Aims/priorities:
Grants are available through the Pathways to Work Innovation Fund to test new and innovative approaches that support disabled people and people with long-term health conditions to move towards, enter, stay and progress in work.
The fund aims to build evidence about what works and for whom, with tested approaches expected to generate learning that can inform future services. Funded projects should have potential for their approaches to be adopted, replicated or scaled more widely.
The Innovation Fund forms part of Pathways to Work, a government programme that brings together personalised employment, health and skills support. The wider programme aims to create a joined-up system of support, improve access to tailored and specialist services, help people reach their employment goals and support them to overcome barriers to work.
The fund also contributes to wider efforts to build evidence about approaches that can reduce the disability employment gap, improve employment opportunities for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions and strengthen coordination between employment, health and skills support.
Who can apply:
The fund is open to UK-based organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors. Eligible applicants include:
- Charities and voluntary organisations.
- Social enterprises and Community Interest Companies (CICs).
- Private sector organisations and businesses.
- Academic and research organisations.
- Public sector organisations, including local authorities and mayoral strategic authorities.
- Partnerships and consortia.
Individuals may also participate as part of a partnership but cannot apply independently.
For partnership applications, one organisation must act as the lead applicant and will be responsible for submitting the application and managing any funding awarded.
Grant amount: There is no minimum or maximum grant amount. Projects must be delivered within 12 months of signing the Grant Funding Agreement and funding is available until the end of March 2028.
Application process:
Applications are made online.
More information is available at the DWP website.
Deadline: The deadline for applications for Round 1 is 26 October 2026.
Contact information: Department for Work and Pensions