Cancer Related Health Inequalities VCFSE Grant Fund

Why this fund is important?

Cancer affects more people every year, and not everyone has the same access to care or support.

Health inequalities exist at every stage – from prevention to diagnosis to treatment to survivorship to end of life care.

We need to act now, with VCFSE organisations playing a vital role, being uniquely placed to help address these challenges at a local level.

Areas of Focus

This grant fund focuses on three key areas. Projects aren’t expected to fully solve these challenges, but take steps towards addressing them.

For all areas of focus, support people from Lincolnshire’s most deprived (20%) communities who are in a health inclusion group.  They would particularly welcome applications focusing on older adults over 65, people with learning disabilities and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.

1. Access to Diagnostics

Support people to access cancer tests and screenings.  This could include help with transport or associated costs (such as public transport costs, car parking vouchers) or any other ideas that remove barriers to getting diagnosed early.

2. Access to cancer treatment

Support people to access cancer treatment.  This could include help with transport (as above) or any other creative solutions that make it easier for people to attend appointments and receive care.

3.  Survivorship

Support people to live well with and beyond cancer.  This could include prehabilitation (support before treatment starts), financial advice or support, holistic needs assessment, fitness / wellbeing groups, peer / community support groups.

How much is available?

Grants of up to £5,000 are available.  Projects are between 3-6 months (a maximum of 6 months) in length.  The total amount available for the second round is around £50,000.

You may make a joint application with either 1 or 2 other VCFSE organisations for a total of £10,000 or £15,000 respectively, if a partnership approach will add value to your proposal.

You may have seen our Health Inequalities VCFSE Grant Fund where we are piloting a collaborative approach. As that is an ongoing pilot, this fund will follow a more traditional method of funding.

The closing date for for the second round of applications is 9:00am on Monday 3rd November 2025.

You will be notified of the outcome of your application by Friday 14th November 2025.

What can the money be used for?

This grant may be used to:

• Expand something you already do, perhaps offering it in other places or at different times to meet changes in demand
• Develop and test something new on a small scale
• Sustain existing provision that may otherwise close (yes, it can cover core costs!).

 What the money cannot be used for?

• Non-cancer related projects
• People living outside of Lincolnshire
•  Applications from non VCFSE organisations