Applications open for Boshier Grant Scheme 2026 (United Kingdom)

The Boshier Grant Scheme 2026, delivered by the National Autistic Society in partnership with Thea and Peter Boshier, offers grants of up to £25,000 to registered UK charities delivering projects that improve the lives of autistic people. The 2026 funding theme, “Making a society that works better for autistic people,” supports initiatives that promote inclusion, improve education, increase employment opportunities, strengthen public services, and provide better support for autistic individuals, their families, and carers.

About the Boshier Grant Scheme 2026

The Boshier Grant Scheme is a charitable funding programme established in 2023 through a partnership between the National Autistic Society and Thea and Peter Boshier. The scheme was created to provide financial support to charities delivering innovative and impactful projects that help build a more inclusive society for autistic people across the United Kingdom.

Each year, the programme adopts a specific theme that reflects current priorities affecting autistic individuals and their communities. For 2026, the focus is on creating a society where autistic people can access appropriate support, participate fully in education and employment, receive high-quality public services, and live free from discrimination.

The programme encourages projects that generate measurable and lasting improvements in the lives of autistic people while promoting greater public understanding and acceptance of autism.

Funding Amount

Successful applicants may receive:

• Up to £25,000 per project.

Funding is available for projects that directly benefit autistic people living in the United Kingdom.

Programme Theme

The 2026 theme is:

Making a society that works better for autistic people.

Projects should demonstrate how they contribute to creating a more inclusive, supportive, and accessible society for autistic individuals.

Programme Objectives

The Boshier Grant Scheme aims to:

• Improve the quality of life for autistic people.
• Promote greater understanding and acceptance of autism.
• Increase access to education and employment opportunities.
• Improve support services for autistic individuals.
• Strengthen assistance for families and carers.
• Encourage inclusive communities and public services.
• Reduce discrimination and barriers to participation.
• Support long-term positive outcomes for autistic people across the UK.

Priority Areas

Projects may focus on one or more of the following priorities:

• Improving public understanding of autism.
• Increasing positive representation of autistic people.
• Enhancing education for autistic children and young people.
• Expanding employment and career opportunities.
• Supporting timely autism diagnosis.
• Reducing waiting times for diagnostic services.
• Improving diagnostic guidance and pathways.
• Strengthening public services.
• Enhancing specialist care.
• Supporting families and carers.
• Promoting inclusive communities.
• Reducing discrimination.
• Improving accessibility of public spaces and services.

Projects should demonstrate clear benefits for autistic people and align closely with the programme’s annual theme.

Expected Project Outcomes

Successful projects should contribute to one or more of the following outcomes:

• Valuing autistic people and their experiences.
• Empowering autistic individuals to participate in society.
• Maximising autistic leadership and influence.
• Guaranteeing appropriate support.
• Improving accessibility of services.
• Creating more inclusive public environments.
• Reducing social exclusion.
• Building communities free from discrimination.
• Improving health, education, employment, or well-being outcomes.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Registered charities in the United Kingdom.
• Charities of any size.
• Organizations registered with the Charity Commission.
• Charities with a valid charity registration number.
• Charities with a UK bank account.

Projects must primarily benefit autistic people within the United Kingdom.

Who is Not Eligible?

The following applicants or projects are not eligible:

• Community Interest Companies (CICs).
• Organizations based outside the United Kingdom.
• Unregistered organizations.
• Projects where autistic people are not the primary beneficiaries.
• Organizations without a registered charity number.
• Organizations without an eligible bank account.

Applicants should ensure they meet all eligibility requirements before submitting a proposal.

Eligible Projects

Examples of projects that may be supported include:

• Autism awareness campaigns.
• Educational support programmes.
• Inclusive learning initiatives.
• Employment readiness programmes.
• Workplace inclusion projects.
• Family support services.
• Carer support initiatives.
• Community inclusion activities.
• Accessible public service projects.
• Autism advocacy programmes.
• Training for professionals.
• Service improvement initiatives.
• Projects promoting autistic leadership.
• Anti-discrimination initiatives.

Projects should deliver measurable outcomes and demonstrate long-term community benefit.

How to Apply

Organizations interested in applying should follow these steps.

1. Review the official Boshier Grant Scheme guidance.
2. Confirm that your organization meets the eligibility requirements.
3. Develop a project that aligns with the 2026 funding theme.
4. Clearly explain how the project will improve the lives of autistic people.
5. Prepare a realistic project budget.
6. Develop a detailed implementation plan and timeline.
7. Describe the expected outcomes and methods for measuring impact.
8. Complete the official application form.
9. Submit all required supporting documents before the application deadline.
10. Respond to any requests for additional information during the assessment process if required.

Application Components

A competitive application should generally include:

• Organizational information.
• Charity registration details.
• Project description.
• Objectives and expected outcomes.
• Target beneficiaries.
• Implementation plan.
• Budget and financial information.
• Monitoring and evaluation framework.
• Sustainability plan.
• Supporting documentation requested by the programme.

Selection Criteria

Applications are expected to be assessed based on:

• Alignment with the annual theme.
• Potential impact on autistic people.
• Quality of project design.
• Organizational capacity.
• Feasibility.
• Innovation.
• Value for money.
• Sustainability.
• Measurable outcomes.
• Long-term community benefit.

Projects that demonstrate meaningful improvements for autistic people and strong evidence of impact are likely to be more competitive.

Why This Grant Matters

Autistic people often experience barriers in education, employment, healthcare, public services, and community participation. The Boshier Grant Scheme helps charities develop practical solutions that improve inclusion, independence, and quality of life.

The programme contributes to:

• Better public understanding of autism.
• Improved educational opportunities.
• Greater employment inclusion.
• Enhanced support services.
• Stronger family and carer support.
• More accessible communities.
• Reduced discrimination.
• Increased social participation.
• Greater equality and inclusion.
• Long-term improvements in the lives of autistic people.

By investing in community-led projects, the programme supports a society where autistic individuals can thrive and participate fully.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid these common mistakes.

• Submitting projects that do not primarily benefit autistic people.
• Failing to align with the annual funding theme.
• Applying as an ineligible organization such as a Community Interest Company (CIC).
• Providing unclear project objectives.
• Preparing unrealistic budgets.
• Failing to demonstrate measurable impact.
• Omitting implementation or sustainability plans.
• Submitting incomplete application documents.

A strong application should clearly demonstrate need, impact, feasibility, and alignment with the programme’s objectives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Boshier Grant Scheme 2026?

The Boshier Grant Scheme is a funding programme delivered by the National Autistic Society in partnership with Thea and Peter Boshier that provides grants to UK charities supporting autistic people.

How much funding is available?

Successful organizations may receive up to £25,000 for eligible projects.

Who can apply?

Registered UK charities of any size with a valid Charity Commission registration number and UK bank account are eligible to apply.

Can Community Interest Companies (CICs) apply?

No. Community Interest Companies and organizations that are not registered charities are not eligible.

What types of projects are supported?

The programme supports projects that improve education, employment, diagnosis, public services, family support, autism awareness, accessibility, inclusion, and overall quality of life for autistic people.

Who should benefit from the project?

Projects must primarily benefit autistic people living in the United Kingdom.

What makes a strong application?

Competitive applications clearly align with the annual theme, demonstrate measurable outcomes, show strong organizational capacity, provide realistic budgets, and deliver meaningful improvements for autistic people.

Conclusion

The Boshier Grant Scheme 2026 provides an important funding opportunity for UK charities working to create a more inclusive society for autistic people. With grants of up to £25,000, the programme supports projects that improve education, employment, healthcare, public services, family support, and community inclusion while promoting greater understanding and acceptance of autism. By investing in impactful and sustainable initiatives, the scheme helps charities deliver meaningful change and improve the lives of autistic people across the United Kingdom.