What We’re Looking For

Projects that:

• Are community-driven and rooted in lived experience
• Test a new or adapted volunteer model
• Are able to gather data and reflect on what works (and what doesn’t)
• Align with health and wellbeing priorities identified by Northamptonshire ICB

Organisations must:  

• Have a track record or clear ambition to work with volunteers in health contexts  
• Be based in and serve communities within Northamptonshire  

Priority will be given to:  

• Smaller, place-based grassroots organisations with an annual income of less than £1 million  
• Projects led by or serving under-represented or marginalised communities 

Data requirements  

Organisations will be required to gather and report data, both quantitative and qualitative, which will be used as evidence of the Programme’s activities and alignment to its aims and objectives. Support will be given to organisations where needed and relevant. Funded organisations will need to provide quarterly demographic data about volunteers and take part in a Peer Network group. 

We strongly suggest utilising the Volunteering for Health Good Practice Volunteer Management Toolkit and Volunteer Charter as a guideline for your project governance.  

Timeline

The grants panel will take place in June, so we would ask that projects begin in July 2026. Funded projects will need to be completed by 19th March 2027 and End of Grant Reports submitted by the 16th April 2027.

Follow this link to make an application: Volunteering for Health - Test, Learn and Innovate Programme

Is my group eligible?

• Your group must be a small, locally managed VCSE organisation such as a  charity, constituted community group, social enterprise such as a Community Interest Company (CIC), or a company limited by guarantee with charitable aims. Please note that as a general exclusion we do not fund social enterprises that have a  single person  with overall significant control (PSC).  Social enterprises must have a minimum of three non-related directors.
• Your organisation must be based in Northamptonshire.  
• You must have a set of written rules or constitution that your group adheres to, and this must contain a dissolution clause specific to Northamptonshire. We can help advise you on how to do this especially if you are a new group.  
• You must take care to ensure that young people or vulnerable people taking part in your activity do not come to any harm whilst in your care. To this end, you must have written procedures for keeping young people and/or vulnerable people safe, otherwise known as a Child Protection or Vulnerable Adults’ policy. This will be needed as a condition of funding. If you do not have such a policy, visit our Help for Groups section of the website.  
• You must have an Equality or Equity and Diversity policy.  

For more information about eligibility and information on supporting documents, please visit our Help for Groups section.

Please read the guidance notes and download the reference form and supporting documents checklist at the bottom of the page before applying.

Northamptonshire Community Foundation can provide advice and guidance during the application process as well as viewing draft applications prior to submission. Call the grants team on 01604 230033 for more information.

Please click here to view our Diversity Statement applicable to our grant awards.