Volunteering for Health Fund
Grant detail
- Grant size: £500 to £10,000
- Apply by: Rolling. The Fund will be open until funds are spent
- Decision in: Within 4 weeks after you submit your application
- Who is it for? Community groups that involve volunteers in the Frome or South Somerset East PCN areas
- What is it for? Supporting voluntary activity that helps people and communities stay healthy and connected
Where does the money come from?
This Fund is made possible by the national Volunteering for Health programme, a £10 million initiative funded by NHS Charities Together, NHS England and CW+. The programme is running across 15 areas in England, testing new ways to make volunteering in health and care easier, more joined-up, and more accessible.
Spark Somerset is leading the programme in Somerset, with Somerset Community Foundation administering local grants on their behalf. Grants from this Fund must acknowledge their connection to the Volunteering for Health programme, and all grantees will be asked to contribute to Somerset’s wider learning on volunteering.
What can we use this money for?
This Fund supports community groups that involve volunteers in ways that contribute to the health and wellbeing of people in the Frome and South Somerset East (Rural Practice Network) Primary Care Network areas.
We’re keen to support activities that involve volunteers in different ways, including:
- volunteering programmes that help people affected by ill health, disability, or mental health difficulties
- befriending, companionship, or social connection projects
- volunteer transport and escort services
- community cafés, warm welcome spaces, and social groups
- health walks, physical activity, and wellbeing groups
- digital inclusion support for people who need it
- training, coordination, or development work that helps volunteers do more
- new volunteering roles within existing community organisations
- projects that help volunteers move towards paid employment in health and care.
Grants can cover project costs, core costs, equipment, or one-off capital items where these are clearly connected to the volunteering activity.
This list doesn’t cover everything we’ll fund. If there’s something important to your community and you’re not sure whether to apply, please talk to us.
What can’t we use this money for?
You’re unable to use this money for:
- applications from individuals
- onward grants to individuals
- work that duplicates existing NHS or local authority statutory services
- groups or activities that are giving support to a political party
- activities intending to influence people’s religious choices
- activities that solely support animal welfare
- arts or sports projects with no significant community or charitable element
- medical research, equipment or treatment
- costs incurred before a grant can be awarded
- activities that raise funds for other organisations.
Which groups can apply?
We can only consider your group for a grant if you involve volunteers in the Frome or South Somerset East PCN areas of Somerset and also meet our minimum standards.
Our minimum standards cover things like:
- the types of groups we can give a grant to and how we expect them to be run
- how we expect groups to manage their finances
- how groups keep people safe.
You can find all our minimum standards on our FAQ page, along with lots of information about applying for our funding.
You can also use our eligibility checker which will help you understand if you can apply for a grant from us.
When do we have to apply?
This Fund is open on a rolling basis and we’ll accept applications until the money has been spent.
We can’t fund costs that were committed before your grant is approved, so please don’t spend any money before you hear from us.
How likely am I to get a grant?
This is a smaller Fund with a specific geographic focus, so we’ll prioritise groups that are working in the Frome or South Somerset East PCN areas and can show a clear connection to volunteering that supports health and wellbeing.
We’ll also prioritise groups that:
- are clearly led by the communities they serve
- have received little or no grant funding before
- are smaller organisations (typically those with an annual income under £100,000)
- can show their volunteering activity is over and above what the NHS or local authority already provides.
Grants typically range from £500 to £10,000, although we’ll consider larger amounts if there’s a strong case.
How are decisions made?
A member of the SCF programmes team will assess your application, review your supporting documents, and check publicly available information about your organisation. They’ll then make a recommendation to Spark Somerset, who will approve all grants before awards are made.
Because this Fund is connected to a national programme, we’ll ask all grantees to share some information about their volunteering activity as part of their grant report. The exact requirements are not yet confirmed, but are likely to include things like how many people are volunteering, how many hours they’re giving, and any optional information about who your volunteers are. Programme evaluation and learning from funded projects will feed into the wider Somerset vision for.
How do I apply to this programme?
This Fund isn’t open for direct applications. Spark Somerset’s Development Managers work with community groups across the Frome and South Somerset East areas and will share the application link with groups they think could benefit. If a Spark worker has spoken to you about this Fund and given you a link, you’re in the right place.
Once you have your link, you can fill in the form at your own pace. You’ll need to attach your governing document, your most recent accounts, and your safeguarding policy before you submit.
Get help with this Fund
This Fund is managed by Andy, our Programmes Director. However, any of our Programmes Team can help you if you:
- aren’t sure if you meet our standards
- aren’t sure if this is the best fund to apply for
- can’t use our online form
- can’t attach the documents we’ve asked for.
You can talk to our Programmes Team by emailing info@somersetcf.org.uk, calling 01749 344949, or booking a time to meet Andy.
