Making grants more accessible with Easy Read

At Community Foundation Wales, we want to ensure that everyone has access to the opportunities and support they need. A key part of this commitment is making our grants accessible to all members of our community.

We recently undertook an initiative to improve how we share information about our grants, guided by the insights from our Loud and Clear research and listening exercises. During these sessions, our community told us something important: it’s not just about what information is shared, but how it’s shared.

One of the biggest takeaways was the need to simplify our documents, especially for those who may find complex language challenging. In response, we are excited to introduce Easy Read documents for our grant materials.

What is Easy Read?

Easy Read presents information in a clear and simple way. It’s designed to be easily understood by people with learning disabilities or anyone who finds traditional, jargon-filled documents difficult to understand.

Easy Read documents break down complex information into manageable parts, using straightforward words and accompanying them with helpful images.

By adopting Easy Read, we’re not just simplifying our language; we’re removing barriers. We want to make sure that everyone, no matter their background or ability, can easily understand the important details of our grants and have the opportunity to apply for the funding they need.

Why It Matters

We believe that creating Easy Read documents is a crucial step in promoting fairness and inclusivity across our community. By making our grant documents easier to understand, we aim to reach a wider range of applicants, empowering more people to apply for support.

For some, navigating complicated language has been a barrier that’s left them feeling excluded from opportunities. This change is about opening doors and ensuring that everyone feels confident in accessing the resources we offer.

We’re confident that this new approach, informed by the voices of our community, will lead to greater participation and a more diverse pool of applicants.

What next?

This is just the beginning. In partnership with Easy Read Wales, we’re working through our funding criteria and toolkit documents to ensure we make them accessible and inclusive.

We encourage everyone to explore our Easy Read materials, share them with others who might benefit, and help us spread the word. Together, we can ensure every voice in our community has the chance to be heard and supported.

Keep an eye out for our friendly dragon icon that shows which documents are in Easy Read format.