Access to Volunteering Fund

The Access to Volunteering Fund is open to applications, and could provide Scout Groups with help to enable more disabled people to volunteer.

Scouting bodies can apply for grants between £250 and £5000, which can be used to help overcome barriers that stop disabled people volunteering, such as specific equipment, a lack of suitable access and understanding of disability issues.

These grants are part of the £2 million Access to Volunteering Fund, which was developed by the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office as a pilot scheme in Greater London, the West Midlands and the North West.

The fund operates between Autumn 2009 and Spring 2011 over five grant rounds. The first deadline for applications is 1 December. In addition to supporting disabled volunteers, the pilot will test different ways to apply for funds such as video applications and face-to-face pitches. The grant is being managed by a consortium comprising Charities Aid Foundation, RNIB and Digital Public.

Angela Smith, Minister for the Third Sector, said “Volunteering is an unbeatable way to build confidence and skills and we want to get as many people as possible volunteering –with or without a disability. We know that there are many barriers stopping disabled people volunteering and this targeted fund aims to overcome these limits.”

Applications and advice

To find out how to apply, or to become a member of a local assessment panel, visit www.accesstovolunteering.org

If you are making an application and would like some advice from the Fundraising Team at The Scout Association, feel free to contact them at fundraising@scout.org.uk