Disability988+ Funders

Disability Grants & Funding

There are 988 UK funders offering grants for disability charities, with typical awards from £100 to £1,150,000.

UK funders have a long history of supporting disabled people and the organisations that serve them. Grants in this area cover independent living support, accessible transport, assistive technology, employment programmes, advocacy, and social inclusion. Many funders support the social model of disability — focusing on removing barriers rather than treating impairment — and look for projects led or co-designed by disabled people themselves. Learning disability, physical disability, sensory impairment, and neurodivergence each have dedicated funding streams. Large foundations like the Henry Smith Charity, Lloyds Bank Foundation, and the National Lottery Community Fund all have significant disability funding. Smaller specialist trusts may focus on specific conditions or age groups. Capital grants for accessibility improvements to buildings and public spaces are available from several funders. The emphasis across the sector is on person-centred approaches, rights-based practice, and projects that enable genuine participation and choice for disabled people.

Quick Stats

Total Funders
988
Grant Range
£100 - £1,150,000
Open to Applications
54%

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Filters use programme details verified from each funder's own published guidance. Funders we haven't verified yet are listed separately below, never hidden.

Disability Funders

10 of 988 match your filters

Checked against verified programme data for 173 of 988 funders. 815 not yet verified are listed below; 163 that don't fit were excluded.

Barnwood Trust

Matching programme: Unrestricted Funding

Barnwood Trust is a grant-making foundation evolved from historic mental health care roots, dedicated to enabling disabled people and those with menta...

Grant Range
£5,000 - £25,000

City Bridge Foundation

Matching programme: Access to Justice Programme 2025/6 Round One

City Bridge Foundation, London’s largest independent charitable funder and historic owner of five iconic Thames bridges (Tower, London, Southwark, Mil...

Grant Range
£5,000 - £500,000

Help for Health

Matching programme: Main Fund

Help for Health is an independent charitable trust established in 2002 through the merger of The Health Scheme and Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund, ...

Grant Range
£5,000 - £40,000

Motability

Matching programme: Grants to Charities and Organisations (six programmes: Community Transport, Wheelchair Sector, Research, Active Travel, Travelling with Confidence, Reducing Barriers to Driving)

Motability Foundation champions transport equity and independence for disabled people, founded to eliminate mobility barriers preventing full societal...

Grant Range
£50,000 - £1,000,000

Postcode Innovation Trust

Matching programme: Dream Fund

Postcode Innovation Trust, established in 2016, is an independent funder powered by proceeds from its society lottery linked to People’s Postcode Lott...

Grant Range
£100,000 - £1,250,000

Shanly Foundation

Matching programme: Action Against Homelessness Fund

The Shanly Foundation, established in 1994 by property developer Michael Shanly as the charitable arm of the Shanly Group, drives practical, hands-on ...

Grant Range
£5,000 - £50,000

Sir James Knott Trust

Matching programme: Rolling Grants Programme

The Sir James Knott Trust, established in 1924 by Tyneside shipowner Sir James Knott following the loss of his sons in World War I, is a cornerstone p...

Grant Range
Up to £20,000

Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust

Matching programme: Innovation and Improvement in Health and Care Fund

The Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust, established in 1964 with an endowment from Sir Jules Thorn, founder of Thorn Electrical Industries, is an indepe...

Grant Range
Contact funder

Trust for London

Matching programme: Main grant programme (priority area funds)

Trust for London, an independent charitable foundation established in 1891 as the City Parochial Foundation and renamed in 2010, drives lasting econom...

Grant Range
£40,000 - £80,000

Ufi VocTech Trust

Matching programme: VocTech Challenge Impact Network + Grant Fund

Ufi VocTech Trust, founded in 1998 as a UK-wide independent grant funder and venture investor, originated from the government's 'University for Indust...

Grant Range
£30,000 - £60,000
815 funders not yet verified against these filters

We haven't confirmed these funders' programme details yet, so they may or may not fit. Showing the first 10.

Tips for Applying to Disability Funders

Applications for disability-focused funding must demonstrate genuine co-production with disabled people throughout your project — from design and governance to delivery and evaluation. Funders will look for evidence that disabled people hold meaningful decision-making power, not just advisory or consultative roles. Frame your work within the social model of disability, focusing on the barriers society creates rather than individual deficits. Describe how your organisation is user-led or how disabled people are represented on your board and staff team. Outcomes should be person-centred, measuring what matters to participants: increased choice, greater independence, meaningful social participation, and enhanced control over their own lives rather than purely clinical or functional metrics. Ensure your monitoring and evaluation processes are themselves accessible — explain how you gather feedback from people with communication needs, learning disabilities, or sensory impairments. If your project involves assistive technology or adaptations, show how you personalise solutions rather than applying a standard package. Avoid deficit-based language throughout your application and instead emphasise strengths, rights, and aspirations. Strong applications demonstrate an understanding that disability intersects with other forms of disadvantage and describe how you ensure your project is inclusive across the full diversity of disabled people.

Frequently Asked Questions about Disability Grants

What grants are available for disability charities in the UK?

There are 988+ UK funders offering grants for disability charities. These range from small community grants under £5,000 to large multi-year funding programmes exceeding £100,000. Use Fundermatcher to find the best match for your organisation.

How much funding can disability organisations get?

Grant amounts for disability charities vary widely depending on the funder and project. Typical grants range from £1,000 to over £100,000. Many funders offer multi-year funding for established organisations with a strong track record.

How do I apply for disability grants?

Start by identifying funders whose priorities align with your disability work. Fundermatcher matches your charity's profile against 988+ funders to find the best fit. Our AI assistant can then help you draft compelling grant applications.

How to Find the Right Disability Funders

1

Describe Your Charity

Tell us what your charity does, who you help, and where you work. Takes 30 seconds.

2

Get Matched Instantly

Our AI ranks all 988 disability funders by how well they fit your specific work.

3

Write Winning Applications

Our AI assistant helps you draft and refine grant applications tailored to each funder.

Which of These 988 Funders Are Right for You?

Browsing 988 funders manually takes hours. Describe your charity once and get your top matches ranked by compatibility — in seconds.

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