Local Shops Access Fund Application

This fund has been set up by the Council, in order to promote the equality of disabled people.

It will pay up to half of the cost of access improvements, up to the value of £1,000, made to Ealing shop, restaurant, bar or café premises. It is administered by Ealing Centre for Independent Living (ECIL). ECIL will arrange a premises visit and help find a best value access solution, with an estimate of cost.

Telephone 020 8280 2273 for more information.

We will contact you, on receipt of this application form.

All the form fields are required!

Go straight to the application form

Qualification Criteria

To be eligible for funding applicants must: be a shop, restaurant, café, or similar service, with premises in Ealing have an access issue, for which a reasonable adjustment can be made be a business likely to continue trading for at least one year guarantee to leave the access equipment or fixtures in place, if the business ceases trading or moves premises (unless, with the example of portable ramps, the owner can continue to make use of the equipment, in the borough of Ealing not be part of national chains or franchise holders, unless the franchising company takes no responsibility for premises or access costs

Planning Implications

ECIL’s suppliers will ensure all work complies with planning regulations.

How will the fund work in practice?

The aim of the fund is to support businesses to make reasonable access adjustments.

ECIL will work with trustworthy professionals in the access field and develop a list of approved suppliers who are willing to do the work at competitive rates and prices.

Applicants may choose to use other suppliers, but quotes will be compared with similar work done. An alternative quote from an approved supplier may be raised as a comparator. ECIL will work to ensure quotes are kept as low as possible by developing and maintaining good relationships with suppliers.

The fund will pay for 50% of the cost of work done up to £1,000, ie a maximum of £500.

All work will be checked over by ECIL. Payment will be made after a satisfactory inspection and production of receipts. The fund will be publicised through a booklet, Accessible Shopping in Ealing, which ECIL will produce and which will be distributed to all shops in the borough. It will also be publicised through the local papers, local radio and Around Ealing.

How will the fund be administered?

ECIL will support applicants with the process of making their premises accessible and with this application process.

The fund will consider applications and make payments on a quarterly basis.

Applications will be made on an application form designed by ECIL and included in the booklet and available separately.

ECIL will hold the money in a separate 90 day notice bank account.

Applications, along with the relevant quote, a photo of the premises and any other information will be considered at a meeting of the decision making panel, held quarterly, prior to ECIL’s Trustees’ meeting.

ECIL trustees will form the core (four members) of the decision making panel and will be joined by other interested individuals to a maximum of ten.

The first panel meeting will be on 4th August ’09, the second on 3rd November ’09.

Please contact Daniel Stringer, at ECIL, 020 8280 2273, or email daniel.stringer@ecil.org