The Henry Smith Foundation’s new Maternity Equity Fund is a three-year funding programme designed to improve access, experiences and outcomes during pregnancy and birth for communities facing the greatest maternity inequalities.
The fund will support organisations delivering preventative, community-based maternity support that is trauma-informed, culturally safe and rooted in lived experience. It aims to reduce unfair and avoidable maternity inequities while strengthening trusted organisations working alongside expectant parents and families.
Part of the Foundation’s Getting Started programme, the fund focuses on early intervention from conception through to birth, helping give babies and families the best possible start in life.
What Funding Is Available?
Successful organisations can apply for a grant worth £185,000 over three years, with funding of:
- £61,600 in year one
- £61,700 in year two
- £61,700 in year three
The grants are flexible and can be used to strengthen and deliver eligible work. Funding also includes support for staff wellbeing and opportunities for learning, capacity building and partnership development.
Who Is the Fund Looking to Support?
The fund is seeking applications from organisations working to improve maternity outcomes for:
- Black, Asian and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
- Communities experiencing high levels of deprivation, including rural areas
- People facing complex and multiple disadvantages, including existing or antenatal mental health needs
Funded organisations should have experience working with communities affected by maternity inequities and be able to demonstrate how their work improves access to services, experiences of care, decision-making, dignity and outcomes during pregnancy and birth.
Eligibility
Applications are open to charities, CIOs, not-for-profit CICs with an asset lock and other charitable organisations working in the UK.
Eligible organisations must have an annual income between £20,000 and £1.5 million.
Key Dates
- Expression of Interest deadline: 14 October 2026, 5pm
- Full application deadline (invited organisations): 4 December 2026
- Funding decisions expected: February 2027
Organisations must complete an online eligibility check before submitting an Expression of Interest.