Community grant fund launched to tackle health inequalities
Local grassroots organisations are being encouraged to register interest for grant funding to tackle ethnic and racial health inequalities across England.
The NHS Race and Health Observatory, in partnership with Stratford-based charity Foundation for Future London, has launched a new community grant programme pilot worth £400,000.
Two funding streams for perinatal mental health and communities have been developed to assist organisations led by and working alongside diverse groups, supporting community-led approach work which is already making a positive difference.
The programme will support organisations in East London, the Midlands, South West, Yorkshire and Humber, and the North East.
Professor Habib Naqvi, chief executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said:
“We recognise the vital role grassroots organisations play when it comes to building trust and fostering relationships with communities, which not only improve health and wellbeing but also create spaces to enhance advocacy and local decision-making. Small, flexible grants allow local organisations to adapt quickly to urgent neighbourhood needs compared to rigid, top-down public commissioning models which do not always meet the diverse needs of our diverse communities.
“The grants will empower grassroot organisations, bridge gaps in marginalised populations, and enable culturally tailored, local solutions that centralised healthcare systems often cannot easily reach.”
In addition to supporting a broad activities and programmes, grants can be used to strengthen organisations through core costs, staff or volunteer capacity, leadership development, organisational resilience, partnership building or the wellbeing of the people delivering the work.
Sarah Nelson, CEO, Foundation for Future London, said:
“Communities already hold the knowledge, relationships and lived experience needed to tackle health inequalities. This programme is about backing the organisations that people already know and trust, giving them the flexible funding they need to strengthen what they’re doing and helping ensure their voices shape future learning and investment.
“We’re proud to be delivering this pilot with the NHS Race and Health Observatory. By investing in community-led organisations and learning alongside them, we have an opportunity to better understand what works, build stronger partnerships and help create fairer, more responsive systems that improve health and wellbeing for everyone.”
The programme welcomes organisations committed to taking meaningful action to support their communities. Organisations invited to submit a full application will receive guidance and support throughout the process.
Perinatal Mental Health Grants Pilot
Total funding: £250,000
Grant size: £10,000–£15,000
English Regions: West Midlands, South West, Yorkshire and Humber
The programme will support organisations working with racialised communities during pregnancy and the early years of parenthood.
Communities Small Grants Pilot
Total funding: £150,000
Grant size: £5,000–£10,000
English Regions: East London, North East and Midlands
The programme will support community-led action that tackles ethnic and racial inequalities and improves long-term health and wellbeing.
Submission themes the programme will consider include:
· Improved access to culturally appropriate services and support.
· Expanded access to improved wellbeing and mental health networks
· Stronger partnerships and increased sharing of learning, skills and resources
· Greater trust and collaboration between communities, services that affect them, including commissioners, Integrated Neighbourhood Teams and other funders
· Increased support for communities to access funding, influence decisions, services and systems that affect them.
Key dates
- Register of interest deadline: Friday 31 July 2026, midnight
- Full application stage: Monday 10 August – Friday 11 September 2026 (by invitation)
For more information and to register your interest, visit:
https://future.london/programme/nhs-race-health-observatory-community-grant-programme-pilot/