Funding for disability justice

Over the next year we’ll be giving out a small number of direct grants to deaf and disabled-led organisations (DDPOs) we already fund to help them continue or complete work in progress. We’ll also be taking some important time to reflect on what we’ve learned over the first two years of the disability justice fund, which included two rounds of funding in 2023 and 2024.  

The fund

In 2022 we set up a £3million disability justice fund in partnership with City Bridge Foundation to strengthen the voices of Deaf and Disabled Londoners.

We want to see Disabled Londoners that reflect London’s diversity, asserting and accessing rights and privileges in all areas of life by 2040. To achieve this vision we need a strong, vibrant, diverse and sustainable Disability justice movement*. Our focus is on disability justice, because disability justice is a social justice** issue.

Many things need to be in place to enable a movement, but for the disability justice fund we’re focusing on funding Deaf and Disabled People's Organisations (DDPOs). Right now DDPOs are underresourced, with no targeted funding enabling disability related campaigning or movement building.

*This vision includes people who may not have a political identity as a Disabled person, and if they chose to be activists, that they are able to bring their full intersectional selves to any organisation, campaign, or movement. Currently, the disability movement has a history of White leadership, and large disability charities are not led by Disabled people.

** Social justice: Our approach to social justice draws on the five principles set out by the Civic Power Fund: Equal access to resources, equity, participation, diversity and human rights. Read more here.

1. Deaf and Disabled people’s organisations have the capacity to campaign for the rights of Deaf and Disabled Londoners.
2. Funders increase their investment in Deaf and Disabled people’s organisations.

The project team from Trust for London and City Bridge Foundation includes staff members with lived experience of disability. We’re also working with an advisory panel of eight Disabled activists.

Key documents and information

Access the funding guidelines in different formats and download helpful supporting documents for current grant holders.

If you need this document in another format email djf@trustforlondon.org.uk or telephone Jaspal 0207 778 9902 to let us know what would work for you.

Audio version - listen to the funding guidelines