How you can ask for Access Support for Funding Applications
Whilst these resources are free, contributors are doing this unpaid, if you can afford to buy them a coffee/donate, then we encourage £3.
Many neurodivergent artists don’t realise that they can get paid access support when applying for funding.
This guide will explain in very simple terms and provide a template email for you to use whenever you want access support with filling in your funding application.
Remember:
You are simply asking to reduce your barriers so you can send off that funding application! It is in the arts organisation’s interest to read your extremely interesting and exciting funding application! They can’t do that if you can’t get them the funding application!
1) If you’re new to applying for funding to fund your art or writing practice, you might not be aware of some arts organisations that support disabled artists to reduce their access barriers so you can apply for funding!
These organisations are worth looking up, they offer funding or call out opportunities you can apply to:
Disability Arts Online
Arts Council England (If you’re based in England)
A-N
Also look up other Call Outs and Opportunities on the Arts Jobs website
2) When you find an opportunity you want to apply to, or want to make a funding application, look out for the email that might invite you to email and ask for access support with the form.
“If you need access support to fill in the form please contact [email address]”
This is the part you need to find in the information part about the how to fill in the application form.
3) When you find the email address, identify who you would like to use to support you with the funding application. Here at Magical Women, we can support you with some funding applications but we cannot help with more complicated budgets, for that we highly recommend a fundraiser we work with so do email us for their name.
4) Use the template email below to send to the funding organisation to ask for access support:
Dear (Organisation name) team, (if you don’t have a name, if you have a name use their name)
I am a disabled artist and require access support to fill in the funding application.
I have approached XYZ to help me fill in the application form. Their cost is £(number)/day. They will need (number) days for the application form.
Please let me know what the next steps are.
Thank you,
(Your name)
Example:
Dear ACE team,
I am a disabled artist and require access support to fill in the funding application.
I have approached Elinor Rowlands to help me fill in the application form. Their cost is £200/day. They will need 3 days for the application form.
Please let me know what the next steps are.
Thank you,
Stephanie
Usually access workers who support you to fill in the application form charge between £200-£250 per day, and Arts Council England usually gives approximate 3 days as a guide. 2 days would be on the lower end for a longer application. Some organisations will tell you a maximum amount of days they allow for access support.
5) It’s always worth asking a funding organisation if they provide access support.
6) Remember! If forms fill you with dread, if you struggle to understand questions then you need access support!
7) What if it goes wrong?
Do remember, if you’re not gelling with your access support, then it might not be a good fit. I have noticed that sometimes people in these roles aren’t very good at it… they might use you for money etc. If this happens don’t panic! Simply write to them and thank them for their help but say you want to pause on the application form.
Then approach the organisation and ask them if they have a list of access workers or whether they could recommend someone.
Whilst they might not be able to recommend anyone, they might be able to provide you a list, or you can approach us to help you.
We are all completely individual and all have our own needs, and it’s important your access worker understands you and knows what you’re trying to say.
8) We hope this Guide has helped and that you feel more confident to approach an organisation for access support with the funding application process and form.