Deaf and Disabled people experience high levels of structural and historic exclusion and discrimination, coupled with rising poverty and inequality. This manifests itself through a multitude of barriers they experience in daily life across health, housing, transport, goods and services, civic participation and cultural/leisure provision.
In recent years, more and more organisations, led by and serving Deaf and Disabled people, have been experiencing cuts to their funding and being forced to close.
This programme is aimed at registered charities and CICs which are led by and working for Deaf and Disabled people. To be eligible for the fund your organisation will work directly with Deaf and Disabled people over the long term to support them to have more choice and control over their lives, access their rights and entitlements and challenge the barriers they face.
Your work will be based on the Social Model of Disability, and you will be able to show how this understanding shapes the work that you do and enables people to have their voices heard.
This programme is for small and local charities and CICs with an income of between £25,000 and £500,000 that are led by and working with deaf and disabled people who are experiencing poverty.
Organisations can apply for a three-year unrestricted grant of £75,000
To be eligible to apply you must:
· Have 50% or more of your trustees/directors and at least 50% of staff at all levels self-identify as deaf and/or disabled people. (They will prioritise funding organisations where at least 75% of your Directors/Trustees and 50% of staff self-identify as Deaf and/or Disabled people).
· Have a safeguarding policy in place
· Have a designated safeguarding lead/officer
Numbers of grants:
In 2024, they made 43 grants with a total value of over £3m through this funding programme.
They received 169 applications and 132 (78%) met the initial eligibility criteria. Of those, they funded 43 organisations (33%). They are expecting to make a total of 41 grants this year
Deadline:
The closing date for applications is 4 September 2025 at 5pm.
They will inform you of the outcome of your application by 12 December 2025