The Gloucestershire Association For Disability

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £205,768 (2023-24 expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Approximately 6-8 weeks (monthly trustee meetings)
• Grant Range: £600 - £5,000 (varies by grant type)
• Geographic Focus: Gloucestershire only

Contact Details

Website: www.glosdisabilityfund.org.uk

Email: info@glosdisabilityfund.org.uk

Phone: 01452 614890 (Tuesday or Thursday, 10am-1pm)

Address: C/O Centre for Deaf People, Colin Road, Barnwood, Gloucester GL4 3JL

Overview

Founded over two decades ago, The Gloucestershire Association for Disability (registered charity 1048489) operates as the Gloucestershire Disability Fund (GDF). With total income of £197,102 and expenditure of £205,768 in 2023-24, the fund has awarded approximately £1 million in grants since inception. The charity's mission is to promote the welfare of disabled persons within Gloucestershire, focusing specifically on physical, sensory, and learning disabilities. Governed by seven trustees who bring first-hand experience of disability challenges, GDF provides one-off grants to individuals and not-for-profit organisations to enhance quality of life and personal development. All applications are assessed “sympathetically, fairly, and from a position of understanding” by decision-makers with lived experience of disability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Well-being Grants (Individuals): Up to £1,000 (average award £600)

• One-off grants for exceptional needs arising from disability
• Online application or downloadable form
• Rolling applications with monthly trustee meetings
• Can reapply after at least one year

Your Future Fund (Individuals 18+): Up to £4,000

• Education, training for work, arts, sports, or special projects
• Supports personal development that will also help others
• Requires professional recommendation

Organisation and Group Grants: Up to £5,000 (discretionary increase possible)

• Sports equipment purchases
• Holidays and play schemes for organisations with track record
• Building work and social/recreational activities
• One-off grants; can reapply after at least one year
• Applications currently closed until January 5, 2026

Priority Areas

For Individuals:

• Special equipment and adaptations not funded by the state
• Education and training costs
• Personal development opportunities
• Arts and sports participation
• Items that enhance everyday living with disability

For Organisations:

• Gloucestershire-based not-for-profit groups (annual turnover under £1 million)
• Sports-related equipment for disability activities
• Holidays, trips, or play schemes with demonstrated track record
• Social and recreational activities
• Building work improvements

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

• Mental illness as the primary condition (per Articles of Association)
• Mobility scooters
• Items already ordered or purchased before grant approval
• Debt repayment
• Holidays (for individuals)
• Disabled Facilities Grant client contributions
• Healthcare costs covered by NHS
• Routine household expenses or statutory services
• Top-up grants for state-funded services
• House clearances or domestic cleaning

Eligibility Restrictions:

• Applicants with savings/investments exceeding £6,000
• Those not residing full-time in Gloucestershire
• Individuals not receiving statutory disability benefits (PIP/DLA/AA)
• Organisations with free reserves above six months operational costs

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Steve Elway - Chair

Joined 2017. Former Director of Culture, Learning and Leisure in local government. Instrumental in establishing Aspire Sport and Cultural Trust in 2008.

Gail McCarthy - Company Secretary and Grants Co-Vice Chair

Joined 2015, became Company Secretary 2020. Brings extensive grant-making experience from Barnwood Trust.

Jenny Hopkins - Vice Chair and Data Protection Compliance

Joined 2019. Former CEO of local charity with professional and personal experience of deafness. Currently provides strategy consulting to charities while pursuing PhD on deaf charities in England.

Maxine Knight - Grants Chair and Office Management

Started as administrator 2013, became trustee 2017. Former NHS employee for 11 years. Full-time carer for daughter with disabilities.

Nora Lynch - Grants Co-Vice Chair

Joined 2017. Retired adult social worker with 20 years' experience supporting people with varying disabilities.

Sandra Tanner - HR Compliance and Staff Supervisor

Joined 2023. Background in telecommunications, education, training, and business coaching with focus on personal development.

Staff

Sandra Jones - Grants Administrator

Joined January 2018. Former Head of Customer Services and Head of Operations in Financial Services. Semi-retired.

Meg Morris - Grants Administrator

Recent appointment. Former primary school teacher, lead practitioner, and special educational needs coordinator in Gloucester Children's Centre. Works part-time.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Individual Well-being Grants:

• Download application form from website or complete online
• Read guidance notes thoroughly before applying
• Submit completed application with all required documentation
• Applications close 8 calendar days before monthly trustee meeting

For Organisation Grants:

• Download relevant application form and guidance notes
• Provide detailed cost breakdowns with minimum two quotations
• Demonstrate financial status, assets, and up-to-date policies (GDPR, privacy, safeguarding)
• Accept potential interviews or site visits
• Note: Applications currently closed until January 5, 2026

Required Documentation (Individuals):

• Completed application form with full household income details
• Copy of statutory disability benefit award letter with full Statement of Entitlement
• Information about applications to other charities
• Professional recommendation (e.g., Occupational Therapist) for specialist equipment
• Minimum two quotes for requested items
• Signed consent forms

Required Documentation (Organisations):

• Itemized cost breakdowns
• Minimum two quotations where relevant
• Financial statements showing current status and assets
• Up-to-date GDPR, privacy, and safeguarding policies
• Commitment to use grants exclusively for stated purposes

Decision Timeline

• Trustee meetings typically held first Thursday monthly (February-December)
• Applications close 8 calendar days before meeting
• Results communicated within 10 working days after trustee decision
• Total timeline: approximately 6-8 weeks from submission to notification

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, GDF has implemented restrictions due to increased applications (as of May 2024), suggesting high demand relative to available funds.

Reapplication Policy

For Individuals:

• Can reapply for assistance after at least one year has elapsed
• Only one application per household per annum
• Only one application every two years for household goods
• Those who received grants within past 12 months are ineligible

For Organisations:

• Can reapply after at least one year
• Grants intended as one-off support, not long-term funding

For Unsuccessful Applicants:

• No specific waiting period mentioned for unsuccessful applicants
• Contact the fund for clarification on reapplication after rejection

Application Success Factors

Critical Documentation:

The fund emphasizes providing complete documentation, particularly the “full Statement of Entitlement” for disability benefits. Missing or incomplete benefit documentation appears to be a common issue that delays or prevents approval.

Do Not Pre-order:

A fundamental requirement is not ordering or purchasing items before receiving grant approval. Applications for goods/services already ordered are not supported under any circumstances.

Professional Support:

For specialist equipment requests, professional recommendations (particularly from Occupational Therapists) are essential for trustees to “make an informed decision.” Applications without professional backing for equipment requests are unlikely to succeed.

Demonstrate Need:

Applications must show a “genuine reason for having an exceptional need” arising specifically from disability, which the applicant cannot afford and which cannot be met by the state or other agencies. Generic requests without clear disability-related justification are less competitive.

Multiple Quotes:

Providing at least two quotes demonstrates due diligence and helps trustees assess value for money, increasing application credibility.

Declare Other Applications:

Transparency about applications to other funders is required. The fund needs to know “how much grant has been agreed by other charities” to avoid duplication and ensure fair distribution.

Organisational Financial Health:

For organisations, demonstrating free reserves at or below six months operational costs is crucial. Groups with excessive reserves or annual turnover exceeding £1 million are ineligible.

Track Record for Holidays/Play Schemes:

Organisations seeking funding for holidays or play schemes must demonstrate a “track record of providing” such services to Gloucestershire people with disabilities.

Timing Considerations:

Submit applications well before the 8-day deadline before monthly meetings. Last-minute applications may be incomplete or miss the deadline, resulting in month-long delays.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Lived Experience Matters: Trustees and decision-makers have first-hand experience of disability challenges, creating a sympathetic but informed assessment environment. Applications should be genuine and specific rather than generic.

• Documentation is Everything: The “full Statement of Entitlement” requirement for disability benefits and professional recommendations for equipment are non-negotiable. Incomplete documentation causes delays or rejection.

• Never Pre-order: Ordering items before approval is an automatic disqualification. Wait for written grant confirmation before making any purchases.

• Demonstrate State Gap: Clearly articulate why the state cannot provide what you're requesting. The fund fills gaps in statutory provision, not duplicates it.

• Geographical Focus: This is a strictly Gloucestershire-only funder. Applicants must reside full-time in the county with no exceptions.

• Mental Health Exclusion: The fund cannot support cases where mental illness is the primary condition, as specified in their Articles of Association. Combined physical/learning disability with secondary mental health issues may be considered.

• One-off Philosophy: Both individual and organisational grants are explicitly one-off in nature. Do not apply expecting ongoing support; plan for a single intervention that addresses a specific need.

• Plan Around Monthly Cycle: With meetings on the first Thursday monthly (Feb-Dec) and 8-day closing dates, applications require advance planning. Factor 6-8 weeks total timeline into project planning.

References

• Charity Commission Register - The Gloucestershire Association for Disability -
• Gloucestershire Disability Fund Official Website -
• Well-being Grants Guidance -
• Organisations and Groups Information -
• Staff and Trustees -
• Who We Fund - Individuals -
• What We Fund -
• Glosfamilies Directory - Gloucestershire Disability Fund -