Strategic & System Large‑Scale Funding (Neighbourhood Health & Wellbeing Programme)
Strategic & System Large‑Scale Funding: Apply Now
Introduction
The Neighbourhood Health & Wellbeing (NHWB) Programme has secured £2.5m to support a small number of large‑scale, system‑level initiatives that will help prove the “left shift” concept — moving care into communities, strengthening prevention, and reducing long‑term demand on hospital services.
This competitive fund invites ambitious, collaborative proposals from partners across Dorset, including Primary Care, Dorset HealthCare, Local Authorities, Secondary Care and the VCSE sector.
“This fund is intended to support large scale, system level tests of change… programmes that deliver across multiple neighbourhoods, cross‑place working and collaborations across statutory, voluntary and community sector organisations.” (Strategic Funding Guidance)
What the Fund Is For
Projects must focus on:
- Early intervention and prevention for rising‑risk groups
- Reducing long‑term need for unplanned health and care services
- Addressing inequalities in access or provision
- Testing scalable, system‑wide change
- Supporting double‑running to safely transition to new models
- Co‑design and co‑production with communities and people with lived experience
“Investment will support neighbourhoods and partner organisations… to test, implement and evidence new models, enabling the system to rebalance activity away from hospital‑based services.” (Narrative Document)
What the Fund Cannot Support
- Services solely for under‑18s
- Digital solutions (apps, software development)
- Capital builds
- Research projects
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted between 25 May and 19 July 2026.
Read the Guidance
Review the full guidance pack to ensure your proposal meets the eligibility criteria and aligns with programme outcomes.
Download the Application Documents
Develop Your Proposal
Your application must demonstrate:
- Clear problem definition
- Evidence of need
- SMART aims
- Expected impact
- Co‑design and community involvement
- Cross‑organisation collaboration
- Measurement approach linked to programme key measures
- Sustainability beyond the funding period
Submit Your Application
Email your completed application and budget sheet to: [email protected]
Deadline: 19 July 2026
Support Available
The programme team can support you with:
- Initiative identification
- Application development
- Stakeholder engagement
- Co‑production and co‑design
- Measurement and evaluation
- Impact identification
- Project delivery support
“Support is available to develop your bid… including intervention models, baseline cohort data, measurement and impact guidance and co‑production principles.” (Application Template)
To request support, contact your Delivery Facilitator or email: [email protected]
Assessment Process
Applications will be assessed using a structured framework that considers:
Impact
- Outcomes and experience
- Service impact
- System resource use
- Inequalities
Ease of Implementation
- Stakeholder commitment
- Cross‑neighbourhood support
- Sustainability
- Co‑design
- Evidence base
- Workforce and delivery considerations
- Data availability
“This approach ensures a transparent process which will evaluate alignment to delivery of the agreed programme outcomes and objectives.” (Funding Guidance)
Key Dates
| Stage | Date |
| · Fund opens | 25 May 2026 |
| · Applications close | 19 July 2026 |
| · Assessment & prioritisation | 31 July 2026 |
| · Programme Board approval | Aug/Sept 2026 |
| · ICB sign‑off & funding confirmed | Sept/Oct 2026 |
- Next Steps After Submission
- Applications are reviewed by the Assessment Panel
- Recommendations go to the Programme Board
- Successful applicants are invited to the Funding Review Group
- Unsuccessful applicants receive support to explore alternative funding or further development
“Unsuccessful requests [will be] supported to explore other forms of funding and/or further development of the initial bid.” (Funding Process Slide)
Contact
For questions, support or early conversations about your proposal: [email protected]