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
Historic England: Neighbourhood Heritage Grants
Historic England is offering 21 grants of up to £15,000 for community groups, charities, community interest companies, and local authorities across England to deliver projects and activities that help local communities to use local heritage to build community confidence, strengthen local identity, develop relationships and influence decisions about neighbourhoods. The Neighbourhood Heritage Grants Programme will […]
LGBT+ Fund: Youth Joy Fund
Thanks to National Lottery players, The LGBT+ Fund, powered by Consortium, has received £300,000 of life-changing funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to award to organisations and groups supporting LGBT+ youth across England. The project puts LGBT+ young people in the driving seat of designing and driving the Youth Joy Fund. This will support […]
Pride In Place Grants Open For Percy Main
Residents, community groups and voluntary organisations in Percy Main can now apply for funding through the new Pride in Place Community Grants Programme, designed to support projects that strengthen connections, improve wellbeing and build pride in the local area. The programme aims to support activities that respond to priorities identified by local people and help […]
Mr Motivator’s Bed Bank: Small Grants
Organisations supporting children and families affected by bed poverty can now apply for grants of up to £5,000 through the new Mr Motivator’s Bed Bank Small Grants Programme. The funding can be used for practical support such as beds, mattresses, bedding packs, delivery and installation costs, helping children access a safe place to sleep and […]
Great British Energy Community Fund,
Community organisations in North Tyneside may be interested in the Great British Energy Community Fund, which supports local energy projects at different stages of development. Funding is available for feasibility studies (up to £40,000), project development (up to £100,000) and eligible capital projects (up to £3 million, or 50% of the total project value). The […]
National Hate Crime Awareness Week: Support Is Available
National Hate Crime Awareness Week runs from 10 to 17 October. It is a national campaign dedicated to raising awareness, supporting victims, and encouraging people to speak out against hate. A hate crime is any incident where someone is targeted because of their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or transgender identity. This can range from […]
There’s a New Kind of Superhero in North Tyneside! Why Not Grab Your Cape and Join Them?
Are you aged 18 or under? Are you ready to make an impact, learn new skills, and meet amazing people? Volunteering is your chance to help your local community and perhaps change the world while changing your life for the better! There are many volunteering roles across North Tyneside suitable for under-18s. The team from the […]
Workplace Harassment Law Is Changing: What VCSE Employers Need To Know
The rules around preventing harassment at work are changing. From 30 October 2026, the Employment Rights Act 2025 will strengthen employers’ responsibilities in two important areas: preventing sexual harassment and protecting employees from harassment by third parties. For VCSE organisations with employees, now is a good time to review your policies, procedures and workplace practices. […]
LGBT+ Get Active Grants
The LGBT+ Get Active Fund is open for applications from community-based LGBT+ sports and physical activity organisations and projects across the UK. A total of £400,000 is available through the Fund, a collaboration between the LGBT+ Fund and the London Marathon Foundation. How Much Funding Is Available? Grants of £5,000 to £25,000 per year are […]
National Garden Scheme: Community Garden Grants
Grants of £1,500 – £5,000 are available for community gardening projects that increase access to green spaces and the health and well-being benefits of gardening. Deadline for applications: 30 October 2026. Community Garden Grants – National Garden Scheme
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.