Press release: Disabled candidates standing in the Senedd Elections urged to apply early for Access to Elected Office Fund Wales 

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For immediate release 

Disabled people across Wales who are planning to stand in this year’s Senedd elections are being encouraged to apply early for the Access to Elected Office Fund Wales, to ensure any additional support they need can be put in place in good time. 

While the deadline for submitting nominations for the Senedd elections is 9th April, applications to the Access to Elected Office Fund Wales can be made now. The fund is administered by Disability Wales. 

Jessica Hatchett, Civic Participation Officer at Disability Wales, said: “Sourcing the most appropriate support for candidates can sometimes take longer than anticipated. The earlier an application is received, the more time there is to talk to a candidate, understand their needs and put support in place. The last thing we want is to rush the process and risk arrangements not working as well as they should.” 

The Access to Elected Office Fund Wales, backed by the Welsh Government, provides financial support with impairment-related costs for disabled candidates standing in the 2026 Senedd and 2027 Local Government elections. This includes funding for British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters, personal assistants, accessible transport, and assistive technology. 

Wales made history in 2020 as the first nation in the UK to launch such a fund at the community council level, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive, representative democracy. The Fund ensures that disabled people can engage fully in the political process, on an equal footing with non-disabled candidates. 

The fund is non-partisan and open to candidates standing for a political party or as an independent. 

Disabled people interested in applying to the fund should visit the Disability Wales website or email electedofficefund@disabilitywales.org for further information. 

All applications are anonymised before being reviewed by a decision panel consisting of individuals with lived experience of disability and expertise in making reasonable adjustments. 

ENDS 

Notes to editors

  • Disability Wales (DW) is the national membership body of Disabled People’s Organisations, striving for the rights of all disabled people. 

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