The British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) is proud to partner with Parallel for the second year of our shared mission: Careers must be for all.
For many disabled and neurodivergent people, traditional employment pathways can create barriers to opportunity, flexibility, and the ability to fully utilise their strengths. Self-employment and entrepreneurship offer empowering alternatives that allow individuals to work in ways that align with their unique skills and preferences.
Recent research from IPSE highlights:
18% of self-employed people in the UK identify as neurodiverse (compared to 15% nationally).
63% of neurodiverse freelancers say self-employment supports their strengths and working style.
Conditions such as Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Dyscalculia are commonly represented, with many people thriving when they can tailor their work to suit how they work best.
These insights underline the importance of investing in inclusive entrepreneurship.
Thanks to our corporate sponsors and generous donations to the Purple Socks campaign, we are offering small but meaningful grants to support disabled and neurodivergent individuals who are:
Our goal is to help remove financial barriers and empower innovative ideas to grow.
Applications are open to:
Applicants will be asked to indicate which route they are applying through.
The grant recipient must be a disabled or neurodivergent individual, regardless of the supporting organisation.
Please provide a clear and specific explanation of how the funds will be used.
Applications requesting the full amount without a defined purpose may not be considered.
Please note: Funding is not guaranteed until all acceptance requirements are met, including agreement to the grant terms and conditions (shared with successful applicants).
The grant is open to disabled or neurodivergent individuals who are starting or growing a business or freelance venture. Applications must be submitted either via a BASE member organisation or through a direct referral from Parallel.
No. The grant recipient individuals do not need to be members. However, organisations submitting an application on behalf of an individual must either be a BASE member or be referred directly through Parallel.
The grant can support a wide range of business-related costs, such as:
Funding cannot be used for everyday personal expenses (e.g., rent, household bills).
You can apply for up to £2,000, but applications requesting the full amount must clearly justify the cost. Smaller, well-defined requests may have a stronger chance of success.
Yes. Organisations may support or refer multiple individuals, but each application must be submitted separately.
Successful applications typically include:
Eligible applications will be reviewed and scored based on:
A shortlist will then be created, and applicants notified.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification, but may not receive individualised feedback due to the expected volume of applications.
Funding will be released after successful applicants confirm acceptance and agree to the terms and conditions. Grant payments will follow shortly afterwards.
Yes. You may use it alongside other grants or personal investment, as long as the purpose is clearly identified and not already fully funded elsewhere.
For queries about the grant or application process, please email: purplesocksfund@base-uk.org
