Overview  

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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Accessing a grant application 

We understand the stress and worry that families face when seeking support, and we are committed to making the process as simple as possible. To reduce any additional burden, we have moved to a referral system for accessing our grants programme. 

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You can now either self-refer or be referred by someone else (such as a healthcare provider, partner, family member or friend). Once your referral has been submitted, a member of our Support team will contact you to explain what information we need and provide you with the necessary application form. 

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Please get in touch with Mummy’s Star:  

• Self-Referral form  

• Third Party Referral form  
   

Eligibility  

To be eligible for our grant programme you must fit under at least one of the following as the charity focuses on supporting women and families where a:  

• Mother / birthing parent is diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy.  

• Mother / birthing parent is diagnosed with cancer within a year of giving birth.  

 

Note 1: If you are diagnosed with any form of cancer but then sadly the pregnancy cannot continue whether either due to natural or medically induced loss you are eligible for our grant support in the following 12 months (365 days). If you have experienced a loss within the 12 months (365 days) prior to your cancer diagnosis you are eligible for our support. We also support people who are diagnosed with cancerous forms of Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD). 

   

Note 2: Your grant application must be received before your child’s 1st birthday or 12 months (365 days) following loss   

 

Information required to support your application  

Mummy’s Star grant applications can only be submitted after a referral (either through self-referral or by a third party) and once you've been in contact with our Support Team. 

 

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

• Self-Referral form  

• Third Party Referral form  
   

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 

 

Post-partum applications
 

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. 

 

In line with our Privacy Policy, your ID and medical letter/diagnosis confirmation will be deleted once we have had sight. Details of your grant application will be retained for a period of 7 years, in line with our data retention policy.  

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Grant amount  

The maximum grant that can be applied for is £250. Applicants are advised that they will be required to provide a detailed outline of the financial support required include accurate and clear costs.   

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Payment of grants  

To ensure the grant benefits the intended recipient: 

• Grants must be paid into a UK or Irish personal bank account in the mum/ birthing parents’ name. 

• If they do not have a bank account in their name, vouchers may be offered as an alternative. 

 

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      Approval date: 4th February         Review date: January 2026