This fund is now closed.
We are inviting applications to the Health Equity Fund. The purpose of the fund is to address one or more health inequalities that impact on the life expectancy and quality of life for some people from ethnic minority communities, across our county.
How much can we apply for?
Grants are available up to £15,000.
What do we mean by Health Inequalities?
For the purpose of this fund, Health Inequalities are defined as avoidable and systematic differences in health between different groups of people.
Health inequalities can involve differences such as:
- health status, for example, life expectancy and prevalence of physical and mental health conditions
- access to care, for example, availability of treatments
- quality and experience of care, for example, levels of patient satisfaction
- behavioural risks to health, for example, smoking rates
- wider determinants of health, for example, quality of housing.
There is more information below that shows some of the ways in which these inequalities have an impact on health for people from different ethnic groups:
Infographic – Health Equalities in the UK
Ethnic Inequalities in Healthcare: A Rapid Evidence Review
We know that Covid-19 has widened health inequalities in England by disproportionately affecting those already experiencing health inequalities, especially some people from ethnic minority communities[1].
Project Criteria
Get Creative! We are keen to encourage innovative and creative ideas that contribute to the aim of the Fund, so whilst benefits of the project must relate directly to reducing health inequalities for ethnic minority groups in Buckinghamshire, we do not wish to be prescriptive about how this is achieved.
We cannot award retrospective funding, so your project spend should start no sooner than 1st May 2024, and should normally start within 6 weeks of the grant being awarded. Projects should be completed within 12 months of the start date.
We are looking for projects which:
- are designed and delivered primarily (or exclusively) for ethnic minority groups, or
- will be delivered in a setting where the activity would produce a significant benefit to these groups (for example, to help service providers improve cultural awareness).
- address inequalities in physical health, mental health, or both, for any age group.
Examples of projects that could be funded include:
- Improved culturally relevant information, advice, guidance and support for healthy lifestyles.
- Programmes to manage higher risk conditions for ethnic minority groups.
- Health and wellbeing education or awareness raising projects.
- Support for the empowerment of women and girls.
- Improved cultural awareness for those providing existing health and wellbeing services.
- Advocacy support to access to or navigate pathways within existing health and wellbeing services.
- Projects that improve skills and employability or volunteering.
Grant-making priority:
Priority will be given to applications which:
- are led by people who identify as being from an ethnic minority group or background and/or
- identify how ethnic minority groups have been/will be involved in the design and delivery of the project
- explain how the work will become part of the organisation’s normal work in the future.
- demonstrate collaboration with other partners.
- focus in the geographic areas of highest disadvantage in Buckinghamshire (Aylesbury, High Wycombe, and Chesham)
Other information:
In addition to addressing the project activity, outcomes and design principles, your application will need to:
- identify and explain what area(s) of health inequality your project addresses, and how their activity will specifically benefit ethnic minority groups or those from an ethnic minority background.
- Explain how you will engage their target audience
- Explain how you will measure the difference your work has made and report on the outcomes achieved (It is important this is planned at the outset as you will be expected to produce an outcomes report at the end of the grant period that can be shared with funders Buckinghamshire Council’s Public Health team).
Who can apply?
Registered charities, community groups, social enterprises, Community Interest companies (limited by guarantee), Community Benefit Societies or other not for profit organisations which are based in or operate for the benefit of residents in the area administered by Buckinghamshire Council. This includes parish & town councils and school-affiliated groups (e.g. school student councils, Parents or Friends Associations). The groups must be formally constituted and operate for public benefit.
What we can fund
- Capital expenditure – such as equipment
- Project costs associated with new, or the enhancement of existing initiatives
- Core costs, where these are required to enable the delivery of the project outcomes
What we can’t fund
- Activities promoting a particular religious or political belief
- Overseas travel
- Projects which have already started, or are already completed
- Individuals
- Statutory bodies (excluding parish/town councils)
- Profit-making organisations
- Organisations whose principal concern is animal welfare
- Activity which is a statutory responsibility of a public body
Funding Advice Surgery
We may run a ‘Funding Advice Surgery’ developed specifically for this fund. Further details will be updated and shown here.
Timeframe
Deadline day is 14th March.
Decisions by the end of April for projects starting no earlier than 1st May.
How to apply
This fund is now closed for applications.
[1] https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/press/press-releases/kings-fund-responds-covid-deaths-by-ethnicity
