Motability Reducing Barriers to Driving Grant Programme
Through our Reducing Barriers to Driving Grant Programme, we help charities and organisations to improve and expand private transport options for disabled people and their families beyond the Motability Scheme.
Please note: We are asking organisations interested in applying for funding through these programmes to submit their Stage One application by 8 October 2024. We cannot accept new Stage One applications for this round of funding beyond this date.
We are committed to continuing our support for disabled people through these six programmes, using £50 million of the donation we received this year. This new funding will be available for charities and organisations, including existing grant-holders, to apply for in 2025.
Who can apply
The Motability Foundation wants to support medium or large charities and organisations with well-established ways of working.
We ask that applicant organisations meet the following criteria:
You are a registered charity or an incorporated not-for-profit organisation identified as being able to deliver impact for disabled people and their transportation needs. This includes incorporated charities, companies limited by guarantee, community benefit societies, or CICs. If your organisation is a different structure outside of those listed here then please contact us before applying.
You have been active for at least three years.
You have had an annual income of at least £100,000 per annum over the last three years.
You hold free reserves equivalent to at least three months of operating costs.
Please contact us before applying if you do not hold three months of free reserves.
The Motability Foundation will not generally award a grant to charities or organisations holding more than 12 months of operating expenditure in reserves.
Restrictions
While Motability aim to support as wide a range of applications as possible within this space, there are some things we are not able to award grant-funding for. These include:
For-profit organisations.
Grants for work which looks to duplicate the Motability Scheme in any way.
Grants to statutory bodies, hospitals, or health authorities. Grants are also not available to charities and organisations based, or solely working outside of the UK.
Grants to political pressure groups, or organisations primarily engaged in political activity.
Grants to projects or services that proselytise a specific ethical or religious belief, and/or charities and organisations that exclude individuals that do not hold a specific ethical or religious belief.
Construction projects and/or building works.
Social investment or venture philanthropy.
Retrospective funding of services or activities.
Sponsorship for any individual, group, or company.
Overseas travel.
Medical care or medical research.
Applications for activities or services unrelated to transport for disabled people cannot be supported by Motability.
How to apply
Our Stage One Application form can be found on the Motability Reducing Barriers to Driving Grant Programme website page. The form includes a checklist of our qualification criteria, please ensure that you meet these before submitting your application.
All applications to this programme must be for funding that relates to Reducing Barriers to Driving and supporting the transport needs of disabled people.
Please send all completed applications, accompanied by the requested supporting documentation, to GrantsToOrganisations@motability.org.uk If you have any questions about the application process, or about the programme more widely, please get in touch using our online form on the Motability Reducing Barriers to Driving Grant Programme website page.
Useful Links
https://www.motabilityfoundation.org.uk/charitable-grants/grants-to-charities-and-organisations/