The Motability Foundation has announced new grants, ranging from £50,000 to £1 million, to support organisations addressing barriers to accessible transport, either by delivering services for disabled people or work to make it accessible.
Several funding rounds will support organisations delivering services that improve access to transport for disabled people, including areas such as shared transport, active travel, driving tuition, and mobility aids.
Other funding rounds will support projects aiming to influence systems, policy, or practice to reduce transport barriers.
The grants are available on a rolling basis. The Motability Foundation says it will consider applications from organisations with an annual turnover of £50,000 and above.
Nigel Fletcher, Chief Executive Officer at the Motability Foundation, said: “Our new five-year strategy and funding rounds highlight our commitment to identifying and investing in opportunities to make the greatest impact in supporting disabled people to travel.
“Transport equity means fair access to transport, no matter your needs, who you are or where you live. That’s why we want to collaborate across every sector, from national and local government to Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations (DDPOs), transport providers, academics and community organisations. We will amplify the voices and experiences of disabled people.
“We recognise the value DDPOs can bring in supporting disabled people to access transport. In light of this, we have updated our eligibility criteria to make our new funding rounds available for smaller organisations. We encourage any organisation or charity, that may be eligible for funding, to visit our website and apply.”
There are three assistive technology-related grants, detailed below, that are being awarded to organisations that recognise the importance of expanding access to crucial, affordable mobility equipment for disabled people.
The ‘Better Access to Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids: Small Grants’ aims to make an impact by awarding grants to improve and expand access to good quality, affordable wheelchairs and mobility equipment for disabled people.
The Motability Foundation awards these grants through this funding round from £50,000 to £249,999 over a period of up to three years.
This funding round provides grants to organisations working on a local or regional level or supporting smaller numbers of disabled people. It funds access to wheelchairs and mobility equipment, and additional support such as assessments and maintenance.
Requests can include the costs for manual and powered wheelchairs, power packs, walking aids, staff costs, and overheads.
The ‘Better Access to Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids: Large Grants’ aims to make an impact by awarding grants to improve and expand access to good quality, affordable wheelchairs and mobility equipment for disabled people.
The Motability Foundation awards these grants through this funding round from £250,000 to £1 million over a period of up to three years.
It supports organisations to provide significant volumes of equipment, including at a national level, that help disabled people access wheelchairs and mobility equipment, and additional support such as assessments and maintenance.
Requests can include the costs for manual and powered wheelchairs, power packs, walking aids, staff costs, and overheads.
The ‘Better Access to Active Travel Experiences and Equipment’ aims to improve active travel options for disabled people. There are grants available for projects that have an immediate impact or have a longer-term impact.
The Motability Foundation awards these grants through this funding round from £50,000 to £1 million over a period of up to three years.
Active travel is defined as all modes of travel that allow people to get around using their own efforts – whether by walking, cycling, push scooters, or use of other mobility aids.
This grant welcomes applications from organisations providing services and equipment, and those testing new ideas or approaches that could deliver future change. Organisations can apply for active travel equipment including cycles and walking aids, access to services for disabled people, pilots, staff costs, and overheads.
In addition to these five funding rounds, there will be four additional funding rounds available to apply for in autumn, according to the Motability Foundation.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Access to Disability Equipment has announced its first inquiry to explore the barriers preventing disabled people from accessing the medical equipment they need.
The inquiry aims to support policy discussions and recommendations that improve access to essential community equipment, reduce inequalities, and promote best practice and innovation in commissioning, funding, and service delivery.
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