Health and Wellbeing Fund – Round 3 – Frequently asked questions
Salford CVS
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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?
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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 the annual income of your group or organisation) 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 Rounds 2 and 3 from The Eric Wright Charitable Trust.
What sort of things can be funded?
Great question! Health and wellbeing are influenced by so many factors (like our environment, social connections, behaviour, and so on) so the opportunities are (almost) endless. Examples of the sort of things that could be funded include 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... however this is far from an exhaustive list, and we know you (the VCSE groups and organisations we support) are really well placed to know what activities will benefit your community. In Round 3 we're looking for new or tried and tested ideas for helping people feel happier and healthier.
To view the projects funded in Rounds 1 and 2, see the Health and Wellbeing Fund page on our website.
To learn more about factors that contribute to good mental wellbeing, take a look at the 5 Ways to Wellbeing on the Mind website.
Who can apply?
The Health and Wellbeing Fund is for small and medium 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 do get in touch with the Grants Team (details below) before applying. We would hate for you to put lots of time and effort into an application only to find out later down the line you’re not eligible!
There are also a few additional requirements that are important to check, including that you're fully up to date with grant reporting to Salford CVS if you’ve received a grant from us in the past. Please check page 6 of the guidance notes for full details about our eligibility criteria (the things you need to be able to apply).
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, while organisations with an annual income up to £250,000 can apply for a grant of up to £5,000. The thresholds have been chosen to help ensure grants are proportional to the size of groups or organisations applying. Also, to help ensure our funding is able to reach as many different communities and places across Salford as possible, whilst ensuring you have the funding you need to do great work.
What can we spend the money on?
Most project costs will be eligible, for example venue hire, staffing/facilitator costs, equipment, marketing and promotion, 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.
When applying for funding, try to apply for the amount you need to deliver a high-quality, impactful project, rather than inflating the budget to reach the maximum grant amount. Panels assess budgets very carefully and will consider value for money as part of the scoring process.
Saying that, do not undervalue your project either! We want to ensure projects are delivered in a way that has positive impacts 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, making environmental improvements, or purchasing goods and services from 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?
Again, it depends - for example on your group or organisation’s current financial situation, the barriers to good health you are seeing in your community, and/or your group or organisation's current mission or priorities. If you are not sure what to apply for, I would suggest contacting the Grants Team to arrange a one-to-one chat before you apply.
How do we apply?
By submitting a completed application form to grants@salfordcvs.co.uk before 12pm on Friday 10th January 2025. Late applications can't be accepted, so please make a note of the deadline and get your application in on time.
What makes a strong application?
There are a lot of elements that make up a strong application, but there are definitely a few things they tend to have in common. A few examples:
- A clear description of the need/want for the project and how the activities being described are the right approach for improving the health and wellbeing of the people involved.
- A clear project plan with specific details about where and when activities will happen, and who will run them. Do not leave the panel with more questions than answers – they need to understand exactly what they're funding!
- A clear budget with a breakdown for each item – including unit costs where applicable, so it's clear how the total cost has been arrived at.
For more tips on writing a strong application, I would recommend having a read of this fantastic blog by Anne Marie Marshall, Services Manager and Salford CVS. Anne Marie regularly participates on grants panels and offers a really interesting insight into the mind of a panel member as well as lots of helpful hints and tips to help you apply!
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. The funding from the previous grant must also have been spent and the project completed and reported on.
What other funding opportunities are available at the moment?
All Salford CVS opportunities are available on the Live Grants page of our website.
You may also want to check out the funding portal, which is essentially a large database of opportunities from funders of all shapes and sizes across the country. Use the filters to narrow your search, for example by your group or organisation type, location, activities or the people you are looking to support.
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. We would love to hear from you!