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
Comic Relief Community Fund
Grassroots organisations in England can now apply for funding through the Comic Relief Community Fund (England), delivered by Groundwork. The programme offers grants of up to £5,000 to community-led organisations that create positive change in their local areas and draw on the lived experiences of the people they support. For 2026/27, the fund is particularly […]
Aviva Foundation: Financial Futures Fund
The Financial Futures Fund, delivered by the Aviva Foundation, is open to applications from larger UK charities, non-profits and social enterprises that are working to improve financial resilience and reduce financial inequality. The fund supports projects that help people build financial confidence, access fair and affordable financial services, manage financial hardship, and overcome systemic barriers […]
One Stop Community Partnership
The One Stop Community Partnership programme invites local community groups to apply for funding of up to £500. This programme is designed to support community groups or organisations operating within two miles of a One Stop store and which are: Tackling food poverty Supporting the vulnerable Supporting the elderly Supporting low-income families Running youth sports […]
Henry Smith Foundation: Holiday Grants Oct-Dec 26
Schools, youth groups and non-profit organisations can now apply for funding through the Henry Smith Foundation’s Holiday Grants Programme, which supports recreational trips for children aged 13 and under. Grants of £500 to £3,000 are available to help fund day trips and short residential breaks of up to seven days. The programme aims to provide […]
Victor Mann Trust Grants Available for Older Wallsend Residents
Older residents in Wallsend may be able to access financial support through the Victor Mann Trust. The Trust helps people aged 60 and over who are on a low income and living within the former Borough of Wallsend (NE28). Grants are available to help with essential household items and small home improvement works that can […]
Historic England: Neighbourhood Heritage Grants
Historic England has launched the Neighbourhood Heritage: Grants for Communities programme, offering grants of up to £15,000 to support community-led projects that use local heritage to help shape the future of neighbourhoods and places. A total of 21 grants are available for projects that enable communities to explore and celebrate what they value about their […]
What is a Trustee and How Do I Become One?
For those people curious about the role of the trustee, in our latest issue of the Governance Blog, we are highlighting a recent Charity Commission post setting out how you can take your first steps into trusteeship and why you might want to: What is a trustee and how do you become one? – Charity […]
LGBT Veterans Financial Recognition Scheme
LGBT veterans who experienced discrimination, including institutional discrimination, while serving in the UK Armed Forces may be eligible for financial redress through the Government’s LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme. The scheme was established following the LGBT Veterans Independent Review and recognises the impact of the ban on LGBT personnel serving in the Armed Forces between 1967 […]
Henry Smith Foundation Maternity Equity Fund
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 […]
Common Ground Award
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched the Common Ground Award 2026-27, a capital grants programme designed to support voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations that are bringing people together and strengthening community cohesion across England. The award will provide capital investment to organisations whose work helps build social connections […]
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.