Sunderland Voluntary Sector Alliance
Sunderland Health and Growth Community Grants
To request an application form please use this link Sunderland Health and Growth Community Grants - Fill in form
alternatively email:[email protected]
About the programme
The Health and Growth Accelerator is part of a national NHS England pilot programme worth £45 million. Its goal is to reduce health-related barriers to work and help more people move into good jobs. It supports the UK Government's aim to achieve an 80% employment rate by improving the link between health, work, and skills.
In Sunderland, the programme is managed by the Sunderland Voluntary Sector Alliance (SVSA). We've secured £100,000 from the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB) to support local community projects that help working-age adults improve their health, wellbeing, and readiness for employment.
What the funding is for?
This fund is for grassroots and community-led projects in Sunderland that help people improve their health and wellbeing, build confidence, and move closer to work.
We want to invest in trusted local voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations who understand the people and communities they serve. Grants can support new projects or expand existing ones by offering additional capacity.
Projects should focus on one or more of the following health areas:
- Mental health
- Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions (e.g. back, joint, or muscle problems)
- Cardiovascular disease (heart and circulation issues)
- Diabetes and related conditions
Example types of projects
We welcome a wide range of activities that help people improve their health and work readiness, for example:
- Wellbeing groups or peer support sessions for people living with long-term conditions
- Condition management support, such as gentle exercise, pain management, or lifestyle sessions
- Mental health and resilience workshops
- Community health events that raise awareness and encourage early help-seeking
- Social prescribing or partnerships linking people to community services
- Confidence-building, skills development, or volunteering opportunities that help people prepare for work
- Culturally appropriate health activities designed by and for specific communities
Grant details
- Grant size: £500 - £9,999
- Project length: Up to 12 months, starting April 2026.
- Who can apply: VCSE organisations based in and delivering within Sunderland, with a charitable purpose
- Funding can be used for:
- Staff time or sessional workers
- Equipment or materials
- Venue hire and running costs
- Training or development costs
- Costs to improve access or inclusion
- Transport expenses: Please note, in addition to this funding, if you have transport costs relating to the application, we may be able to help. Please ensure these are detailed in your application form.
Support will be available to help smaller or underrepresented groups apply, and the process will be simple and accessible. If you require support please let us know.
Eligibility criteria
To apply, your organisation must:
- Be a VCSE organisation based and delivering in Sunderland with a charitable purpose.
- Have Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policies and Procedures in place.
- Hold Public Liability Insurance.
- Be offering a new service or additional capacity within an existing service.
- Ensure that the project is available to working-age (employment-age) adults, focusing on those who may be struggling in work due to health problems and/or personal circumstances.
- Be able to demonstrate evidence of need for your project in your application.
N.B. Referrals will primarily be received from Sunderland GP Alliance Work Well Coaches and DWP Advisors. We will also be working closely with the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer and Connect to Work programmes. Services may additionally be offered to the wider community, with a particular focus on supporting individuals who are currently out of work due to health issues or who are at risk of becoming unable to work.
What we're aiming for
We want funded projects to help achieve one or more of the following:
- Better health and wellbeing for people at risk of being out of work due to physical or mental health conditions
- Increased confidence and personal control through person-centred and culturally relevant support
- Stronger community connections and local support networks
- Improved readiness for employment through better health, skills, or confidence
- Increased capacity and collaboration within Sunderland's VCSE sector
- Greater inclusion of small and diverse organisations in local health and employment support
- Creation of innovative models that link community-based support with NHS and employment services
Timeline
• Funding period: Up to 12 months, starting April 2026.
• Closing date for applications: Midnight on Sunday 1st March 2026.
Next steps
To request an application form please use this link Sunderland Health and Growth Community Grants - Fill in form
For more information or to arrange an informal chat, please contact:
Lindsey Hall - [email protected]
If your application is successful, you'll be asked to complete a short impact report at the end of the project.
Become a member of SVSA
We encourage all applicants to become members of the Sunderland Voluntary Sector Alliance (SVSA).
Membership is free and includes a range of benefits for your organisation.
To join or find out more, please visit: www.sunderlandvsa.co.uk
or email [email protected]
