ACE applications: How to get ready for access support

Note: The following text contains a lot of information, including numbers and tables. You may find it easier to listen to the audio version or read the PDF version (see above).


Requesting access support

If you are Deaf, disabled, neurodivergent or are experiencing poor short or long-term physical or mental health, you can apply to Arts Council England (ACE) for access support. This will pay for an access support worker to help you write and submit an ACE funding application. ACE does NOT ask for proof of your barriers, so you do not need to provide any additional information when making a request for access support.

You can identify your own access worker (ask your network for suggestions), this is beneficial because they can help you to submit your request for access support. If you don’t have anyone in mind, ACE can try to match you with one of their support workers, but can’t guarantee this will be possible.

Steps:

1. Check when ACE are accepting access applications (for DYCP this is normally one month before the DYCP funding round opens and for Project Grants you can apply for access at any time). For DYCP you could find this out by contacting Arts Council. You can ring them, email or live chat online (we recommend live chat as a fast option).
   
   
2. Contact your access worker if you have found one
   
   
3. Prepare your access support request with your access worker >> see our ACCESS APPLICATION TEMPLATE for the questions asked.
   
   If you haven’t found a support worker, request to be connected with one through the online form. You will also need to answer some different questions (see the Template for details).
   
   If you have found a support worker, you will need their:
   - Name
   - Email
   - Phone number
   - The number of hours of support your requesting
   - Your support workers daily rate
   - The total amount £ requested for access support (up to £600 for DYCP or £900 for Project Grants)
   
   There are two key questions you will need to answer well:
   - An outline of the barriers you experience and your access needs
   - A daily breakdown of the support required and how this support is shaped around your access to remove barriers
   
   
4. Submit your access support request and wait to hear back. If applying for DYCP this will take up to 5 working days (not including weekends or bank holidays) and if Project Grants it will take up to 20.
   
   
5. Once access has been approved you can start working on your funding application with your support worker
   
   
6. Submit your funding application
   
   
7. Your access worker invoices ACE for their agreed fee
   
   

DYCP Vs Project Grants - Which ACE funding are you applying for?

Getting ready for access support

Your access worker is there to support you to write and submit your application. They are not there to help you work out ideas or the details of your project, so you will need a clear idea and plan for what you want to do already in place. Your access worker can:

• Help you understand the questions and information required
• Ask you the questions in the funding applications, note take and write up answers
• Help to submit your application on grantium (ACE’s online application system)

Your access worker has limited time to work with you so making the best use of their time is key. You will need to be prepared to work alongside your access worker and to work on the funding bid outside of your time together.

Things to do in advance

Things you may need to do outside of your time with your access worker during the application process

Access support during your project

You can add access costs to your funding application budget. This support is in place to help you manage and deliver your project and/or to help you with the evaluation/ACE report you will need to do at the end of your project.

The amount you request for access costs depends on your needs. There is not a set amount you can ask for and this money is considered separately to the amount you apply for for your project i.e:

For DYCP you can apply for up to £12,000 but you could request additional money for access costs on top of this. This could be for anything that would enable your participation in the activity you are proposing.

The amount you request should be reasonable and proportional to the scale of your application.

Read more about access support via Arts Council England’s website.

Acknowledgements:

With thanks to Alys Scott-Hawkins for reviewing this resource and giving valuable input. Alys is an artist based in Southampton and specialises in supporting creative people with their work. Find out more.

With thanks also to Rachel Dobbs for sharing content for the table which outlines the difference between DYCP and Project Grant funding. Rachel is an artist and educator based in Plymouth whose practice spans a range of collaborative artistic and community-focused projects. You can see Rachel's version and find out more about her work here.