New Innovation Fund to Support Communities in Surrey Heath and Farnham

A new fund has launched to provide communities with the opportunity to develop ideas that could significantly impact local people’s health and wellbeing. Funded by the Better Care Fund, the Innovation Fund offers a total pot of £54,000 to support projects that address key health priorities in Surrey Heath borough and Farnham.

Funding Overview

Total fund: £54,000
Maximum award: £2,000 per project (higher amounts considered in exceptional circumstances with direct health and care benefits)
Duration: One year from award date
Application process: Rolling basis until funds are allocated
Decision timeframe: Within 3 weeks of application

Eligible Applicants

Voluntary and community organisations or charities operating in Surrey Heath borough and Farnham.

Project Criteria

Your project must meet at least one of the following priorities:

Keep people healthy and independent
Enable people to stay well, safe and independent at home for longer
Support discharge from hospital or prevent avoidable admissions
Target health inequalities
Support carers or community resilience
Increase focus on prevention for healthier, more independent lives
Harness digital technology to transform health and care

Required Impact Areas

You must demonstrate how your project will achieve at least one of the following outcomes:

Improving physical health
Improving mental wellbeing
Tackling health inequalities
Improving access to health, care and community services

Assessment Criteria

Applications will be scored based on:

Innovation and need: Is it a new/innovative idea or does it address a specific gap?
Geographic relevance: Clear demonstration of support for people in Surrey Heath or Farnham
Evidence of impact: Detailed evidence of meeting core health and wellbeing outcomes
Sustainability: Plans for continuing outcomes beyond the funding period
Evaluation: Evidence of measurable outcomes and evaluation methods

How to Apply

Submit your application form via email to: [email protected]
Early submission is encouraged as applications are reviewed on a rolling basis
For support or to discuss your application, contact the team before submitting

Post-Award Requirements

Successful applicants must:

Sign a Funding Agreement outlining organisational criteria and expectations
Complete a final report detailing expenditure and impact
Provide evidence of measurable outcomes using the end-of-grant form

Support Available

If you need assistance or wish to discuss your application in detail before submission, the VSNS team encourages you to get in touch for guidance.

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Decisions made by the funding organisation are final. Feedback for unsuccessful applications is available on request.