Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Health Inequalities Challenge Prize 2023

Fund details

Following the success of the Health Inequalities Challenge Prize 2022, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System have developed a brand new fund focused on the delivery of Personalised Care approaches. This means community-led projects increasing the opportunities for people to have choice and control over the way their health and care is planned and delivered. For example, this includes supporting people to self-manage their conditions, holding ‘what matters to me’ conversations and co-developing personalised care support plans, as well as referrals into social prescribing, health coaching teams or financial support services.

Health and social inequalities remain an enormous challenge which requires innovative solutions. Voluntary organisations are well placed to identify groups of people in their communities who require support, and work with them to develop the types of activities and services they need.

Who can apply?

We are seeking the very best ideas from individuals as well as groups and organisations. If you are an individual with a great idea then we ask that you approach and work with an existing organisation that will help you to deliver your idea if you are successful. That organisation should be operating not-for-profit, be legally registered if their income is above £5,000 and they should complete the application form naming the individual whose idea it is.

This award is open to applications from public sector bodies and NHS organisations of any kind. Educational establishments are also encouraged to use this prize within their curriculum.

Who should your project support?

Applications are open to individuals, voluntary, charity or Social Enterprise organisations serving any population, including but not limited to:

• LGBTQ+ communities
• Asylum seekers and refugees
• People in contact with the judicial system
• Homeless people and rough sleepers
• People from the Armed Forces community
• People with serious mental illness
• People with physical disabilities, learning disabilities or neurodivergent people
• Minority ethnic communities
• People misusing drugs or alcohol
• People who are more likely to develop long-term health conditions due to social or economic circumstances

What are some project examples?

Your project must make a difference to local communities by reducing systematic, unfair and avoidable differences in health for those living in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and must include a Personalised Care approach. Some examples of projects could include health behaviours, physiological impacts or social factors:

• A tool to help people with learning disabilities manage their weight
• An accessible way of developing Personalised Care and/or health action plans
• A new way of managing medications safely
• An accessible way of helping people with serious mental illness to reduce or quit smoking
• A new way of supporting people from the Armed Forces community to seamlessly transfer their healthcare across areas
• ReSPECT – engage with and understand what is important to a person about their clinical care and support, for those who are likely to be at the end of their life, and who do not speak English
• An accessible way of supporting people with learning disabilities or long-term conditions to transition from child to adult services
• Reducing social isolation and loneliness, focusing on wellbeing for people in LGBTQ+ communities
• A new way of delivering care at a very local level for people unable to access transport

What are the judging criteria?

Projects are welcomed that will be judged against the following criteria to be selected as finalists:

• Specification: Does the project meet one of the key objectives set out in the vision
• Innovation: Whether the project introduces a new or original adaptive way of working to introduce a completely new approach to solving issue.
• Understanding: Has the project team demonstrated a knowledge of the issue they are trying to resolve and how have they gained this knowledge?
• Impact: Whether the project will have a significant impact upon the target group in the context of the Health Inequalities Challenge Prize 2022 application.
• Quality: Is the project fit for purpose and has the project met any relevant safety, governance, security or other applicable standards.
• Growth Potential: Will additional funding ensure the project can be widened and adapted to support a wider range of people with a wider variety of digital exclusion needs.
• Sustainability: Is the project likely to have a realistic chance of continuing once the funding comes to an end.

What can the money be used (and not used) for?

These lists are not exhaustive but give an outline of acceptable spending. If you have doubts about your planned costs, please contact us.

The grants can pay for:

• Consultants or expert advice
• Web, media or marketing materials for your project Any activities beneficial to the development of your project
• Materials for the manufacture of items related to your project
• Staff costs associated specifically and exclusively with the project
• Travel to and from Health Inequalities Challenge Prize events
• Infrastructure crucial to the delivery or testing of your project such as tooling, internet subscriptions, etc

The grants cannot pay for:

• Organisational running costs, such as existing staffing, moving services online, installing or upgrading internet connectivity at your organisation’s office, or computers or mobile phones for staff
• Wages for staff that is not at least the Real Living Wage
• As additional top-up funds to an existing project already funded by a public sector body even indirectly
• The continuation of business as usual for an organisation
• Large scale infrastructure programmes such as installing community Wi-Fi
• Activities or projects which have already taken place (i.e. Retrospective funding)
• Sponsored events, fundraising activities, or grant-making activities or bodies
• Improvements to land/buildings that are not open to the general public at convenient hours
• Projects promoting political activities, lobbying for causes
• The practice of religion or any projects that actively promote religion or particular belief systems (or indeed the lack of belief). This is because these activities could exclude people from accessing a project on religious grounds.
• Animal welfare projects or overseas travel
• Statutory obligations i.e. activities that replace government funding
• Projects with delivery or beneficiaries outside of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
• Anything already covered by core funding or otherwise already funded

What happens if you are successful?

The 12 successful applicants will receive an offer letter which must be signed and returned before the £4,000 awards are released.

Each recipient of an award will be allocated a Project Support Officer from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System.

Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will provide half a day of public engagement support to each recipient to ensure access to relevant communities.

The Project Support Officer will offer advice and guidance on the direction of the project to ensure the recipients have the best possible chance of success. They will support each recipient to create project or development plans, budget sheets and social media content at key points throughout the 3 months mid-July to mid-October 2023.

The Project Support Officers will also help applicants to identify opportunities and links to existing workstreams to improve health and wellbeing.

This range of plans and key objectives will form part of a final submission and presentation to a panel of expert judges in October 2023. This will be followed by an Award Ceremony hosted by Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System, either face to face or virtually, where the award of £20,000 will be announced.