Following the adoption of the Operational Regulations of the European Youth Foundation by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the EYF created an Equal Access Fund to enhance the participation of young people with disabilities in youth projects.
Youth organisations with an awarded EYF project grant can request the Equal Access Fund – at regular intervals – to cover the costs for accessibility and reasonable adjustment in international youth co-operation projects. The grant top-up can be up to 10% of the original project grant amount the grantee organisation was awarded.
The costs to be covered as part of the Equal Access Fund relate to participation of young people with disabilities and health problems, such as physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments or health-related conditions that may create barriers to participation in youth activities.
In the context of the Council of Europe, this is a groundbreaking step towards advancing the youth accessibility agenda within the Council of Europe.
In February 2026, the Programming Committee on Youth approved the use of the Equal Access Fund for eight organisations, for a total of €23 848, as follows:
- Armenian Progressive Youth (APY) - 2 300 €
- European Network on Independent Living Youth Network (ENIL Youth Network) - 1 630 €
- Youth Initiative for Human Rights - Serbia (YIHR - Serbia) - 1 500 €
- The ReGeneration 2030 Foundation (ReGen) - 2 175 €
- International Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer and Intersex Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO) - 5 450 €
- International Young Naturefriends (IYNF) - 5 313 €
- World Student Christian Federation in Europe (WSCF-E) - 1 300 €
- Youth for Exchange and Understanding (YEU) - 4 180 €