GSK Community Health Programme announces 10 charities to receive funding and development

A total of 10 health and care charities have been selected to join the GSK Community Health programme supporting very small charities tackling health inequalities, delivered in partnership with The King’s Fund. The programme will provide funding and support to community-based organisations working to improve the health of some of the most disadvantaged communities in the UK.

Health inequalities are avoidable and systematic differences that include access to health care, quality and experience of care, life expectancy, and wider factors such as environment and housing. There are stark gaps in health between the least and most deprived areas in the UK, with the cost-of-living squeeze and rising poverty also impacting many people’s health.

A considerable amount of the work to tackle health inequalities is carried out by very small charities working with their communities. These organisations can find it hard to access unrestricted funding and support for their leaders, particularly in the current economic climate, which has resulted in huge pressures on funding.

The successful charities, all with an annual income of between £20,000 and £150,000, were selected from almost 230 applications and will each receive £10,000 in unrestricted funding from GSK, plus a place on a sought-after leadership programme worth an additional £5,000, delivered by leading health and care charity The King’s Fund.

The 10 successful charities are:

• Been There – providing free mental health mentoring to adults in England and Wales with body image issues, including disordered eating

• Disability Sport Yorkshire – supporting disabled people to improve their physical and mental health by creating accessible sport, activity programmes and opportunities for skills development and volunteering

• Headway Ayrshire – supporting people affected by an acquired brain injury/traumatic head injury across Ayrshire

• Lunch Club – tackling food poverty and social isolation in Streatham, South London

• Nottingham Children Young People and their Families Project – providing tailored support to people facing complex barriers in under resourced areas of Nottingham

• Plushealth – providing free, UK-wide online peer support to improve emotional and physical wellbeing for those living with or affected by HIV, empowering them to lead active, healthy lives without stigma or prejudice

• Rainbow Parents Carers Forum – a parent-led charity providing peer support, advice and information and inclusive activities for families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities in Greater Nottinghamshire and surrounding areas

• The Spring Charity – working to improve wellbeing and school readiness and reduce disadvantage for families with children under five in the Northampton area

• STAMP Revisited (Mental Health Advocacy Services) – providing an advocacy service in Middlesborough and the surrounding areas to people who have experienced mental health challenges and face multiple disadvantages

• Windmill Trust – providing creative therapeutic services for children and young people at risk of long-term mental health issues.

Commenting on the programme, Stephanie Dean, Director of Programmes, Charitable Investments at GSK, said: ‘We’re proud to continue our collaboration with The King's Fund to support the GSK Community Health programme. This initiative reflects our core commitment to work alongside communities to understand and tackle health inequalities. By offering both vital funding and leadership development, we empower these small, yet highly impactful charities to continue their essential work. It’s a privilege to support their efforts in bringing about real, positive change for the health and wellbeing of communities in some of the UK's most deprived areas.’

Lisa Weaks, Senior Associate at The King’s Fund, said: ‘Despite facing an incredibly challenging financial climate and increasing pressure to do more with less, local charity leaders and their teams continue to deliver life-changing services that improve health and wellbeing for some of the most vulnerable people in their communities, tackling deep-rooted health inequalities. With access to funding and leadership support often limited, offering these charities a place on our leadership programme is a chance to invest in their aspirations, helping leaders build the skills and confidence they need to grow their impact. We’re excited to work alongside them and learn from their experiences.’

The GSK Community Health programme is now in its second year, building on GSK's nearly 30-year partnership with The King's Fund. Together, they also deliver the GSK IMPACT Awards which recognises small and medium-sized charities working to improve people’s health and wellbeing across the UK.

Notes to editors

For further information please contact The King’s Fund Media and External Engagement Team on 020 7307 2585 or [email protected]

The GSK Community Health programme, delivered in partnership with The King’s Fund supports aspirational leaders who want to develop their organisations. It is designed to run alongside the GSK IMPACT Awards, GSK’s flagship UK community investment programme, and support the next generation of award winners. We know from our long history with the GSK IMPACT Awards that the combination of funding and leadership support can really help a charity realise its ambitions.

The GSK Community Health programme has been specifically designed to support small charities tackling health inequalities with annual income under £150,000. The programme is open to registered charities that are at least one year old, located and working in the UK, with a total annual income of between £20,000 and £150,000.

GSK and The King’s Fund set out to attract a broad range of programme participants to create a blend of different experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge. Applications were encouraged from organisations that are led by and support people from traditionally under-represented backgrounds, people from ethnic minority communities, people with disabilities and those from the LGBTQ+ community.

For more information about the GSK Community Health programme visit: www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/projects/gsk/community-health-programme

GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at gsk.com/company

The King's Fund is an independent charity working to improve people's health. Our vision is a world where everyone can live a healthy life. Our mission is to inspire hope and build confidence for positive change. We achieve this through expert insights and original research, developing leaders and their organisations, convening, and strategic, collaborative partnerships. For further information visit www.kingsfund.org.uk