The Acceleration Fund 

Accelerating change together 

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

Applications for this round are open until 30 June. 

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.

This could be the fund for you 
• You're an organisation running a successful project or service for vision impaired people.

• You're keen to use your knowledge and experience so that your project reaches more people with vision loss, and,

• You're open to working with a partner organisation to enable more equitable service provision.

Then the Acceleration Fund is for you. 

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.

The application process

This is a two-stage process.

On 19 May, applications will open for organisations with an existing impactful project or service to express interest in scaling their work, by collaborating with other organisations. The form for this first stage seeks information about the project, its impact to date and the need and opportunities for expansion. Applicants are requested to upload a short video which will be used to publicise the project to potential partner organisations.

The deadline for applications is midday, 30 June. Applicants will be informed of the outcome by 18 July 2025. 

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

Stage 1: Selection of Lead Organisations with an existing project or service to ‘accelerate’

Organisations with existing services for vision impaired individuals are invited to complete a short expression of interest form via Form Assembly

Organisations are also asked to submit a five minute video focussing on their project or service and the impact it has had to date. This will be used in the selection process and will also be used in Stage 2 of the application round.

Stage 1 opens: 19 May
Stage 1 closes: Midday, 30 June 

Stage two: Team formation and joint funding application

Throughout July and August project videos from the lead organisations selected at stage 1 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 2. 

Further details on how teams will be developed ready for stage 2 of the process will be available soon. 

Key dates to take note of 

19 May 2025: Stage 1 opens for applications.
Midday, 30 June 2025: Stage 1 closes.

By 18 July 2025: Successful applicants notified – at this point there is no grant funding guaranteed.

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 2. Teams will be asked to submit their outline business cases.

Midday 20 October 2025: Applications close for stage 2.

November: Outcomes of stage 2 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 2.

     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 1 there is no requirement for you to name any potential partners you may have. At Stage 2, 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 2 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 2, 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 2. 

  • 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 1 can they apply at stage 2?

    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 1 Assessment process to 'select' Lead organisations and services to accelerate, and for those successful in their initial application at Stage 2. 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 application process
  • Key dates
  • Assessment
  • Am I eligible?
  • FAQs