Objective of the Programme
The programme aims to help meet the needs of children in serious need of special medical attention, of a type not available in Barbados, or not available under the government medical programme. Eligible children may be up to the age of 18 years, who are resident within Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.
How the Programme Works
Requests can be made directly by parents or guardians of the child or by recommendation through a doctor or other professional care giver.
What you can apply for
Applications must be for cases which will be of clear and direct benefit to a child or children. In cases where the medical attention is administered overseas, Variety will assist with travel and accommodation for one parent or guardian in a position to make medical decisions on behalf of the child. The request may be for funding for surgery, therapy, equipment, travel or accommodation up to two weeks.
Variety is unable to fund:
- repayment of loans
- hire, rental costs or down payments
- administrative/salary costs
How to apply
Your Application by form with full supporting medical or educational documentation will be reviewed by the Medical Appeals Committee. The Committee promises to review all appeals although not all may be successful.
In some cases, the Appeals Chair or the Executive Director may contact you to discuss your application more fully.
The Committee recommendations are then put to the Treasurer and Executive of Variety the Children’s Charity for approval.
Grants are awarded based on invoices presented and at the discretion of the Appeals Committee
Payments are usually made on receipt of invoices from the supplier/medical clinic.
The applicant must confirm they will take responsibility to arrange for the maintenance and insurance of any equipment funded by Variety the Children’s Charity.
All appeals are considered on their individual merits, and grants made are dependent on the availability of funds to the Charity at any particular time.
Notification of the outcome of applications will be made directly to the applicant, and the decision of Variety the Children’s Charity is final.
Please Note
Applications for specialist items of equipment, i.e. walking frames, seating systems, specialist beds should be accompanied by a supporting letter from a Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist.
Quotations for equipment should accompany an application.
Programme Facts
- Variety has processed close to one hundred applications over the last seven years resulting in just as many lives saved
- The programme funds accommodation and air travel for one parent to accompany the child.
- Variety works with the World Pediatric Project to assist children with specialized surgeries and procedures not currently done in Barbados.
Please see appeal guidelines: 
Appeal Guidelines for Tent 73.pdf
Download the appeals application here: APPEALS APPLICATION FORM -updated June 2010.pdf