Deadline: 06-Jan-2026
The Fight for Sight Digital Inclusion Fund provides UK-based organisations with grants up to £30,000 to support blind and vision-impaired individuals in gaining digital skills, accessing technology, and entering meaningful employment. Projects focus on workplace readiness, job applications, retention, progression, or careers in technology, emphasizing lived experience and collaboration.
Overview of the Fight for Sight Digital Inclusion Fund
The Fight for Sight Digital Inclusion Fund is a UK grant initiative designed to support organisations helping blind and vision-impaired individuals enhance digital skills and secure sustainable employment. With grants up to £30,000 and project durations between 12–36 months, the fund aims to create lasting impact through training, access to digital technology, and career support. Employment for blind and vision-impaired people in the UK remains alarmingly low, with fewer than one in three in paid work, highlighting the need for interventions that build confidence, raise awareness of digital tools, and prepare individuals for evolving workplaces.
Fund Objectives
The fund supports projects that:
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Equip blind and vision-impaired individuals with digital literacy and technology skills.
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Help participants prepare for employment, apply for jobs, and sustain careers.
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Open pathways into technology or digital support roles.
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Foster collaboration and incorporate lived experience in project design and delivery.
The fund sees digital literacy as a critical enabler of opportunity, ensuring participants are not left behind in an increasingly digital workforce.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible organisations include:
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Registered charities
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Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs)
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Charitable companies limited by guarantee
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Community interest companies (CICs) limited by guarantee
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Exempt charities (e.g., educational establishments)
Projects must directly support blind or vision-impaired individuals, including those at risk of sight loss. Collaboration across multiple organisations is strongly encouraged.
Priority Areas
Projects should address one or more of the following key areas:
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Getting Ready for the Workplace – Skills assessments, confidence building, and experiential learning.
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Looking for and Applying for Jobs – Support with CV writing, job applications, and interview preparation.
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Job Retention and Career Progression – Mentoring, upskilling, and workplace adjustment strategies.
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Working in Technology or Digital Support – Technology-based career pathways, coding, assistive tech training, or access to digital devices.
Examples include developing scalable digital skills frameworks, providing access to adaptive technology, and launching mentoring schemes or career pathways in tech.
How It Works
Step 1: Prepare Your Proposal – Identify the digital and employment challenges faced by participants, demonstrate lived experience involvement, and outline measurable outcomes.
Step 2: Submit Your Application – Apply through the Fight for Sight portal with project budget, duration, objectives, and impact metrics.
Step 3: Project Delivery – Implement training, mentoring, technology access, or career support programs and engage participants in ongoing evaluation.
Step 4: Reporting and Impact Measurement – Track digital skills improvement, employment outcomes, and participant satisfaction and provide reports to Fight for Sight.
Common Tips for Applicants
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Involve lived experience: Ensure blind or vision-impaired individuals shape the project.
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Be collaborative: Partner with other organisations to maximize reach and impact.
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Focus on measurable outcomes: Show how your project will improve employment and digital skills.
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Think scalability: Consider solutions that can expand or be replicated.
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Address priority areas explicitly: Align project objectives with workplace readiness, job search, retention, or tech careers.
FAQs
1. What is the maximum grant amount? – Up to £30,000.
2. How long can a project run? – 12–36 months.
3. Who can apply? – Registered charities, CIOs, charitable companies, CICs, and exempt charities.
4. Can multiple organisations collaborate? – Yes, collaborative proposals are strongly encouraged.
5. Do projects need to involve blind or vision-impaired individuals? – Yes, projects must directly benefit individuals with sight loss and ideally include them in planning and delivery.
6. What types of projects are prioritized? – Projects supporting workplace readiness, job search, retention, career progression, or technology/digital roles.
7. Is digital technology access part of the funding scope? – Yes, providing devices, assistive technology, and digital training are core components.
Why It Matters
Blind and vision-impaired individuals face significant barriers in employment due to limited access to digital skills and technology. By funding projects that equip participants with tools, training, and confidence, the fund increases employment opportunities, promotes social inclusion, and prepares participants for a rapidly evolving digital workforce.
Conclusion
The Fight for Sight Digital Inclusion Fund is a strategic opportunity for UK-based organisations to advance digital inclusion, career readiness, and technology-based employment for blind and vision-impaired people. By focusing on experiential learning, measurable outcomes, and innovative approaches, organisations can transform career pathways, empower participants, and promote long-term social and economic inclusion.
For more information, visit Fight for Sight.