Capital funding for accessibility and building improvements
Deaf and disabled people: inclusive services and better access
This funding programme closed to new applications on Tuesday, 8 October 2024
Grant details
- Area: Greater London
- Open to: No longer open to new applications
- Deadline: Noon on Tuesday, 8 October 2024
- Funding size: Up to £150,000
- Average award: Since 2022, we have awarded accessibility grants of between £40,000 and £150,000, with the average grant being around £110,000
Funding closed to new applications
Having committed exceptional levels of funding to London’s charitable sector until 2026, we closed our rolling grants programmes to new applications on Tuesday, 8 October 2024 for one year. This will allow us to manage our existing grants and pre-closure applications, while reviewing and developing our new funding policy, launching in autumn 2025.
Funding closed to new applicationsThis following text is archived and no longer represents an active funding programme
Capital funding for accessibility improvements
Funding for access improvements to community buildings following an Access Audit. This work can also be combined with building improvements identified through an Eco Audit to reduce carbon, improve resource use, and enhance biodiversity.
Eligible organisations with a valid Access Audit can apply for funding to carry out the access improvements it recommends. If your organisation also holds a valid Eco Audit you can use this page to apply for funding to carry out the building work recommended by both Audits. You can apply for up to £150,000 for Access works or Eco works or a combination of both.
We encourage organisations to apply for the funds they need to carry out the improvements recommended in their Access Audit and/or Eco Audit up to the cap.
You can find out more about our approach to funding here.
Access improvements and eco improvements
Eligible organisations with a valid Access Audit, provided by one of our approved consultants or by a registered auditor from the Centre for Accessible Environments or the National Register of Access Consultants, can apply to us for funding to carry out the work it recommends.
Access improvements to community buildings can make them more accessible for Deaf and disabled people, including people with sensory impairments and learning disabilities.
If you also hold a valid Eco Audit you can also use this page to apply for funding to carry out the building work recommended by both Audits. You can apply for up to £150,000 for Access works or Eco works or a combination of both Access and Eco works.
We can only contribute to projects where the total refurbishment costs do not exceed £15 million. Funding can only be for an existing community building (not a new-build development).
We will only fund accessibility and building work that has yet to take place. We do not fund work that is already underway or has been completed.
Organisations which already hold one of our mainstream grants are not eligible to apply for this capital funding. Please contact us before applying if you are not sure.
Before applying
To apply for capital funding for access and building improvements you will need to confirm:
- that your building and its activities benefit the wider community and do not exclusively advance the promotion of any of specific religion
- the building is owned by your organisation or has a lease of over 10 years
What we can fund
We can fund accessibility improvements to your office, community building or other charitable space that have been recommended by an Access Audit carried out by one of our approved consultants or by a registered auditor from the Centre for Accessible Environments or the National Register of Access Consultants.
Any buildings and/or spaces being improved should continue to provide significant free and unhindered access for the whole community.
Work can include (but is not necessarily limited to):
- Installation or conversion of toilets to be wheelchair accessible
- Installation of access ramps
- Installation of seating to provide greater accessibility for the elderly and those with disabilities
- Installation or modernisation of a lift
- Installation of a hearing induction loop
We can consider capital funding of up to £150,000 towards accessibility improvements.
We can fund improvements to your office, community building or other charitable space that have been recommended by an Eco Audit or Refresher Eco Audit carried out by one of our approved consultants.
Works can include (but not necessarily limited to):
insulation
solar panels
heat pumps
on-site biodiversity schemes
energy efficient lighting systems
We can consider capital funding of up to £150,000 towards greening improvements.
Before applying
To apply for capital funding for building improvements you’ll need to confirm:
- that your building and its activities benefit the wider community and do not exclusively advance the promotion of any specific religion
- the building is owned by your organisation or has a lease of over 10 years
You will be asked to provide evidence of:
- an Access Audit, or design appraisal by a qualified professional registered with the Centre for Accessible Environments and/or the National Register of Access Consultants
- OR an Eco Audit completed within the last three years, or a current Refresher Eco Audit, that recommends the works for which you are seeking funding
- OR both of the above if seeking funding for both Access and Eco works