£1.5m to help disabled services

Following the Labour council’s cuts to health and social care provision, many organisations in Edinburgh Central are doing all they can to secure further funding to keep services going.

The Scottish Government has launched a new £1.5 million fund to support projects that break down barriers and strengthen services relied on by disabled people. The Improving Access Fund will offer grants to organisations working to promote equality, independent living, and inclusion across Scotland.

The fund aims to improve access to local services, promote participation, and strengthen peer-led initiatives. Community and third-sector groups, particularly those run by or for disabled people, will be encouraged to apply for grants.

The initiative is a practical step in advancing equality and delivering the aims of the Disability Equality Plan. By focusing on lived experience, the fund will ensure that projects are shaped by the voices of those directly affected. It will also help address financial security, inclusion, and wellbeing by supporting community-based activity that removes barriers to participation.

I encourage relevant organisations in the constituency to examine the criteria and apply.