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The Acceleration Fund 

Accelerating change together 

Hope in research - Our supporters and people experiencing sight loss share their stories with us.

Lead organisation videos are live.

At Fight for Sight, we’re always looking for ways to evolve our funding to increase the impact we have on blind and vision impaired people. This fund has been created in response to the urgent need for people to be able to access consistent, high-quality services wherever they live and whatever their circumstances.

Our hope is that the funding will enable organisations to make highly impactful services accessible to more blind and vision impaired people.

The Acceleration Fund will award grants of up to £75,000 to groups of between two and four organisations to work together to expand the geographic and demographic reach of existing services.

Would you like to implement one of these great projects or services within the community you serve? If so, reach out to the lead organisation (featured in the video), or contact us at socialchange@fightforsight.org.uk and we’ll facilitate an introduction.

We're now in Stage two of the application process - Team formation and joint funding application

These six projects/services are looking forward to hearing from you. Take a look at each of their pitches to find one that works for you. 

If you're interested in taking on one of these projects/services with the support of the lead organisation (featured in the videos) then get in touch.

The Beacon Centre - Transforming health and social care through lived experience

Beacon supports everyone affected by sight loss: patients, carers, and family members alike. 

With their project, they share a new way of working that helps you influence systems, unlock funding and drive real change. Join them on their mission to make health and social care accessible for all.

 

Extant - No Dramas workshop expansion

The UK's leading professional performing arts company company that explores visual impairment to create unique and innovative artistic experiences. 

Work with Extant to expand the popular No Dramas workshop.

Henshaws - First steps together 

Henshaws is a northern charity supporting people living with sight loss and a range of other disabilities to go beyond expectations. 

Henshaws is looking to partner with another organisation to share the success and benefits of their First Steps phone programme. A 12-month phone contact programme with proven success of embedding independence in newly diagnosed people. In this film, Simon Head of First Steps talks us through the service and how you can potentially work together. 

MyVision Oxfordshire - Green Walks 

Mark from MyVision Oxfordshire shared the unexpected successes and delights of the first year of the MyVision Green Walks programme in a recent webinar with us. 

Now the organisation is looking to expand the walking programme with other organisations around the country. 

RSBC - Navigating the Early Years

RSBC is a national charity ensuring children, young people and their families live their life without limits.

Their project, Navigating the Early Years, empowers families with a visually impaired child who is diagnosed in the early years. Learn more about their project and join them on their mission to reach as many families as early in their journey as possible.

Visionary - A Space of Our Own

Visionary is the national membership organisation for local sight loss charities with the ambition to help empower these vital charities to be the best they can be.

Their project, A Space of Our Own, is an online space for people with sight loss who work in the sight loss sector to connect, share experiences and influence change. Join them on their mission to help more blind and partially sighted professionals not just survive at work but thrive.

The application process

This is a two-stage process.

Stage one is now complete. We are now in Stage two, team formation and joint funding application. We've shared the videos of the projects, it's now your turn to find the project for you.

Once you and a lead applicant decide to apply together, you’ll complete the collaborative application documents with them and any other delivery partners.

Read on to find out more about the process and how to apply. 

Stage one: Selection of Lead Organisations with an existing project or service to ‘accelerate’

Complete. 

Stage two: Team formation and joint funding application

Throughout July and August project videos from the lead organisations selected at Stage one will be promoted to the sector, via our online channels to prospective partners. Lead organisations and prospective partners can begin to co-produce business cases ready for submission at Stage two.

Key dates to take note of 

July/August 2025: Teams are developed and begin work on outline business cases, needs analysis and resource planning.

5 September – Information sharing and networking event to support finalising of outline business cases. 

8 September – Applications open for stage two. Teams will be asked to submit their outline business cases.

Midday 20 October 2025: Applications close for stage two.

November: Outcomes of stage two anticipated. This will release tranche 1 of the full grant, up to £15,000 for developing detailed delivery plans.

Release of the remaining grant will be confirmed in Feb 2026 and will be subject to satisfactory demonstration of robust planning and delivery plans. Full implementation of the projects is expected early in the 2026/27 financial year.    

You must submit your application for approval by the stated deadline for your submission to be processed.

How will applications be assessed?

Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria: 
•    The track record and success of the Lead Organisation in delivering the project/service. 
•    Strong evidence of need for the project/service to be scaled up. 
•    How feasible it would be to scale up the project/service. 
•    The potential of long term impact.
•    The strength of partnerships formed.

Is my organisation eligible to apply?

The following organisations are eligible to receive funding from the Acceleration funding programme:
•    UK registered charities.
•    Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO).
•    Charitable companies, limited by guarantee.
•    Community Interest Companies (CIC), limited by guarantee.
•    Exempt charities (e.g. educational establishments).

FAQs

  • How will the lead organisations video be used to promote the project/service?

    Your video will be promoted via our social media channels. The aim of this promotion is to showcase the types of work we might be funding through this scheme and to help you identify prospective partners with whom you could work to scale up the delivery of your initiative within the communities they serve. Your video will only be promoted if you are invited to Stage two.

    Videos will be given the same level of promotion, and interested partners can either contact lead organisations or Fight for Sight directly if they are interested in a particular project.

  • Will Fight for Sight be matchmaking lead organisations with partners?

    No, we do not intend to matchmake partners with lead organisations. Potential partners may either contact us to facilitate an introduction or the Lead Organisation directly following on from the promotion of their videos. Whether you decide to work with a potential partner is at your discretion and you must be satisfied as to potential partners eligibility for the scheme and ensure you have conducted necessary due diligence. 

  • Will lead organisations identify their own partner organisations or will Fight for Sight matchmake?

    We recognise that some organisations applying may have prospective partners in mind. At Stage one there is no requirement for you to name any potential partners you may have. At Stage two, you will have the opportunity to develop a joint funding application with these organisations and any further ones identified through promotion of your video to our networks. 

  • Can two lead organisations work together?

    If you have already collaborated in creating the project/service you are welcome to apply as part of a consortium, but you must find at least one additional partner to upscale the project. 

  • How can an organisation become a delivery partner?

    To become a delivery partner, you will need to apply in collaboration with a lead organisation in Stage two of the application process. If you wish to express an interest in becoming a partner prior to this, and to be notified of projects invited to Stage two, you may fill out this form.

    N.B: this is not a necessary step, and you do not need to express an interest prior to project promotion to be considered.

  • What does the term 'business case' mean?

    The business case is the application. It's for you to develop a case for scaling up the project/service detailing things like:

    • the need among partner communities,

    • the extended reach your service will have through the collaboration, and

    • your success criteria and plans to evaluate these. 

    More instructions will be provided on this at Stage two. 

  • What are the expected timelines for project delivery after funding has been approved?

    We are expecting successful grantees to start implementing the services in Q1 of 2026/27, the projects duration is expected to be in line with our regular project grants i.e. 12 to 36 months. 

  • If an organisation is already working with a partner to deliver a project/service can they continue to do so?

    You may apply to the Acceleration Fund but since a requirement of this scheme is the extension of services to new communities through collaborations, we would require you to include at least one new partner organisation in your team. 

  • If an applicant is not successful at Stage one can they apply at Stage two?

    Yes, you may join a team as a partner and work collaboratively to submit an application to enable you to implement and deliver another project/service. 

  • Can an organisation apply as both a lead organisation and a partner organisation?

    Yes, you are welcome to apply in capacity as both a lead organisation and delivery partner. However, during your joint funding application you will need to demonstrate that your organisation has the capacity and resources to successfully deliver both initiatives. 

  • Does the lead organisations video need to be professionally filmed and/or edited?

    Your video will be used during the Stage one Assessment process to 'select' Lead organisations and services to accelerate, and for those successful in their initial application at Stage two. We do not expect professionally produced videos. Smartphone footage is fine but you must ensure good audio and visual quality. Videos will be assessed according to the quality and clarity of the information provided relating to your project/service and your track record in it's delivery, the impact achieved to date.

  • 4 million
    People living with sight loss by 2050
  • 50%
    Demand for charity services remains high across the sector and half of all small charities report that this is increasing.
  • The shortlisted projects
  • The application process
  • Key dates
  • Assessment
  • Am I eligible?
  • FAQs