Funding

If you are disabled and want to stand for elected office there is money available.

The Access to Elected Office Fund offers individual grants of between £250 and £20,000 to disabled people who want to be selected as candidates for an election, or who are standing for election.

This fund is for additional disability-related costs that you have to pay as part of standing for an election. It is not for general costs that any election candidate needs to meet such as campaigning costs (like leaflets). It also does not cover general living costs.

Here are the upcoming elections covered by the fund.

2 May 2013 – South Shields - Parliamentary By-election

2 May 2013 – Local elections (not parish) in England
2 May 2013 – Mayoral (Doncaster, Hartlepool and North Tyneside)

1 May 2014 – Local elections (not parish) in England
1 May 2014 – Mayoral (Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Watford and Tower Hamlets)

7 May 2015 – UK Parliament
7 May 2015 – Local elections (not parish) in England
7 May 2015 – Mayoral (Bedford, Mansfield, Torbay and Leicester)

Local elections include county council, Isles of Scilly, City of London, London boroughs, Metropolitan districts, Shire districts, two-tier districts, and single tier districts. Parish council elections are not covered by the fund.

Links

Funding

For more information:

Supporters

Parliament

There is an online training course about standing for elected office which you can see here.

Parties