Our vision is for a strong, sustainable and inclusive disability movement in London. One where Disabled people lead lasting change and have the power and resources to shape decisions that affect their lives.
Disabled people and the groups that work with them often lack the resources, connections and skills to create change. Our Disability justice fund is changing this.
We’re supporting an influential disability movement, where:
- Disabled people and Deaf and Disabled people's organisations (DDPOs) are regularly present in policy and decision-making spaces, invited to participate and have the capacity to engage effectively.
- Organisations and groups led by Disabled people can articulate and fight for the change they want to see without experiencing burnout.
- Campaigning is sustained, strategic and collaborative, drawing on research, lived experience and alliances with others.
- The full diversity of Deaf and Disabled people’s experiences, perspectives and voices are represented and heard.
Recent campaigning – including opposition to welfare cuts and assisted dying – has shown what is possible when DDPOs work together in diverse coalitions, backed by evidence and a range of allies.
This fund is here to make that kind of impact more frequently achievable and sustainable.
Work we'll fund
We will fund groups working for long-term change for Deaf and Disabled Londoners.
This includes:
- Campaigning and/or advocacy work that challenges injustice at a local, regional or national level.
- New and/or creative ways of organising, mobilising or campaigning, either by individual DDPOs or groups of organisations working together.
- Work that builds the capacity of DDPOs to campaign influence and mobilise more effectively, particularly intersectional organisations.
- Campaigns led by groups or coalitions of DDPOs on issues important to the disability movement, especially where change feels achievable.
All of the information you need to know about the disability justice fund can be found on this page. You can also download this information in a variety of formats, or attend one of our online information sessions.
Work we're funding
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Action on Disability
A co-production programme, supporting Deaf and Disabled people to move beyond participation into active influence
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ADHD Babes
Creating a community by and for Black women with ADHD.
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People First
A network building a stronger voice for people with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Funding guidelines
All of the information you need to apply can be found on this page. If you need the information in an alternative or downloadable format, you can find these a little further down the page.
We welcome applications from organisations that meet Inclusion London’s definition of DDPOs.
This means:
1. At least 75% of your management committee or board are Deaf or Disabled people.
2. At least 50% of your paid staff team are Deaf or Disabled people, with representation at all levels of the organisation.
3. You provide services for, or work on behalf of, Deaf and Disabled people.
We are also interested in how your organisation meaningfully engages with the people it supports. If your application is shortlisted, we will ask about this.
If you’re a national organisation, we’ll ask how your proposed project will specifically benefit Deaf and Disabled Londoners.
We're unable to fund service delivery, like advice services or care provision.
We're also unlikely to fund:
Non-DDPOs: Our priority is to fund DDPOs, as defined by Inclusion London. However, we recognise that the disability movement often intersects with other movements.
We may fund non-DDPOs in some circumstances, but applications from non-DDPOs will automatically be rejected unless you have been directly invited to apply. If you are a non-DDPO considering applying, please read our FAQ first and then get in touch.
Partnership applications between DDPOs and non-DDPOs may be considered, but you must meet with us before applying.
Development grants are available for smaller or newer organisations, including those applying for their first grant.
We'll need to understand how the funding will be used to:
- Campaign or advocate for people’s rights and challenge injustice affecting some or all Deaf and Disabled people, and/or
- Build or improve the systems, skills or capacity of your organisation so that you are better run and able to campaign more effectively.
We’ll prioritise funding for:
- Intersectional organisations led by and for Disabled people with intersecting marginalised identities (for example, Disabled Black people or Deaf LGBTQ+ people).
- Organisations led by and for people with learning difficulties.
- Organisations led by and for visually impaired people.
If you’re a group of disabled activists campaigning for change but do not have a constitution and/or bank account, please read our FAQs to see what options might be available.
We give out grants of different sizes, for projects lasting up to four years.
- Most grants are likely to be between £30,000 and £180,000 for established organisations.
- Development grants are likely to be between £10,000-£35,000.
- Grants will usually cover 12-months or longer.
Organisations can apply to us more than once, but not within the same year/12 month period.
We advise all organisations to speak to us before applying – most successful applicants have spoken to us first.
Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis till the end of 2027. You can apply at any time.
To apply:
1. Read the guidelines on the website or in one of the downloadable formats.
2. Attend an online information session to understand what we will and won’t fund or book a conversation with a grants manager (usually via Zoom) to discuss your idea.
3. Complete an eligibility quiz and submit an expression of interest.
4. Shortlisting – you will be told whether your application has been shortlisted.
5. If shortlisted, you will be asked for more information and invited to meet with us.
6. A final decision is made.
You should allow around 3–4 months for the full process, unless you are applying for rapid, time-urgent funding. Shortlisting and decision-making meetings are held monthly.
We’re open to providing rapid funding for strategic, time-urgent work. If you think there’s an immediate or upcoming strong campaigning or political opportunity but our standard application process might be too slow, please contact Joanna Wootten, Disability justice lead at joanna@trustforlondon.org.uk to discuss options for speedy release of funds.
Recent projects we moved quickly to fund include the campaigns against proposed PIP reforms and Access to Work.
Applications are more likely to be successful if:
- You’re clear about what you want to achieve and can describe up to three changes you want the funding to enable.
- Your organisation has a clear vision and is well run, with the right systems in place.
- You can demonstrate active engagement and participation from a diverse community or membership.
- Your organisation shows a strong commitment to social justice for Disabled people (for example, by using the social model of disability, the Sins Invalid definition of Disability Justice, or the UN CRPD framework).
For partnership applications, you clearly explain how the partnership will work in practice.
We want applying for funding with us to be accessible and user-friendly. We can offer further help with applications where needed, and are always open to feedback on how to make the journey easier.
The information on this web page is also available in Word format and as an easy read version.
Please get in touch if you need information in a different format or you’d like to more support.
If you've read through all of this information and still have questions, take a look through our FAQs - they might be answered there! Frequently asked questions.
Download the funding information:
If you need this document in another format email djf@trustforlondon.org.uk or telephone our senior grants administrator, Jaspal Babra, on 0207 778 9902 to let us know what would work for you.
About the disability justice fund
The Disability Justice Fund is a joint fund by Trust for London and City Bridge Foundation. Launched in 2022 as a time-limited £3m initiative, it has since grown in size and scope, reflecting the clear value of long-term investment in the disability justice movement, and is now a core part of Trust for London's 2030 strategy for a fairer London.
The fund supports Deaf and Disabled People's Organisations (DDPOs) as a contribution to building a stronger, more diverse and sustainable disability justice movement across the capital. Through long-term investment in DDPO-led organising, campaigning and movement building, it aims to strengthen the voices and power of Disabled Londoners most affected by poverty and inequality.