From peer support groups for people suffering with arthritis to cycling support for children and families, voluntary sector organisations are beginning an important programme of work to help tackle health inequalities across North Tyneside.
A new Health Inequalities Grant Programme, developed by members of the Better Together group, has awarded grants of between £10,000 and £30,000 to fourteen Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations. Funding has been provided by NHS North East and North Cumbria (formerly North Tyneside CCG) and North Tyneside Council, with the grant programme being administered by VODA.
All funded activities focus on delivering outcomes relating to the key themes of the recently published Equally Well strategy for North Tyneside – ‘Equal life chances for all’, ‘Thriving places and communities’ and ‘Maintaining independence’.
The grants programme aims to be more than just an offer of funding. In order to build an evidence base of what works and to help identify scalable solutions, all successful applicants will attend six-monthly learning and development sessions delivered in partnership with Goodlabs – a local management consultancy that helps charitable organisations to enhance their social impact.
Case Studies
Involving Volunteers Who Speak English as an Additional Language
Involving Volunteers Who Speak English as an Additional Language – It’s Easier Than You Might Think Volunteering can be an excellent way for people to join the local community, meet people and practise English. Sometimes, organisations worry that language skills could be a barrier. In this article, Helen from North East Museums gives an overview […]
GSK Community Health Programme Grants
Small charities tackling health inequalities can now apply for the GSK Community Health Programme, delivered by The King’s Fund and supported by GSK. Up to 10 charities across the UK will receive up to £10,000 in unrestricted funding, plus a place on a leadership development programme worth £5,000. The programme is open to registered charities […]
The Squires Foundation
The foundation’s objectives are to support: Social welfare, particularly the relief of need, hardship and distress Community development Work which supports children, young people and the elderly, local hospitals and hospices Christian activities The arts Environmental projects Grants can be one-off or recurrent and are made primarily in Tyneside and Northumberland. You can apply in […]
Henry Smith Foudation’s New Career Ready Fund
The Henry Smith Foundation has launched the Career Ready Fund, offering up to eight grants of £200,000 (£50,000 per year over four years) to charitable organisations supporting young people with learning disabilities into employment. The fund will support projects that embed trained job coaches within mainstream and SEND schools, provide structured careers education and vocational […]
Continuo Foundation
Continuo Foundation is offering grants of between £2,000 and £6,000 for professional ensembles playing period music and instruments to mobilise projects of outstanding artistic merit and create meaningful work for freelance period musicians, whilst engaging a wide range of audiences with historically informed live performances, particularly in areas lacking access to high-quality live classical music. […]
National River Walks Programme
The National River Walks Programme is funded by Defra and will provide new national walks in the nine regions of England. As the North West region already has a river walk delivered, new walks in four of the following areas in England will be considered in the current round of funding: North East England; Yorkshire and […]
Radcliffe Trust Grants: Music, Heritage & Crafts
The Radcliffe Trust is accepting applications from charities and not-for-profit organisations for projects that support music, heritage and crafts. Music grants are typically between £2,500 and £5,000, while heritage and crafts grants are generally between £2,500 and £7,500. Music funding can support a range of activities, including composition and contemporary music, youth orchestras, music therapy, […]
British Council: Connections Through Culture 2026
The British Council’s Connections Through Culture 2026 programme is offering grants of £5,000 to £15,000 to support artistic collaboration and cultural exchange between the UK and selected countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand. Funding is available for artists, creative practitioners, cultural organisations, festivals, biennials and creative hubs […]
Music For All
Funding is now available to support projects that increase participation in music within disadvantaged and marginalised communities. The funding is available to individuals, community groups and schools through the Music for All Awards programme delivered by Music for All. Grants can support the purchase of instruments and equipment, including electro-acoustic guitars, Pbuzz instruments, ukuleles, keyboard […]
Arts Council England: Supporting Grassroots Music Fund
Arts Council England’s Supporting Grassroots Music Fund is offering grants of up to £40,000 for projects lasting up to three years. Funding is available to grassroots music venues, festivals, promoters, recording studios and rehearsal spaces to strengthen their work and support the development of emerging music talent. The fund aims to improve opportunities for music […]
Work funded
- Tyneside and Northumberland MIND – support people with mental health problems to improve their physical and mental health and to manage their conditions through exercise.
- Whitley Bay Islamic Cultural Centre – creation of a new community gym.
- Linskill Trust – deliver community nutritionist led cooking sessions for parents and carers.
- North East Autism Society – support children and their families to address the health and care inequalities faced by autistic people.
- LD North East – support people with learning disabilities to access health services and overcome barriers to taking part in physical activities
- Versus Arthritis – set up a local volunteer-led support group for people with arthritis
- Quadrant Leisure CIC – offers opportunities, support, and advice to individuals to improve their lifestyles and to make informed choices about their health.
- Shiremoor Adventure Playground – support local children and their families to cycle to the adventure playground using the wagon-way. Will also offer cycling proficiency and maintenance sessions, bikes and equipment will be provided and at the end of the programme families will be able to access free, or low cost children’s bikes.
- Deaf Awareness NE – offer accessible health and fitness sessions to deaf and hard of hearing people.
- Smile Through Sport – provide disability specific sessions solely for autistic young people and work with recently disabled adults to fill a gap that has been created by the pandemic.
- MHA Communities North Tyneside – support older people who are referred from the local enablement service who are lonely and isolated. Volunteers will build a positive relationship with the older people, helping them access their community.
- Out of Sight – offer a range of social activities to reduce social isolation amongst the older people it supports, alongside healthy lifestyle support.
- Age UK North Tyneside – support hard to reach older people and those older people whose health is poor, or complex. It will work with four community venues to deliver singing, dancing, technology and cooking activities, setting up 12 new weekly groups.
- Support and Grow North East – set up 15 Cuppa Clubs across North Tyneside, where people experiencing loneliness, isolation and / or have mental health issues can access support.
- Peer Talk – develop more peer support groups for people with mental health problems.