Back for 2026 - our Tackling Health Inequalities grants programme is open to Community Health Champions!
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to support Community Health Champions in identifying and developing projects to tackle health inequalities in Stoke-on-Trent.
Project proposals should demonstrate how the money can be used to tackle a health inequality they have identified.
Previous grants have funded a diverse range of projects across the city. Last year’s grant funding has been used to help women from South Asian communities to exercise and become more health aware and supported the expansion of regular exercise classes for people with lung conditions.
In addition, a local CIC who found that air pollution and bad landlords was impacting on the health of their community is finding creative ways to make improvements.
Meanwhile, another has worked with VCSE groups to make songs about health inequalities which are available for use across the city. Read about the full list of recipients here.
To be eligible to apply for funding you must:
- Be a not-for-profit organisation (registered charity, social enterprise, unregistered charity, faith group, or community group) based in or operating in Stoke-on-Trent.
- Have a bank account that has two signatories who are not related nor live at the same address.
- Have staff and/or volunteers registered as Community Health Champions. You can read more about being a champion here.
- Represent a specific community within Stoke-on-Trent. The community does not need to be a geographical community, it can be a community of interest or a cultural or faith community.
If successful, we will be working closely with you to capture the progress of your project, and share your stories and we encourage you to share your success on your own channels.
Bids should demonstrate:
- The health inequalities you have identified.
- How this health inequality affects your community in Stoke-on-Trent.
- Your ideas to address this.
- A cost breakdown.
Proposals may also include research projects to help better understand a specific health inequality.
Understanding Health Inequalities
To support the Tackling Health Inequalities Grants Programme we are holding Health Inequalities training by Dr Mike Oliver. The workshop, taking place on the morning of Wednesday 16th September at The Dudson Centre will help you understand:
- What we mean by health inequalities.
- Why it is important for the day-to-day lives of people and community groups in and around Stoke-on-Trent.
- What can be done to address health inequalities.
- How community groups can use knowledge about health inequalities to influence decisions that affect their lives.
Attendance at the workshop is strongly recommended and you can book here.
If successful, we will work with you to capture the progress of your project and share your story and we encourage you to use your own channels to share your work.
Before applying, please download and read the full guidance document and application criteria here.
Closing date: Friday 2nd October, 2026 at 5pm.
If you have any questions or queries about applying, please contact us at chc@vast.org.uk