Aims/priorities: The Community Grants Programme (previously the Community Investment Scheme) is part of NHS Blood and Transplant’s commitment to build support for donation amongst Black, Asian, mixed heritage and minority ethnic communities.
The funding is for community and faith/beliefs organisations to drive awareness, understanding and behaviour change. Trusted local organisations can be effective at achieving these goals due to their specialist knowledge, understanding and footprint in the community.
In this latest round, the scheme is broadening its scope to cover a range of health inequalities:
- Blood donation (projects engaging Black African and Caribbean communities only).
- Deceased organ donation.
- Living kidney donation.
- Stem cell donation.
- Combined blood and deceased organ donation – funded using a combination of the above. The blood element of the project must focus on Black African and Caribbean communities.
Who can apply? Registered charities, limited companies, charitable incorporated organisations, community interest companies, unincorporated groups and registered societies may apply.
Organisations applying for the larger grants (over £10,000) must have previous experience of working with either a governmental department (ministerial or non-ministerial) or a public body. Applicants must be able to show the impact achieved through these partnerships.
Projects focusing on deceased organ donation only are not eligible for grants over £10,000.
Grant amount: There is a total funding pot of £700,000, split as follows:
- Blood donation: £300,000 (projects engaging Black African and Caribbean communities only).
- Deceased organ donation: £150,000.
- Living kidney donation: £150,000.
- Stem cell donation: £100,000.
- Combined blood and deceased organ donation – funded using a combination of the above.
The following funding bands are available and will depend on the focus of the project and the organisation's experience.
- Grants of up to £2,499.
- Grants of between £2,500 and £10,000.
- Grants of between £10,001 and £20,000.
Organisations can put in an application for each band of funding but only one project will be funded if successful.
Application process: All relevant documents can be found on the NHS Blood and Transplant website.
There will be an information webinar on 8 December 2022 from 5pm to 6pm.
Deadline: Sunday 8 January 2023 at midnight, with decisions expected in February 2023.
Contact information: Email: community.funding@nhsbt.nhs.uk
Website: NHS Blood and Transplant