We're looking to commission a researcher to map the disability funding landscape in the UK.
Trust for London is seeking a researcher or research team to map the disability funding landscape in the UK - to help build a clearer picture of where disability-related funding goes, how it’s targeted and where patterns of underfunding (particularly for DDPOs and disability justice) may be occurring.
What this project is for
Funding for disability justice in the UK remains significantly and systemically under-resourced. This research will provide a robust, replicable baseline that can be repeated approximately every three years, and will support stronger advocacy and improved funding practice across the sector.
What we’re looking to learn
We want the mapping to explore:
- What the UK disability sector looks like(numbers and types of organisations, size/structure, geographic spread, financial health)
- How much funding is going to the sector,from which sourcesandfor what purposes
- Funding patterns and distribution, including differences between:
- DDPOs vs non-DDPOs
- Services/support vs rights and disability justice
- Intersectionally-led organisations
- Key data gapsand what they mean for funders and the sector
Who should apply
We welcome bids from individuals or organisations with:
- Strong quantitative analysisskills using grants/charity datasets
- Experience building transparent classification frameworksand QA processes
- Ability to produce accessible outputsfor non-technical audiences
- Demonstrable understanding of disability justiceand theDDPO landscape
- Commitment to intersectionality, inclusion of lived experience and fair remuneration
- Robust approach to ethics, data protection and safeguarding
- Lived experience of disability
Partnership bids combining lived experience, disability justice expertise and quantitative skills are encouraged.
How to apply
Please download and review the tender document at the bottom of this page in full before applying.
Your application should include:
- A short statement on relevant skills/approach and commitment to disability justice, accessibility and inclusion (max two pages)
- Summaries of two relevant research projects (max two pages)
- CV/biography for each team member (up to two pages each)
- A budget (staff time by role/day rate/days; any data costs; travel/meetings; design/visualisation; overheads/contingency) up to £30,000 incl. VAT and expenses(access costs can be separate)
Proposals should be submitted by midday 18 February 2026 by email to: joanna@trustforlondon.org.uk
Information webinar access: We'll be hosting a webinar on 28 January for interested applicants to chat through the tender and to answer any questions. To attend, please email djf@trustforlondon.org.uk, along with a note of any access requirements.
Key dates
- Information webinar:28 January 2026 (midday)
- Deadline to apply:18 February 2026 (midday)
- Interviews:23–25 February 2026
- Research period:April–June 2026
- Final report:September 2026
- Dissemination:October–November 2026
19 January 2026