Aims/priorities:
The funding is aimed at very small charities working in their communities to address health inequalities and who find it hard to access unrestricted funding and support for their leaders. This is particularly true for organisations who themselves may experience disadvantage, such as those led by people from ethnic minority communities, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community and others.
Up to 15 places are available on an online leadership programme. The programme will be delivered by The King’s Fund, and provide participants with the opportunity to develop their capability and confidence to lead both operationally and strategically.
Health inequalities are avoidable and systematic differences that include access to care, quality and experience of care, life expectancy, and wider factors such as environment and housing.
Charities will need to demonstrate how their organisation is supporting communities that experience health disadvantage and how their work helps tackle this issue. Examples include but are not limited to:
- They may be working to make health services more accessible, appropriate or welcoming to the communities they serve, for example, by setting up services and access points from within the community, or working with public sector providers to address barriers to access.
- They may be supporting communities to access health services, such as by supporting people to register with a GP, or to access support for mental health issues.
- They may be providing specific services to communities to support their health and wellbeing, increase uptake of screening services, improve healthy lifestyles or other similar activity.
- They may be using focused interventions to ensure parts of the community that have traditionally been under-served or have experienced marginalisation have access to appropriate services.
Who can apply:
Small charities that are working, located and registered in the UK are eligible to apply.
Charities must:
- Be a registered charity by the application deadline of 14 August 2023.
- Have existed for a minimum of one year by 14 August 2023.
- Have a total annual income of between £20,000 and £150,000 as shown in their most recent accounts.
- Be independently constituted from any national umbrella organisation.
- Be able to demonstrate how they are tackling health inequalities in their community, which can be defined as a geographical community or a community of interest.
GSK and The King’s Fund actively encourage organisations to apply that are led by and support people from under-represented backgrounds, people from ethnic minority communities, people with disabilities and people from the LGBTQ+ community. They want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge as they recognise that diversity makes us stronger.
Grant amount:
The awards are as follows:
- Up to 15 charities will receive up to £10,000 in unrestricted funding.
- Award winners will also be offered access to training and development valued at £2,700.
Application process:
The guidelines, frequently asked questions and the short online application form are available from the King's Fund website.
Timetable:
- The deadline for online applications is 14 August 2023 (5pm).
- Notification of decisions by mid October 2023.
- Leadership programme – individual conversations to help shape the programme in November/December 2023.
- Leadership programme – January 2024 to spring 2024 (programme dates to be confirmed).
Deadline:
The deadline for online applications is 14 August 2023 (5pm).
Contact information: