Small grants for local projects to improve health among inclusion health groups
Deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 14 August 2026.
The Cambridgeshire County Council Public Health team is offering seed funding as part of its ‘Health for All’ approach. This approach is about helping everyone to be as healthy as possible, while also reducing differences in health between communities.
The funding reflects this by focusing on groups who often experience multiple overlapping risk factors for poor health and/or face barriers to healthcare. By supporting these groups, the aim is to improve wellbeing for everyone and make things fairer across the population.
Key information at a glance
- Preventing inclusion health groups experiencing worse outcomes.
- Grants of £5,000 to £25,000 per project
- For organisations and community groups in Cambridgeshire (excluding Peterborough)
- Ideas can be new, early-stage, or already in progress
- Project should start within three months of funding and end before 31 March 2028
- Funding cannot replace existing core services or fund a project already funded through alternative routes, but it can add value or try new approaches
- We are always looking to improve our processes. As part of your application process, you will be asked to share your feedback on both the application and the overall funding process. This will include short surveys about how easy it was to apply and your experience setting up your project.
What is this funding for?
This funding focuses on people who experience greater health inequalities or face challenges accessing support.
Your project should benefit one or more of the specific groups including:
- People experiencing homelessness
- Migrants in vulnerable circumstances
- Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
- Sex workers
- People in contact with the justice system
- People experiencing problems around drug and/or alcohol use
- People subject to modern slavery
- People who have experienced Domestic Abuse
- Children looked after (CLA) and/or care leavers (CL).
Your idea should have a public health benefit for inclusion health groups. This can include:
- Promoting early intervention and prevention, helping to stop health problems from worsening and reducing future demand on acute services.
- Helping people with challenges relating to service navigation
- Providing support or connection in the community
- Improving confidence, skills or wellbeing
- Addressing factors that affect health like housing, debt, or isolation
- Offering outreach to people who are not currently supported.
Your project does not need to be a traditional ‘health service’ – health is shaped by many things, not just healthcare.
What makes a strong idea?
We are looking for projects that:
- Are based on local knowledge, evidence and/or lived experience
- Can show what difference they will make
- Create learning or benefits that last beyond the funding period.
We value lived experience and community insight just as much as formal evidence.
Who is this funding for?
You can apply if you are:
- A community group, charity, or local organisation
- Based in Cambridgeshire and working exclusively or predominantly with Cambridgeshire residents.
We especially welcome applications from:
- Smaller organisations
- Groups that may not usually apply for council funding
- Projects led by, or co-designed with, local communities.
Eligibility requirements
- Are registered with The Charity Commission or Companies House (for example Community Interest Companies)
- Can provide a governance structure for their group (articles of association or constitution)
- Are holders of a United Kingdon (UK) business bank account
- Can provide policies and procedures that align with Cambridgeshire County Council's Equality Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens as PDF) for their organisation/group
- Must maintain appropriate insurance cover (for instance, public liability insurance, employer’s liability insurance etc.).
If you are unsure whether you can apply, please get in touch – we are happy to help. If you do not have a business bank account, consider working with another lead organisation.
How bids will be assessed
The Public Health team and wider professionals working in the field will along with lived experience with undertake the assessment of the bids. These scores will be moderated by a panel, so there is clear consensus on who should be awarded the funding.
Successful bidders will be informed of the outcome of the moderation process and next steps week commencing 14 September 2026.
Organisations that submitted an unsuccessful bid will be provided with feedback upon request.
How to apply
Before filling out the application form, please read the additional guidance.
The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 14 August 2026.
Further support
If you would like further support, or have any questions, you can book yourself onto a drop-in session to talk through your idea.
The next drop-in session will take place on Wednesday 15 July from 10am to 1pm.
To book onto the drop-in session, access further support, or ask questions please contact the Public Health team at ph.commissioning@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
