Funding Reasonable Adjustments
For current University employees, please visit the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Intranet site to access detailed guidance on funding reasonable adjustments and the Access to Work process.
Many reasonable adjustments are simple, easy to implement and inexpensive or free. As part of conversations during the Workplace Adjustments Process, potential adjustments with a cost attached can consider 3 funding routes. One route is a Central Reasonable Adjustments Fund which is being piloted for 2 years (2026-27) to ensure disabled employees at the University of Leeds can access timely and effective workplace adjustments.
Page contents
- No-cost or low‑cost adjustments
- Local funding
- Central Reasonable Adjustments Fund
- Access to Work
No-cost or low‑cost adjustments
Managers and employees should consider free or low‑cost adjustments first. Before considering adjustments with a cost, check whether:
- there are built‑in or existing digital accessibility tools,
- a no-cost or low‑cost adjustment would address the workplace barrier, or
- a simple local solution is available.
No-cost or low-cost adjustments can be trialled before requesting funding for higher cost alternatives.
Local funding
Adjustment related costs under £500 are funded by the local School/Service unless Access to Work reimbursement is limited.
Central Reasonable Adjustments Fund
The Central Reasonable Adjustments Fund provides financial support to ensure disabled employees at the University of Leeds can access timely and effective workplace adjustments.
The Fund can be used to purchase a wide range of reasonable adjustments, including the provision of assistive technology, specialist equipment, support workers, and any items awarded through an Access to Work grant.
The central fund is administered by the Equality and Inclusion Unit (EIU) and uses a tiered funding model approach to ensure fair cost‑sharing between departments and the central fund.
The Fund can be used by any employee, or prospective employee with a confirmed job offer, who meets the Equality Act definition of disability, even if they do not consider themselves as disabled.
Access to Work
Access to Work is a government scheme that can help you if you have a disability or a physical or mental health condition. The support you get will depend on your needs. Through Access to Work, you can apply for:
- a grant to help pay for practical support with your work
- support with managing your mental health at work
Support to apply to Access to Work before starting your role
Access to Work may be able to fund some or all the adjustments you need. The Equality and Inclusion Unit (EIU) can provide guidance on applying and help you understand your award and next steps.
Applications to Access to Work that are made before starting a new role are processed as a priority. This means the support can be put in place prior to, or within the first few weeks, of starting your role.
If you would like help completing the application, you can contact our Reasonable Adjustments Funding Adviser, [email protected].
Job interviews
You can apply to Access to Work to get money for communication support at a job interview. You need to apply before the interview takes place.
If you need communication help for a job interview before graduating, you should be able to access the Access to Work scheme, even though you are still studying.