Work and Health Grants for Leeds VCSE sector

Medium grants to support people to be closer to work:

This funding is specifically for community organisations to deliver initiatives which support people to be closer to work, as part of the Work, Health and Skills Agenda. The funding programme is being developed by Leeds City Council in partnership with Forum Central.

We expect to award multiple medium sized grants. The nature of this funding is time limited to this financial year.

About the fund:

This funding is specifically for locally rooted Leeds community organisations who support people who have significant health conditions and are economically inactive and start to progress them towards employment. It is part of the Work, Health and Skills Agenda and in line with the WYCA (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) Work, Health and Skills Plan.

The funding programme has been developed by Leeds City Council in partnership with Forum Central, with feedback from the VCSE sector. It is expected £720,000 will be available in Leeds to scale up existing innovative interventions that are well evaluated as well as new activities and innovative approaches.  The balance will be 80% scaling up existing projects and up to 20% for new innovation.

Target cohort: Residents who are economically inactive due to ill health. The 3 main health reasons that will be prioritised are • Mental health • Musculoskeletal • Cardiovascular .

Priority will be given to projects working with people who experience the most health inequalities including people who have experience of homelessness, care and / or the criminal justice system, carers, people experiencing multiple deprivation or other groups demonstrably facing major hurdles to employment.

Activities should take place in non-pressurised learning contexts where participants’ needs are understood, thereby increasing their confidence and self-esteem and inspiring them to take the first steps into accessing support in safe and trusted environments. It should motivate participants to grow in confidence, ambition, resilience and skills. Activities should also connect residents with supportive community networks as they progress towards and into other activities, further learning, volunteering and employment.

Funding details:

Grants will be in 3 ranges:

•  £1,000 to £20,000
•  £20k to £50k and
• up to £100k

The delivery is to be completed by the end of March 2026.  It is hoped projects can start from July 2025, with a minimum delivery/ support of 13 weeks per participant.

Support with applications:

A Meet the Funder event is being held to share information about the grants and answer your questions. This will be hosted online on Tuesday 3 June, 1 pm – 2 pm.

Register your interest and secure your place: Meet the Funder Work and Health Grants Session

Meet the Funder – Work and Health grants | Zoom link

Information about the fund:

• VSCE Strand Q&A slides
• Work, health and skills plan – Kada research report for West Yorkshire Combined Authority
• Work and health consultation slides 30 April