Access Support

Personal access costs can only cover costs related to removing barriers due to disability. This relates to known costs associated with disabled applicants at the point of application. Disabled project team members recruited for the funded project specifically should have access costs included as part of the project budget (see Project Access Costs).

Personal Access Costs are treated separately to your main project budget. They do not count towards your total funding request. This is to ensure that your requests under Personal Access Costs do not push you into a higher funding band or take your total budget over the maximum funding level for the fund.

Please also note that organisations that employ staff are expected to meet the personal disability related access costs of those they employ. This is an employer responsibility under the Equality Act 2010 and is called ‘reasonable adjustments’. This is considered a core operational cost. Access to Work can be applied for to meet these costs. These cannot be covered with funds from Creative Scotland. Organisations recruiting a disabled freelance team member for a specific funded project may be able to include access costs for this person depending on the size of the organisation and how many staff they employ.

Personal Access Costs - Examples of Access Costs

The following list is not exhaustive but covers some of the common access costs applicants include in their budgets.

Eligible Costs

These costs are considered separate from your project budget.

Assistive Technology for the applicant/s

• Assistive technologies (e.g., software for text-to-speech) for those working on the project can be included. Laptops are not considered ‘assistive technology’ and can only be included if current hardware will not allow for new assistive technology to be installed (e.g. RAM or CPU memory is not powerful enough).

• In line with accessibility costs provided by other schemes such as Access to Work and Disabled Students Allowance, only the most cost-effective laptop that has the specifications required to run the specified assistive tech will be permitted.

• Specific technology and laptop model required with an explanation of how they meet the needs of the individual using them must be provided for this to be approved.

Mental Health Support

Mental health support can be considered personal access costs for someone who has identified, sustained and disabling mental health barriers. These costs are permitted when they directly enable the applicant to deliver a project or activity. If you are providing mental health support for participants, this is a project access cost and should be included in your project budget.

Direct Connection to Project Participation

If mental health support is essential for the applicant to overcome barriers to participation in the project (e.g., anxiety related to public speaking or participation in group activities).

Support for Specific Roles

If an individual’s role in the project requires them to manage mental health challenges that could impede their ability to perform (e.g., a performer or facilitator needing support to engage with audiences).

Temporary Support During Project Activities

If the individual requires short-term mental health support specifically related to the project's demands, such as during high-stress periods like rehearsals or presentations.

Professional Development Activities

If mental health support is necessary for attending training, workshops, or conferences that are crucial for the individual's professional development.

Support Worker Costs

• Fees for a support worker to assist disabled applicant/s with specific tasks related to the project.

• A list of specific tasks the support worker will carry out, and how they meet the applicant/s needs must be provided for this to be approved.

Travel Costs for Access

Travel expenses for individuals needing transport adjustments, such as accessible taxis or a support worker accompanying them.

Costs that are not eligible

General Equipment

The purchase of a new laptop for general use, unless it meets the criteria for assistive technology (e.g., current hardware doesn’t support necessary software). Laptops may be included in a project where essential for the project delivery which will be assessed as part of the application process. Laptops can also be covered by fees as a business expense and claimed through tax returns.

Ongoing Tools for Freelancers

Costs for freelancers’ ongoing tools (e.g. software subscriptions or general equipment) can be included in the project budget which will be assessed as part of the application process. Tools and software can also be covered by their fees as a business expense and claimed through tax returns.