About this work

‍

Grassroots VCSE organisations are essential to how communities stay well, connected and supported. They build trusted relationships, respond to local need and deliver prevention in ways that are culturally relevant and accessible.

‍

However, many organisations face structural barriers - including limited capacity, infrastructure challenges and difficulty accessing funding.

‍

This programme responds to that by combining relational, tailored capacity-building support with aligned grant funding - strengthening individual organisations while also building the wider VCSE ecosystem that underpins neighbourhood health.

‍

This reflects a wider shift towards more equitable, trust-based partnership with the VCSE sector, moving away from short-term or transactional approaches.

‍

What this work enables

‍

For VCSE organisations, this programme provides practical support, skills and funding to help them grow and sustain their work.

‍

For the wider system, it strengthens the conditions needed for effective community-led prevention, health creation and reduction of inequalities.

‍

Through this approach, the programme helps to:

• Strengthen the sustainability and resilience of grassroots organisations
• Enable “By and For” organisations to lead, shape and influence locally
• Build a stronger, more connected hyper-local VCSE ecosystem
• Improve access to funding and increase organisations’ readiness to secure it
• Support more diverse and representative VCSE leadership within the system
• Strengthen collaboration between VCSE organisations and statutory partners

‍

Who this is for

‍

This programme is aimed at:

• Micro and small VCSE organisations
• “By and For” organisations led by and for specific communities
• Groups working with communities experiencing the greatest inequalities
• Organisations that are early-stage or looking to grow and stabilise
• VCSE organisations that may not typically access mainstream funding

‍

If you are a grassroots or ‘By and For’ organisation

‍

If you are part of a grassroots organisation or a group led by and for your community, you can access support through this programme.

‍

Support is delivered locally through trusted VCSE partners who understand your community and context. They will work alongside you to identify what support would be most helpful - whether that’s strengthening your organisation, developing new ideas, or accessing funding.

‍

You do not need to have everything in place already. The programme is designed to meet organisations where they are and provide practical, hands-on support to help you take the next step.

‍

You can typically access support by:

• Connecting with your local VCSE infrastructure or support organisation
• Being referred through local networks or community partnerships
• Expressing interest when new funding or support opportunities open

If you’re unsure where to start, local partners can help guide you to the right support.

‍

What support looks like

‍

Capacity-building support

‍

Support is tailored and flexible, recognising that every organisation is different.

This may include:

• Governance, leadership and organisational development
• Becoming constituted or strengthening existing structures
• Developing policies, systems and day-to-day operations
• 1:1 advice, mentoring and hands-on support
• Peer learning and connections into networks
• Building confidence, skills and leadership capability
• Becoming “funding-ready”

Support is delivered in a relational, place-based way, building trusted relationships over time.

‍

Enhanced grant funding

‍

Alongside capacity-building, organisations can access flexible grant funding to support:

• Core organisational development
• Strengthening infrastructure and systems
• Piloting or expanding delivery
• Sustaining vital community-led activity

By aligning funding with support, organisations are better able to use investment effectively and build long-term sustainability.

‍

Our approach

‍

This programme is grounded in the SEL VCSE Charter, which prioritises:

• Fair and sustainable funding
• Stronger VCSE infrastructure
• Strategic partnership and shared leadership
• Reducing bureaucracy and supporting innovation

It is designed to reach organisations who are often underrepresented, while strengthening relationships between VCSE organisations and the wider health and care system.

‍

Why this matters

‍

Investing in grassroots VCSE organisations is essential to building a more effective and equitable system.

These organisations:

• Reach communities most affected by inequalities
• Build trust and social connection
• Deliver prevention and early support
• Bring lived experience into system design

Strengthening their capacity creates impact beyond individual organisations - enabling stronger collaboration, more inclusive decision-making and more responsive services.

‍

As the Alliance’s work shows, this kind of investment builds the relational infrastructure that allows community-led prevention and health creation to grow across neighbourhoods and the wider system.