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Keeping your brain active

We're committed to improving the wellbeing of the engineering community worldwide and that includes supporting you to continue to learn throughout your life and keeping your brain active.

Supporting your learning

We provide specialist equipment to enable people to study. We also provide grants so that you can get to a club or activity that helps you maintain your curiosity in life. And if you or a family member has a learning difference, we have advice and tips to help.

Legal support 

We offer legal support to people who are trying to understand their rights in accessing specialist education. Legal support could also help those who need some advice on protecting their ideas.

Eligibility

If you or your partner have ever been an engineer and have less than £50,000 in savings we can help with care and disability grants.

And, if you or your partner has ever been an IET member with less than £16,000 in savings there may be other ways in which we can support you, get in touch with us for a  chat about how we can help make your situation easier.

Support information available to you

Disability and care grants

  • Equipment to support people with learning differences
  • Support to access hobbies and interests
  • Respite grants for carers
Visit disability and care grants

Legal support

  • Intellectual property
  • Education rights
  • Discrimination
Visit legal support

Financial support

  • Support for students balancing study/work/caring
  • Support for young carers
  • Funding regular and one-off expenses
Visit financial support

Your stories

louise coronavirus pandemic story
“When I received the email saying we would receive a £1000 grant, I couldn’t believe what I was reading – I cried with relief. This help means the world to us. We can get back on an even keel now. I would say to anyone who is struggling don’t hesitate to get in touch with Foothold — they were brilliant.” Louise View story
Engineer and coach Lorraine West

Human engineering: How I learned to be the best version of myself – and you can too

Engineer and coach Lorraine West reveals how human engineering helped her learn how to thrive – no matter the challenges she faces in life.

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Michael Hargreaves, author of How Foothold’s new Engineering Neurodiverse Futures programme can support you to achieve your career goals

How our Engineering Neurodiverse Futures programme can support students and apprentices to achieve their career goals

In this blog, we explore how we can support engineering students and apprentices through our Engineering Neurodiverse Futures programme.

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Laura Norton of the IET, author of: My story of improving neurodiversity awareness in engineering

My story of improving neurodiversity awareness in engineering

Laura Norton of the IET joins us to discuss why our Engineering Neurodiverse Futures programme is vital for the whole engineering community.

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