About the Community Grants Programme
The Community Grants Programme (formerly the Community Investment Scheme) 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.
In its latest round of funding, the programme looked to deepen our commitment to community organisations by awarding successful applicants two years of funding to deliver life-saving work, with £600,000 of total funding per year available.
When funding application windows are open, organisations can apply for up to £20,000 per year to deliver work in:
- Blood donation – Total funding pot: £300,000 (projects engaging Black African and Caribbean communities only)
- Deceased organ donation – Total funding pot: £150,000
- Living kidney donation – Total funding pot: £150,000
- Combined blood and deceased organ donation – funded using a combination of the above. 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 will help 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 look to empower grassroots organisations to engage, educate and recruit more donors as clinical data shows that ethnically matched blood and organs provide the best treatment.
We want to work with trusted and authentic voices in the community to deliver these messages and make a real change for those whose lives will be improved or saved by donation.
If you have any further questions about the programme, please contact community.funding@nhsbt.nhs.uk and we will respond as soon as we can.
Applying for funding
The application window for the latest round of funding has now closed. The next funding application window for the Community Grants Programme will be in 2026.
If you have any further questions about the programme or previous projects we have funded, please contact community.funding@nhsbt.nhs.uk and we will respond as soon as we can.
