and provide support is kept securely in line with our data retention policy. Grant application records are retained for 7 years.
 

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Eligibility period  

So that grants are awarded at the point they are most needed, your application must reach us within your eligibility period. Your eligibility period depends on your circumstances:​​​​

Diagnosed during pregnancy 

You have until your baby turns 1 years old, to submit your grant application.

Diagnosed within 12 months of birth

You have 12 months from the date of your cancer diagnosis, to submit your grant application.

Diagnosed during pregnancy and later experience loss

You have 12 months from the date of loss, to submit your grant application.

If you are close to the end of your eligibility period, please contact us as early as you can so we can help you get your application in on time.​

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How grants are paid 

To ensure the grant benefits the intended recipient, grants must be paid to:

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  • a UK or Irish personal bank account in the mum/ birthing parents’ name.

  • an account in the partner/family members name with evidence that the mum/birthing person is unable to access her account due to ill health either from a health professional or evidence of power of attorney

  • a body acting on behalf of or actively supporting the mum/birthing person.

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If none of the above are possible for any reason, Trustees reserve the right to buy the equipment/items/vouchers as an alternative and will arrange delivery to the person requesting the grant.

 

Eligible costs  

We do not provide an exhaustive list of what is eligible in our grants programme as every family has different needs and therefore each application will be considered individually. We always recommend speaking to us prior to applying to check and avoid any delays.  

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These are just some examples of the types of things that we have previously funded which have helped families in this situation:  

 

  • Recompense for partners having to take unpaid leave to support at home beyond their existing leave/paternity leave. (must provide proof of income)  

  • Travel costs to appointments.  

  • Support which may help with bonding with the new baby such as costs of baby massage classes, aqua classes etc.    

  • Counselling or complimentary services recognised by the NHS. 

  • Payment for additional child-minding required around appointments or pay for home childcare  
    such as a nanny for a day a week etc. around appointments or post-treatment days.  

  • Payment for a cleaner in the home.  

  • An iPad or similar device to allow children to speak to Mum when in hospital overnight etc.  

  • Private purchase of donor breast milk (if your hospital is unwilling to fund it).  

  • Family Bonding trips and activities 

  • Holidays (in the case of a secondary/terminal diagnosis).  

  • Prescription charges (the Republic of Ireland only).  

   

Ineligible costs  

While we would like to be able to provide every family with grants to support those things that will bring them the greatest relief, we do have to rule out certain costs to be able to support as many families as possible.  

   

The following items cannot be funded through a grant:  

 

  • Cost of medical treatment.  

  • Holidays (except if a secondary cancer diagnosis is received).  

  • Purchase of vehicles.  

  • Purchase of non-essential electrical equipment for the home.  

  • Payment of Rent or Mortgage Payments, Interest payments (e.g., on unsecured debt), TV licence fees etc.  

  • Prescription charges (except in the Republic of Ireland).  

  • Costs for services and items covered by benefits.  

    

Application process  

Please complete our self-referral form on our website or ask someone to do it on your behalf then one of our Information and Support Workers will get in touch with you to guide you through the grant application process. 

 

Once your application is submitted and processed, it will be reviewed by our trustees. Decisions are made by a simple majority vote. In the event of a tie, the Chair will cast the deciding vote. 

 

The usual processing time is three weeks, but in periods of high demand, we will inform you if it may take longer. 

 

You will be notified within one week of the decision in writing by email. If you have been successful, we aim to make payment within three weeks.  

   

Applying again  

Due to high demand, we can only provide one grant per family.  

We advise speaking to us prior to any application being made either by you or a referrer.   

 

Unsuccessful applications  

If your application is unsuccessful, we will work with you to identify other potential sources of funding for the items in your application.    

If reapplying, any new application must be for something different to that of the previously unsuccessful one.  

 

We recommend you contact us prior to resubmitting an application.  

   

Receipts/Evaluation form  

If you are successful in receiving a grant, we will write to you 3/6 months after.  

At this point, we will ask you to fill in a simple evaluation form confirming what the grant was spent on and what relief this brought to you and your family and we may ask that you send us the receipts for any items purchased (where reasonable).  

 

Please note you will be asked on our evaluation form if you are happy for us to share your comments on our website/for use in publicity material. The purpose of this is so we can publicise, with your permission, the benefits that the Mummy’s Star Grants provide.  

 

FAQ 

Do you accept applications from people who are here on a visa? 
Yes, Mummy’s Star welcomes applications from mums/birthing parents residing in the UK or Ireland who are here on a visa. If the applicant meets the eligibility requirements by providing proof of name, proof of a UK or Irish address, proof of pregnancy, and a medical diagnosis of cancer in or around pregnancy, their application will be considered by the Mummy’s Star Board. 

 

Do you accept applications from people who do not have recourse to public funds? 
Yes, Mummy’s Star welcomes applications from mums/birthing parents residing in the UK or Ireland without recourse to public funds. If the applicant meets the eligibility requirements by providing proof of name, proof of a UK or Irish address, proof of pregnancy, and a medical diagnosis of cancer in or around pregnancy, their application will be considered by the Mummy’s Star Board. 

 

Contact us  

If you have any questions or need further information about the Mummy’s Star small grants programme, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at info@mummysstar.org  

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Policy Name: Grant Guidance      Issue date: 1 September 2026       Review date: September 2027

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