Community organisations across Essex can now apply for grants of up to £10,000 from the NHS Essex Community Health Partnership Fund to support community-led projects that encourage, enable and support greater vaccine confidence and uptake.
The NHS Essex Community Health Partnership Fund has been established by NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) and ECF. The programme is exploring how community-led approaches can help improve preventative health outcomes and increase vaccination uptake among communities where take-up of vaccines is lower than expected.
To help achieve this, the Fund is investing in local charities and community groups that often have trusted relationships with the people they support and can engage people and communities that statutory services may find more difficult to reach.
Priority Groups
Projects must work with one or more of the following priority groups:
- Pregnant Women – Pertussis, RSV, Flu
- Teenage Girls & Boys – HPV
- Children – MMR Dose 1 & 2
Priority Areas
The Fund will consider applications from across Essex (excluding Southend and Thurrock) but priority will be given to projects working in:
- Basildon
- Harlow
- Tendring
What Can Be Funded?
The Fund is designed to support organisations that are already working with one or more of the priority groups and have strong relationships within the communities they support. Funding is available for projects that can build on and strengthen work that is already taking place.
Grants of up to £10,000 are available for projects lasting up to 24 months.
The Advisory Panel is looking for organisations that have strong community connections and can work collaboratively to help increase vaccination uptake among Essex’s priority communities.
The Fund is looking for community-led approaches that:
- Increase awareness and understanding of vaccinations
- Build trust and confidence within communities
- Address barriers to accessing vaccination services
- Support informed decision-making
- Engage communities that are underserved or less likely to engage with mainstream services
- Create sustainable and collaborative approaches that can inform future delivery models
Who Can Apply?
Applications are welcome from:
- Registered charities
- Community and voluntary organisations
- Community Interest Companies (CICs) limited by guarantee
- Other not-for-profit organisations meeting ECF eligibility requirements
To read the full application guidance click here
Application Process
There are two stages to the application process.
Stage One: Expression of Interest
Organisations must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).
Deadline: Wednesday 25 November 2026, 5pm.
EOIs will be reviewed by the Advisory Panel and organisations demonstrating the strongest fit with the Fund’s priorities will be invited to submit a full application.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their EOI by Wednesday 16 December 2026.
Stage Two: Full Application
Organisations invited to the second stage will be asked to provide further information about their proposed project. Any additional questions from the Advisory Panel will be shared with applicants at this stage.
The deadline for Stage Two applications is Friday 22 January 2027.
Apply
Expression of Interest applications are now open.
Expression of Interest deadline: Wednesday 25 November 2026, 5pm.
Applications can be submitted using the online application form below
Click here to apply.