The Access to Elected Office Fund is now open for applications for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election and the 2027 Scottish council election.
The Access to Elected Office Fund (Scotland) is paid for by the Scottish Government and run by Inclusion Scotland.
The Fund helps disabled people who want to stand for elected office in Scotland. It gives money for practical support and reasonable adjustments to remove barriers for disabled candidates. This can include help with communication, transport, or personal assistance. The Fund does not cover general campaign costs.
In the 2022 Scottish local council elections, 46 people got support from the Fund. Of these, 22 were elected. The Fund also helped 14 candidates in the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections.
To apply for the fund or for more information, please contact Inclusion Scotland’s Civic Participation Team at: civicparticipation@inclusionscotland.org
Find Out More
Information Leaflet: Click here for more information
Easy Read Information Leaflet: Click here for more information in Easy Read format
British Sign Language (BSL) Information Video: Click here to find out more information with British Sign Language interpretation
Step-by-step Guide for Applicants: Click here for the step-by-step guide
Easy Read Step-by-step Guide for Applicants: Click here for the step-by-step guide in Easy Read
Plain Text Step-by-step Guide for Applicants: Click here for the step-by-step guide in plain text
British Sign Language (BSL) Step-by-step Guide for Applicants Video: Click here to watch the step-by-step guide with British Sign Language interpretation