We are inviting applications to the Health Equity Fund. The purpose of this 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.
About the fund
How much can we apply for?
Grants are available up to £15,000.
What do we mean by Health Inequalities?
Inequalities in health are closely related to personal and socio-economic factors, such as income, education, housing, gender, age, ethnicity, disability, geography and social inclusion.
For the purpose of this fund, Health Inequalities are defined as avoidable, unfair, 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.
This infographic shows some of the ways in which these inequalities have an impact on health for people from different ethnic groups.
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 27th October 2025, 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 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.
You can see some examples of projects this fund has supported here:
More Horizons – In-Control Programme
Caribbean Community Lunch Club – Knowledge is Power
Grant-making priority
Priority will be given to applications which include at least one of the following priorities:
• Are led by people who identify as being from an ethnic minority group or background
• Identify how ethnic minority groups have been/will be involved in the design and delivery of the project
• Demonstrate collaboration with other partners.
• Focus on the geographic areas of highest disadvantage in Buckinghamshire (Aylesbury, High Wycombe,
and Chesham)
Other information
In addition to telling us about your 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 the activity will specifically benefit ethnic minority groups or those from ethnic minority background.
• Explain how you will engage your target audience
• Explain how you will measure the difference your work has made and report on the outcomes achieved
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). All groups must be formally constituted and operate for public benefit.
What can we fund?
• Capital expenditure – such as equipment (We would not expect these costs to be more than 25% of the requested amount)
• Project costs
• Core costs, where these are required to enable delivery of the project outcomes
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
How to apply:
Please complete this application form.
The success rate for the last round of this funding programme was c30%.
Closing date: 11 July 2025
