Are you running a project that benefits people’s health and wellbeing, and looking for a small grant to expand it or keep it going? Or do you have an idea for a project that will benefit people’s health and wellbeing, and need a small grant to get it started? The Health and Wellbeing Fund is now live and could be a great fit for you!
Ella Bulbeck, Grants Coordinator at Salford CVS, has answered some frequently asked questions about the fund and how to apply.
What is the Health and Wellbeing Fund?
The Health and Wellbeing Fund is an exciting new fund for 2024/25, which is awarding grants of up to £1,500 or £5,000 (depending on your group or organisation's annual income) for projects to boost the health and wellbeing of Salford residents. 29 grants have been awarded so far, with the third and final round in this financial year (April 2024-March 2025) currently open to applications.
The Health and Wellbeing Fund is funded by NHS Salford ICP, with additional support in 2024/25 (Rounds 2 and 3) from The Eric Wright Charitable Trust.
What sort of things can be funded?
Good question. Health and wellbeing are influenced by so many factors (like our environment, behaviour, relationships, and so on) that the opportunities are (almost) endless! Children’s arts and crafts, wheelchair rugby sessions, a support group for people living with heart conditions, or community growing sessions for refugees and asylum seekers, are all examples of the sort of things that could be funded... however this is far from an exhaustive list, and we're keen to hear your ideas (whether new or tried and tested) for the activities that will help people in your community feel happier and healthier.
To learn more about factors that contribute to good mental wellbeing, take a look at the 5 Ways to Wellbeing on the Mind website.
For the projects funded in Rounds 1 and 2, see the Health and Wellbeing Fund page on our website.
Who can apply?
The Health and Wellbeing Fund is for small-medium sized VCSE (voluntary, community and social enterprise) groups and organisations, which are full members of Salford CVS. If you’re not sure if your group or organisation is a full member, please get in touch with the Grants Team before applying. We would hate for you to put time into writing a great application if you're not eligible!
There are also some other requirements it is important to check before you apply, including that you're fully up to date with grant reporting to Salford CVS (if applicable). See page 6 of the guidance notes for more details.
How much can we apply for?
It depends. Groups with an annual income up to £10,000 can apply for a grant of up to £1,500. Organisations with an annual income up to £250,000 can apply for a grant of up to £5,000.
These thresholds have been chosen to help ensure the grants we award are proportional to the size of the groups and organisations applying. They will also help ensure our funding reaches as many different communities and places across Salford as possible - whilst ensuring you have the money you need to run a great project.
What can we spend the money on?
Most reasonable project costs will be eligible, for example venue hire, marketing and promotion, staff/facilitator costs, equipment, refreshments, volunteer expenses, public liability insurance, etc. For more information about what a grant can and can’t be spent on, see page 7 of the guidance notes.
Top tip: when applying for a grant, apply for the amount you need to run a good quality project. Don't feel you need to apply for the maximum amount available if it's not really needed - panels assess budgets very carefully and will consider value for money when they are scoring your application.
Saying that, do not undervalue your project either! We want to ensure projects are run in a way that maximises the benefits for the people, economy and environment in Salford (also known as social value) - for example, by paying staff and/or facilitators the real living wage, growing plants in grey or unloved spaces, or shopping at local, independent suppliers. For more information about social value, see page 17 of the guidance notes.
We run lots of different projects, how do we know which one to apply for funding for?
This is a tricky one, because it depends - for example on your group or organisation’s current financial situation, the barriers to good health and wellbeing you are seeing in your community, and/or your group or organisation's overall mission or current priorities. If this applies to you, contact the Grants Team (details below) to arrange a one-to-one chat to discuss this in more detail.
What makes a strong application?
There are lots of elements that make up a strong application, but there are definitely a few things they tend to have in common. For example:
- A clear description of the want and need for the project and why the activities you are proposing are going to help the people you currently or want to work with.
- A clear project plan with specific details about where and when activities will take place, who will run them, etc. Don't leave the panel with more questions than answers – they need to understand exactly what they're funding!
- An accurate and reasonable budget with a clear breakdown (including unit costs if applicable) for each item.
For more tips on writing a strong application, read this fantastic blog by Anne Marie Marshall, Services Manager and Salford CVS. Anne Marie regularly participates on grant panels and has lots of really interesting insights and tips and tricks to share from the perspective of a panel member.
We received a grant in Round 1/Round 2, can we apply again?
No, you will need to wait until the next financial year to apply again. Also, the funding from the previous grant must have been spent and the project completed and reported on before being awarded another grant.
What other funding opportunities are available at the moment?
All Salford CVS opportunities are listed on the Live Grants page of our website.
You may also want to check out our funding portal, which offers access to a huge database of funding opportunities from local and national funders. Use the filters to narrow your search, for example by location or the people you are looking to work with.
I still have questions – how do I get in contact with the Grants Team?
Contact the Grants Team (Simon, Ella, Ashley, Niamh, Klaudia, or Ganga) by emailing grants@salfordcvs.co.uk or calling the Salford CVS office on 0161 787 7795. We’re a friendly bunch and it's our job to support you, so please don’t hesitate to drop us an email or pick up the phone!