NHS Charities Together launches Community Partnership Grants programme

By Forever Manchester | 13 April 2023 | TAGS: funding

Grants of £100,000 or more are available to projects which support the health and wellbeing of communities disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is expected that the available funding for Greater Manchester, nearly £1.25m, will support a small number of large grants to focus on sustainable health outcomes.

These will be spread across the three programme themes: mental health, tackling health inequalities, and hospital at home.

Background

NHS Charities Together are the national membership organisation for NHS Charities.

The organisation represents and supports the work of more than 240 charities. The Community Partnership Grants Programme has an allocation of £30 million, of which £1,247,490 is available to support projects across Greater Manchester.

In Greater Manchester, the application, assessment and monitoring process is being administrated by Forever Manchester working on behalf of the Greater Manchester Integrated Care System (ICS) NHS Charities.

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is the lead charity for Greater Manchester and has overall responsibility for distributing the funding.

The final decision on how the funds are to be spent will rest with the Greater Manchester ICS NHS Charities and NHS Charities Together.

Who Can Apply?

Funding is available to support projects delivered by Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations, working in partnership with the NHS, to support the health and wellbeing of communities affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Applications are welcomed from VCSE organisations with demonstrable relevant project delivery experience and who are based in and working across any or all of the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester.

Partnership applications are welcomed, but the lead applicant must meet all eligibility criteria and have the relevant experience and expertise to deliver the project, working alongside other organisations.

How much can you apply for?

The minimum you can apply for is £100,000 (£50,000 per annum for two years) and there is no upper limit.

Funding requested (per year) should not be more than 50% of your organisation’s average annual income over the previous three years (or the combined income of all organisations if a partnership application).

Grants are expected to be awarded for a two-year period. Payments for year two of all projects will be in principle and subject to satisfactory monitoring and review in year one.

Programme Criteria

Applicants to the fund must meet all three of the national NHS Charities Together criteria for the fund as well as local thematic criteria set by the Greater Manchester ICS NHS Charities.

NHS Charities Together Criteria

Applications must meet ALL three core criteria:

1. Results in a measurable improvement in health outcomes for communities adversely affected by Covid-19.
   For example, supporting patients to recover more quickly in the community after leaving hospital; initiatives that seek to remove health inequalities and disparity in health outcomes with a focus on diversity in the population.
   
   
2. Involves a partnership of one or more NHS bodies and community organisations.
   For example, NHS bodies supporting or partnering with organisations delivering social prescribing activities, where GP’s refer patients to link workers who connect patients with community-based activities.
   
   
3. Leads to a direct, positive impact on the NHS whilst it responds to the Covid-19 pandemic.
   For example, end of life care that facilitates discharge from NHS care; an early intervention programme that can be shown to reduce pressure on the NHS.

In addition, applications must also address one of the following themes:

• Mental Health
• Tackling Health Inequalities
• Hospital at Home.

How to Apply

Applicants must first complete a brief Expression of Interest (EOI) form to ensure eligibility for the fund (see download below).

Those that meet the eligibility requirements will then be sent the full application form.

Expression of Interest deadline: 5pm on Monday 24 April

Downloads

• Full guidance and details of how to apply