• Purpl is launching a grant, allowing members to apply for up to £2,000 to offset extra costs
• Recipients of the grant will be selected by an advisory board made up of disability leaders and experts, including Sheldon McMullan, Chloe O’Toole and Georgina Colman
• Anyone with a disability or long-term health condition recognised under the Equality Act 2010 who has the correct documents, including PIP, Blue Badge or NHS Diagnosis letter, can join Purpl and apply for the grant

A new grant is set to help disabled people meet essential expenses and access vital practical support.

The Purpl Grant Community Fund launches on the 1st of April, and will provide grants of up to £2,000 to eligible disabled people to help pay for items such as mobility equipment, accessibility adaptations, therapy, wellbeing support, education and independence-related costs.

The move comes as research from disability charity Scope shows disabled households face significantly higher living costs. Currently, the average disabled household needs an additional £1,095 per month to maintain the same standard of living as non-disabled households, equivalent to more than £13,000 a year.

Even with support such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), many households face a shortfall. Scope estimates disabled people are, on average, £630 a month worse off, as benefits do not fully cover these extra costs.

Recognising this, the Purpl Community Grant Fund intends to address this gap by providing targeted, needs-based support. The fund, which will be run quarterly, is open to eligible members of the money-saving platform, Purpl. Applicants must be based in the UK, have a disability or long-term health condition, or be applying on behalf of a disabled dependent. 

Purpl will limit applications to 100 entries to ensure every submission is reviewed thoroughly and fairly. Applications will be anonymised before shortlisting and assessed through an eligibility check and scoring process based on financial need, potential impact, and urgency. One or more recipients may be chosen by the advisory panel to receive the grant.

The advisory panel is made up of Sheldon McMullan, CEO of Yateley Industries, a disability charity. Chloe O’Toole, Co-Chair of 4Purple, Channel 4’s Disability Network and Georgina Colman, founder of Purpl.

Chloe O’Toole, Account Management Executive & E&I Ambassador at Channel 4, said: “Being disabled is expensive, and Purpl is doing something genuinely impactful to change that. I’m really excited to be working with Purpl – it’s a mission that genuinely resonates with me. I’m passionate about making spaces, workplaces, and everyday life more accessible and inclusive. I founded Channel 4’s Neurodiversity Community and previously chaired our Disability Network, and I’m now part of our ERG Alumni. I’m also an Equity & Inclusion Ambassador, an Ambassador for StageText, and a long-standing volunteer with Glastonbury’s Accessibility Team.

“As someone with combined ADHD and severe sensorineural hearing loss, I bring both lived experience and a real drive to make things better – particularly when it comes to financial wellbeing and support. I’m really looking forward to being part of Purpl’s grant scheme panel and contributing to such meaningful work.”

Georgina Colman, founder of Purpl, said: “As a disabled person myself, I understand how quickly additional costs can arise, and how there is often a gap between the support available and the reality of what’s needed.

“The Purpl Community Grant Fund aims to help bridge that gap by providing targeted, needs-based funding where it can make the most difference. By focusing on practical support, from equipment to therapies, the Grant Fund will empower people, reduce barriers, and advocate for the disabled community.

“This is just the beginning. The fund is our first step towards creating a future foundation that can deliver real, lasting support for disabled people and their families. We’re building this carefully, but with a very big vision in mind.”

The fund is part of Purpl’s commitment to reinvest in its community. The platform will allocate 20% of its promotional revenue from brand partnerships to the fund each quarter. The grant will be administered by Purpl, with payments made directly to suppliers whenever possible rather than provided as cash to recipients. As Purpl continues to grow, the platform aims to expand the level of support it can provide through the grant.

Purpl already offers some financial relief to the disabled community by enabling members to access discounts and exclusive savings across a range of brands like Morrisons, Hoover, Sky, Samsung, eBay, Snappy Shopper, and hundreds of others. The platform also provides advice and guidance for those living with a disability. Anyone with a disability or long-term health condition recognised under the Equality Act 2010 can sign up for Purpl, and verify their disability status with accepted documentation such as PIP, DLA, Blue Badge, Disabled Bus Pass, Disabled Persons Railcard, NHS Diagnosis letter and Access Card. 

Applications are capped at 100 and will be closed once the limit is met. The successful recipients will be announced in July this year. To find out more about Purpl or apply for the grant, visit the Purpl website. 

About Purpl
Purpl is the UK’s first money-saving platform, created to reduce the additional financial pressures associated with living with a disability or long-term health conditions recognised under the Equality Act. Founded by Georgina Colman, who has multiple sclerosis and ADHD, Purpl offers discounts and exclusive offers across various products and services to help members save money. The platform is available online and through the mobile app on Apple Store and Google Play. Purpl also offers a digital membership card for in-store offers currently available with Halfords, Dunelm and Holland & Barrett. Verified members can access offers from a wide range of brands, including Morrisons, EDF Energy, Hoover, Samsung, Expedia, and more.