2025-06-24

Making small businesses barrier-free: FUIB and Big City Lab launch the Cheque for Accessibility programme

Together with FUIB, we are launching the “Check for Accessibility” programme, which will help small businesses take their first steps towards achieving physical accessibility.

‍As part of this initiative, FUIB covers 50% of the costs (up to UAH 250,000) for equipping one of the key areas: the entrance area or the WC, or both, if they do not require significant changes. The Big City Lab team provides expertise and conducts research on the physical accessibility of the space, develops architectural solutions, and oversees their implementation.

We want accessibility to become the norm for every space. The “Check for Accessibility” programme was created to support those who want to make a change but don't know where to start or don't have enough resources.

“Barrier-free access is a basic requirement for any space. Ukraine, as a country where the number of veterans and people with reduced mobility is growing every day, must become a comfortable and accessible place. For businesses that have not previously implemented barrier-free access, it may seem like a daunting and overwhelming task. We want to show the initial steps that should be taken: ensure access to the facility by adapting the entrance, meeting basic needs by equipping the WC, and making the service itself accessible," explains Viktoriia Titova, CEO of the Big City Lab urban bureau.

‍Small businesses from all over Ukraine, except those located in occupied territories or within a 50-kilometre zone from them, are eligible to apply for participation in the “Cheque for Accessibility” programme. The main thing is to be ready for co-financing, implementation of the proposed changes and public coverage of the involvement in the programme.

Priority will be given to veterans’ or IDP businesses.

The deadline for applications is 24 July.

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The project was created by FUIB in collaboration with the Adsapience agency and is being implemented in partnership with the Big City Lab urban bureau.