About the Community Grants Programme
The Community Grants Programme is part of NHS Blood and Transplant’s commitment to build support for blood, organ and living kidney donation amongst Black, Asian, mixed heritage and minority ethnic communities.
On this page:
Community Grants Programme explained
What is the Community Grants Programme?
The Community Grants Programme funds community and faith/beliefs organisations to drive awareness, understanding and behaviour change. We know that trusted local organisations can be effective at achieving these goals due to their specialist knowledge, understanding and footprint in the community, and we seek out innovative ideas to support and provide sustainable investment.
The programme continues to deepen its commitment to community organisations, with £600,000 of funding available each year over a two-year funding cycle to support life-saving work.
A more flexible funding model
This year, we are taking the programme further by introducing a more flexible funding model.
We will offer a mix of larger, strategic awards for established partners delivering sustained impact, and smaller grants designed to support innovation and open up opportunities to a wider range of organisations.
This evolution allows us to go deeper where it matters, while reaching more communities than ever before.
Funding priorities
We are looking to deepen our commitment to strategic partners who have received funding from us before, with the option of applying for up to £50,000 per year.
Innovative smaller/grassroots organisations can apply for £10,000–£20,000 per year.
Organisations can apply for funding across the following areas:
- Blood donation
Total funding pot: £240,000
Projects must be focused on engaging Black African and Caribbean communities only - Deceased organ donation and living kidney donation
Total funding pot: £360,000
Projects must be focused on engaging all ethnic minority and faith communities - Combined blood and organ donation
Funded through a combination of the blood and organ donation funding pots
The blood element of the project must focus on Black African and Caribbean communities
To learn more about projects that have previously received funding from the Community Grants Programme, see our project case studies.
Why is the programme needed?
Ethnicity is a multidimensional concept with many links to health. The Community Grants Programme helps tackle some of the health inequalities affecting people from Black, Asian, mixed heritage and minority ethnic backgrounds.
It aims to address the shortage of Black blood donors whose blood is used to treat conditions like sickle cell, and the shortage of ethnically matched organs for those waiting for a transplant in all Black, Asian, mixed heritage and minority ethnic communities.
Establishing and building trust in these communities is vital. Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities face numerous health inequalities, including being disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and research shows they are less likely to view government policies in a positive light or trust government messages.
Through the Community Grants Programme, we work with grassroots organisations to engage, educate and recruit more donors. We are committed to partnering with organisations that can deliver the greatest impact within their communities, recognising that trusted and authentic voices are key to reaching people who may not otherwise engage.
Our funding approach supports both depth and scale, enabling established organisations with the reach and capacity to deliver activity at scale, while also empowering smaller organisations to connect with communities in meaningful and locally relevant ways. Together, this helps drive lasting change and improve outcomes for those whose lives depend on donation.
If you have any further questions about the programme, please email the Community Grants team.
Applying for funding
The application window for the latest round of funding is now open. The closing date for applications is [add date and time].
If you have any further questions about the programme or previous projects we have funded, please email the Community Grants team and we will respond as soon as we can.
