New grant funding available to enhance accessibility

From 1 April 2026 the national church is making funds available for parishes to enhance accessibility to church buildings, and improve inclusion and participation for those who are deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent. 

Examples of eligible projects include:

• Accessible toilets-installation and repair
• Ramps and step-free access
• Sloping pathways
• Audio visual improvements

The following buildings are eligible:

• Church of England consecrated church buildings and licenced places of worship
• A community hall, if in use to promote the mission of the church
• Eligibility extends to the churchyard and other spaces surrounding eligible buildings

Funding is split into two grant streams: large grants of up to £50,000, and small grants of up to £5,000. The following costs are eligible for grant funding (with some exceptions): 

• Capital costs 
• Architects’ fees, planning permission fees, and other professional fees where these are part of the total project proposal 
• Costs for repairing installations which have degraded over time and would otherwise cease to function
• Fees for services rendered by individuals where these are part of the project proposal, for example, BSL interpreter fees

Further details are available here:
Parish Accessibility Fund: resources | The Church of England
Grants will be available until 31 December 2028 or until the Fund is exhausted and parishes wishing to apply should email Peter Evans at Flourish House for further details.