Overview
Grants supporting the delivery of prehabilitation interventions and/or services for cancer patients across the Northeast and North Cumbria (NENC). The fund aims to enhance quality of life, health, and treatment outcomes for cancer patients by supporting initiatives that improve health and wellbeing for people living with and beyond cancer.
Donor
Northern Cancer Alliance
Who can apply?
• community groups and charitable, not-for-profit organisations
Context
Eight NHS Trusts provide cancer services across the Northeast and North Cumbria. Your project must be aligned to, and work with your local hospital trust throughout the delivery of your project. For projects outside of North Cumbria applications must be submitted to Point North.
Priority will be given to projects that:
• reach underserved communities including (but not limited to) carers, • veterans, young people, travelling community, ethnic groups
• provide community-based support and activities in areas of high deprivation and/or rural communities
• deliver in areas experiencing health inequalities
• evidence a clear need for the project
• demonstrate experience of working with communities to address health and wellbeing challenges
What the Fund will support
• exercise classes or activity sessions involving sport, dance or movement
• social activities addressing isolation or loneliness that provide peer support • sessions providing advice and help with cooking, diet or nutrition connected to living with and beyond cancer
• advice and guidance on work, money and planning ahead
• support to build emotional resilience and/or address the psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis
What the Fund will not support in addition to our normal exclusions
• individuals
Before you submit your application:
Contact NHS Cumbria integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust:
• For projects providing broader community support to people affected by cancer, please contact the Lead Cancer nurse, Kyla Murray at Kiyla.murray@ncic.nhs.uk
• For projects delivering prehabilitation support to patients with a cancer diagnosis, please contact the prehabilitation lead, Natasha Richardson at Natasha.richardson4@ncic.nhs.uk
Additional information
Funding in future years is not anticipated as this is funding for innovation work. Monitoring requirements such as forms will be shared with successful applicants to help capture specific engagement numbers, outputs, and service user feedback.
Funding available for North Cumbria would support between 1-2 projects dependent on requested funding.
Funded organisations will be expected to:
• consider how the project could be sustained after the funding ends
• provide a summary of delivery, e.g., number attending each session, number of people supported, and outcomes achieved
• provide informal feedback on progress
Previous applicants
• Projects that received funding in the last round may reapply but must clearly demonstrate evidence of impact, options for sustainability beyond this funding, and close links with their local hospital trust.
• Unsuccessful projects from the last call may be resubmitted if they align to the current criteria.
• Monitoring requirements such as forms will be shared with successful applicants to help capture specific engagement numbers, outputs, and service user feedback.
How much can you apply for?
Grants will normally be between £5,000-£10,000 per organisation over 12 months. For details of award amounts above this level, applicants MUST speak with Grants Officer Sarah Thompson before applying at Sarah@cumbriafoundation.org or 01900 820821.
Timeline
The closing date for applications is 16th November 2025. Decisions will be made by the Donor Advisory Panel, and we aim to notify applicants of the outcome in the week beginning 15th December 2025.