Overview
The Northern Cancer Alliance recognises there is a gap in funding for community organisations providing local support for people living with and beyond cancer. The Northern Cancer Alliance Living with and Beyond Cancer Fund (the Fund) provides grants to charitable organisations supporting the delivery of prehabilitation interventions and/or services for cancer patients across the North East 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. This could include projects aiming to promote physical activity, optimise nutrition, and strengthen emotional resilience.
Area of benefit: North Cumbria.
Donor
Northern Cancer Alliance
The Northern Cancer Alliance Community Connectors Fund is delivered in partnership across the North East and North Cumbria with Point North Community Foundation
Who can apply?
Community groups and charitable, not-for-profit organisations working with:
• people currently living with cancer
• cancer survivors (living beyond cancer)
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
The Fund supports a wide range of health and wellbeing activities and projects that support people living with and beyond cancer such as:
• exercise classes or activity sessions involving sport, dance or movement
• arts and craft sessions
• complementary therapies (Reiki, Massage etc)
counselling
• 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
• support to patients who require reasonable adjustments
• advice and guidance on work, money and planning ahead
• support to build emotional resilience and/or address the psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis
Please note that if you have had a grant from a previous round of funding, you will be required to report on it before any decision might be reached on a new application.
Additional Information:
Eight NHS Trusts provide cancer services across the North East and North Cumbria. Your project must be aligned to, and work with, your local hospital trust throughout the delivery of your project.
What the Fund will not support in addition to our normal exclusions
• individuals
Before you submit your application:
To be eligible for funding, all applicants must engage with the North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) NHS Foundation Trust. This engagement should take place during the development of the project proposal to ensure the project aligns with local priorities and establishes the partnerships needed to support successful delivery. Evidence of this engagement will be considered by the decision panel as part of the assessment process.
Successful projects are expected to maintain these relationships throughout the project lifecycle to strengthen community partnerships and maximise the impact of support for people affected by cancer.
Contact NCIC NHS Foundation Trust to ensure there is a clear alignment regarding project scope and outcomes as this is an essential eligibility requirement:
• 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
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
• provide a summary of delivery such as number of people attending each session, number of people supported, and outcomes achieved
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 is 30th November 2026. Application outcomes will be given in early February 2027.