Trailblazer VCSE Inclusion Health Programme 2025/2026
The Trailblazer VCSE Inclusion Health Programme is part of West Yorkshire’s Health and Growth Trailblazer initiative, designed to strengthen links between health, wellbeing, and employment through the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.
As this is part of a West Yorkshire Local Authority programme, this funding is only open to VCSE organisations delivering in Bradford District.
The programme focuses on improving quality of life, reducing inequalities, and supporting residents who are not currently in paid work and face barriers connected to health, exclusion, or discrimination.
This funding recognises that for many people, paid employment may be several years away or may not be an option at all — yet improving wellbeing, skills, and community connections remains essential for reducing inequality in healthy life expectancy.
Through a Participatory Grant-Making (PGM) process, local people, community leaders, and system partners will jointly review applications and decide how funding is shared. The aim is to ensure that resources reach those communities and organisations best placed to make a lasting difference.
Timeline and Key Dates
The Trailblazer VCSE Inclusion Health Programme will be delivered through a Participatory Grant-Making (PGM) process, where applicants have the opportunity to present their ideas and take part in shared decision-making. The timeline below outlines each stage of the process — from launch and support webinars, through to the PGM Pitch Day and the start of delivery. Organisations are encouraged to attend one of the information webinars before submitting their Expression of Interest to ensure their proposal aligns with the programme aims and eligibility criteria.
| Activity | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Expression of Interest | Mon 13 Oct 2025 | Open to applicants |
| Online support sessions 1 | Session One 3 – 4pm 21 Oct 2025 | Microsoft Teams Need help? Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 378 351 857 309 5 Passcode: P4c7xg2y |
| Online support sessions 2 | Session Two 4 – 5pm 23 Oct 2025 | Microsoft Teams Need help? Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 324 020 087 530 8 Passcode: Ze7Ng3n9 |
| Submission deadline | Midnight. Sunday 26 Oct 2025 | All EOIs must be submitted by the stated time and date without exception |
| Trailblazer PGM event | Wednesday 29 Oct 2025 | Time and venue TBC |
| Awards announced | Wednesday 29 Oct 2025 | All awards will be announced at the PGM event |
| Mobilisation | Monday 3 November 2025 | All projects should be mobilised and ready to begin delivery by 1 Dec 2025 at the latest |
Venue
The Ballroom, Bradford Live. 1 Thornton Rd, Bradford BD1 2EP
Parking
Unfortunately there is no parking at the venue, but there are several car parks near by. Please visit this Bradford Council webpage where you can access an interactive map of nearby parking:
https://shorturl.at/u2mzC
Arrival
Please arrive at the main doors to the NorthTower; this is the entrance at the corner of Thornton Road. We need all applicant organisations to arrive by 9:30am to set up your showcase stall.
Bradford Live Security
Please note that a bag check will be carried out for all attendees on arrival.
Awards
All awards under this programme are set at a fixed value of £15,000. We are only accepting Expressions of Interest for this full amount — partial or reduced funding requests will not be considered. This ensures that each funded organisation has the full resources needed to deliver meaningful, high-quality activity and meet the aims of the Trailblazer Inclusion Health Programme.
Collaboration and Partnership working
To make best use of this within the five-month delivery period, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply in partnership with other organisations, sharing delivery and distributing funds appropriately between partners. The lead applicant will remain responsible for overall coordination and reporting.
Partnership bids can:
- Combine the strengths, reach, and expertise of more than one organisation.
- Share delivery responsibilities, resources, and reporting requirements.
- Allocate portions of the £15,000 award across partner organisations in line with agreed roles and budgets.
Both Strand A and B are about delivering targeted inclusion health support for these Health Inclusion Groups which are often underrepresented in mainstream provision. Projects should focus on activities that improve wellbeing, build confidence, and strengthen pathways to sustainable employment opportunities.
Strand A: Inclusion Health Groups.
Total funding available: £360,000.00
- Young People 15–24 years (4 x awards of £15,000.00)
- LGBTQ+ Communities (4 x awards of £15,000.00)
- Women (Women’s Health focus) (4 x awards of £15,000.00)
- Black Communities (delivered through Black-led consortia; definition to be determined by those organisations) (4 x awards of £15,000.00)
- Learning Disabilities, Neurodiversity & Autism (4 x awards of £15,000.00)
- Physical Disabilities (Registered Disabled) – delivered across two local areas due to identified need. (4 x awards of £15,000.00)
Finance and Delivery
- 24 awards of £15,000.00, (that is 4 awards under each health inclusion group), will be awarded at a PGM awards day (details to follow).
- Each organisation is expected to work with a minimum of 20 people.
- Each person should recieve 8 weeks of direct support.
Strand B: Health Inclusion Groups
Total funding available: £150,000.00 – 10 awards of £15,000.00
- Roma (2 x awards of £15,000.00)
- Gypsy & Traveller (2 x awards of £15,000.00)
- Poorer White Groups (2 x awards of £15,000.00)
- Bangladeshi Community (2 x awards of £15,000.00)
- South Asian Women (2 x awards of £15,000.00)
Finance and Delivery
- 10 awards of £15,000.00, (that is 4 awards under each health inclusion group), will be awarded at a PGM awards day (details to follow).
- Each organisation is expected to work with a minimum of 20 people.
- Each intervention should last 6 weeks not including baseline and endline monitoring.
PGM (Participatory Grant Making) Process Overview
If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to take part in a Participatory Grant-Making (PGM) Showcase and Pitch Event.
The event will take place at a local community venue (to be confirmed). More information on this is available below and in the EOI application form.
All shortlisted applicants attending the PGM Day will be asked to bring a showcase stall.
This is your chance to show off the amazing work your organisation does — how you support your community, what difference you make, and the ideas you’re putting forward for funding.
For ideas about a showcase stall please see this link: https://tinyurl.com/3ct7rbjw
Each applicant will also take part in a live pitch session, where you’ll have 2 minutes to present your project idea.
After each pitch, there’ll be a short opportunity for attendees to ask questions and learn more about your proposal before voting takes place.
Further Details
✅ Who can apply?
You must be a not-for-profit organisation working within the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector in Bradford District.
This includes registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs), community interest companies (CICs), companies limited by guarantee, community benefit societies, co-operatives, and other constituted community groups that reinvest any surplus back into their work. For-profit or private businesses are not eligible to apply.
You must also meet basic legal, financial, and safety standards to protect staff, volunteers, and the people they work with. The full Compliance Statement is available on the Expression of Interest Form.
💷 Can I apply for more than one award?
We are happy to accept more than one Expression of Interest (EOI) from the same organisation, as we recognise that many organisations work with a range of communities and health inclusion groups. Each EOI should clearly outline a distinct area of focus, demonstrating how the proposed work will meet the specific needs and priorities of that health inclusion group.
This approach allows organisations to showcase the breadth of their work while ensuring that funding supports a diverse mix of communities, experiences, and approaches across the programme.
💷 Core costs
At least 70% of the total £15,000 award must be spent on direct delivery — this includes staffing costs, activity delivery, sessional work, materials, venue hire, and resources that directly benefit participants or communities.
Up to 30% of the award can be used for core costs, such as administration, management, insurance, or other essential operating costs
📅 Delivery duration
All projects should be mobilised and ready to begin delivery by 1 Dec 2025 at the latest. Each project should aim to work with at least 20 people in their chosen Health Inclusion Group and each person should receive at least 8 weeks of direct support.
📝 Monitoring
- All awardees will be expected to attend a Participatory Evaluation event. Details to be confirmed.
- All awardees will be expected to maintain ongoing monitoring and submit data on a monthly basis. Details to be confirned.
- All individuals that are engaged in a project must have an Individual Registration Form. (To be provided)
- All individuals that are engaged in a project must have a baseline and endline EQ-5D-5L. (To be Provided)
- All funded projects will be expected to develop at least two case studies:
- One of which should be of an individual participants journey through the programme.
- The other could be either an individuals journey through the programme or a case study of programme delivery
What happens in the PGM process?
If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to take part in a Participatory Grant-Making (PGM) Showcase and Pitch Event.
The event will take place at a local community venue (to be confirmed).
Each applicant or group will:
Host a small showcase stall to display and explain their idea in more detail. This is your chance to share visuals, examples, or materials that help others understand what you want to do.
Give a short pitch (up to 2 minutes) to present your idea to the audience.
Take part in a short Q&A session (up to 2 minutes) where attendees can ask questions about your project.
After all pitches, participants and system partners will vote for the projects they believe will have the most positive impact.
Funding decisions will be made on the day, and successful applicants will be able to begin delivery shortly after.
Contact and support
If you wish to discuss anything about the grant please contact David Holt, our Grants Manager.
Email: David@thevcsalliance.org.uk
Phone: 07865 599209
There will be online information and support sessions soon to support you, so please keep an eye out for when those are announced.
Apply Here
You can download a copy of the form at the button below.
Please note this if for reference only and EOIs will only be accepted via the online application.
