Lisa Jones, Chief Operating Officer
Earlier this month, Motability Foundation launched our new organisation funding rounds – and I couldn’t be more excited.
For the first time, we’re opening to a broader range of transport themes than ever before. That means reaching more people, in more ways, and making an even bigger difference to disabled people’s journeys across the UK.
Over the last three years, our grants have helped 101 organisations support 175,000 people to make journeys. I’m proud of that number – but for me, impact is always about the people I meet along the way.
In Glasgow, I met parents whose children were testing out new wheelchairs with Whizz-Kidz. One mum told me how hard she’d had to fight to get the right chair. Minutes later, I watched her little girl zoom around the room, laughing, spinning, and deliberately bumping into things – as only 8-year-olds can!
In Northern Ireland, I hopped on Easilink’s Community Transport bus to see first-hand how it works. I chatted to passengers who hadn’t been able to leave their homes for months before this service came along. As part of a network of four providers, it was a brilliant example of what happens when organisations pull together to make transport truly inclusive.
Now, as the Motability Foundation begins our new five-year strategy, we have five funding rounds open. Organisations can apply for £50,000–£1 million to improve access to transport for disabled people – whether that’s shared transport, active travel, driving tuition, mobility aids, or something completely new and creative. Future rounds will support projects aiming to influence systems, policy, or practice to reduce transport barriers.
We’ve also lowered our minimum income threshold to £50,000 a year so smaller, grassroots groups – the ones often closest to their communities – can apply. And with funding now available on a rolling basis, we can respond faster, support fresh ideas, and tackle problems as soon as they arise.
Because true transport equity means nobody is left behind.
If your organisation is breaking down barriers to travel for disabled people, I’d love to hear from you. Who knows – I might be visiting your project very soon!
Learn more
Read more about our new funding rounds on our organisation grants page.