Motability have recently announced that it is accepting Stage 1 applications (Expressions of Interest) to 5 grant programmes for initiatives across the UK that support, research and innovate in order that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose.
National transport disability charity, the Motability Foundation will now offer grants to smaller charities after reviewing its strategy. The Foundation has just announced 5 new funding rounds, in which it will consider grant applications from organisations with an annual turnover of £50,000 and above (this was previously £150,000 and above). The Foundation has also expanded its eligibility criteria to include Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations (DDPOs).
The Foundation funds, supports, researches and innovates to help all disabled people make the journeys they choose by:
- Overseeing the Motability Scheme and provide grants to help people use it, providing access to transport to hundreds of thousands of people a year.
- Awarding grants to other charities and organisations who provide different types of transport, or work towards making transport accessible, and
- Carrying out ongoing research, in partnership with disabled people and key stakeholders in the industry, to inspire innovations that continue to champion accessible transport for all.
Motability currently has the following five grant programmes open to application for charities and organisations. Four further grant programmes are expected to be announced later in 2025.
1. Better Access to Active Travel Experiences and Equipment
- Value: £50,000 to £1 million.
- Duration: 1 to 3 years.
- Deadline: Monday 15 December 2025.
This funding round aims to improve active travel options for disabled people. There are grants available for projects that have an immediate impact or have a longer-term impact.
Active travel is defined as all modes of travel that allow people to get around using their own efforts – whether by walking, cycling, push scooters, or use of other mobility aids.
Active travel is making a journey by walking, cycling, using a wheelchair, push scooters, or other mobility aids.
The Foundation welcomes applications from organisations providing services and equipment, and those testing new ideas or approaches that could deliver future change.
Organisations can apply for active travel equipment including cycles and walking aids, access to services for disabled people, pilots, staff costs and overheads.
2. Better Access to Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids: Large Grants
- Value: £250,000 to £1 million.
- Duration: 1 to 3 years.
- Deadline: Monday 15 December 2025.
This funding round aims to make an impact by awarding grants to improve and expand access to good quality, affordable wheelchairs and mobility equipment for disabled people.
It supports organisations to provide significant volumes of equipment, including at a national level, that help disabled people access wheelchairs and mobility equipment, and additional support such as assessments and maintenance.
Requests can include the costs for manual and powered wheelchairs, power packs, walking aids, staff costs and overheads.
3. Better Access to Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids: Small Grants
- Value: £50,000 to £249,999
- Duration: 1 to 3 years
- Deadline: Monday 15 December 2025
This funding round aims to make an impact by awarding grants to improve and expand access to good quality, affordable wheelchairs and mobility equipment for disabled people.
Grants are available to organisations working on a local or regional level or supporting smaller numbers of disabled people.
It funds access to wheelchairs and mobility equipment, and additional support such as assessments and maintenance.
Requests can include the costs for manual and powered wheelchairs, power packs, walking aids, staff costs and overheads.
4. Expanding Access to Driving Tuition for Disabled People
- Value: £50,000 to £1 million
- Duration: 1 to 3 years
- Deadline: 31 March 2026
This funding round aims to increase disabled people's access to driving, by funding organisations that provide driving lessons and car adaptations tailored to people with different disabilities.
It funds organisations that provide driving tuition for disabled people. Organisations can apply for funding to support the continuation or expansion of existing services and support others to access this provision. Requests can include the costs for vehicles, adaptations, staff costs, approved driving instructor (ADI) costs, training, communication materials and overheads.
5. Support for Travel Training Schemes
- Value: £50,000 to £1 million
- Duration: 1 to 3 years
- Deadline: 15 December 2025
This funding round aims to increase disabled people's confidence when travelling, by supporting organisations to deliver and grow impactful travel support programmes.
The Foundation welcomes applications that deliver immediate impact, such as expanding existing travel training or buddy schemes We also invite applications that focus on future impact, such as piloting new approaches to service delivery.
Requests can include the costs for staff, training material development, training delivery and overheads.
Eligible organisations are requested to only apply to the funding round that fits most closely with their project and the amount of funding required need to deliver it. They only consider one application at a time.
The deadline for 4 out of 5 of the programmes is Monday 15 December 2025 for Expressions of Interest.
The ‘Expanding Access to Driving Tuition for Disabled People’ has a deadline of Tuesday 31 March 2026.
Further information and guidance is available on the Foundation's website.