Expression of interest is open for £7.5m Public Health Grant Programme in Essex

The Public Health Accelerator Bids (PHAB) programme offers organisations the opportunity to bid for funding across two grant funding streams – small grants under £15,000 and major grants over £15,000.

Expressions of interest for the major grants have opened, alongside the launch of a new website for the programme.

The website brings together information on the programme, including the full guidance and expression of interest forms, and will be updated with further details as they become available.

The PHAB programme will fund projects supporting the aims of the new Essex Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities Business Plan.It will focus on supporting the communities in Essex with the worst health outcomes and supports Essex County Council’s commitment to reducing health inequalities and improving residents’ health and wellbeing.

Lucy Wightman, Director of Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities at Essex County Council, said: “We recognise that no single organisation can improve public health outcomes across Essex alone. So, as part of the PHAB programme, we will prioritise applications that focus on productive and purposeful partnerships that address the causes of ill health and inequality.

“We have made the application process as straight forward as possible, and we want to hear from a diverse mix of eligible organisations across Essex who have the knowledge and expertise to make a real difference to health of our communities.”

Councillor John Spence, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care and ICS Integration, added: “This ambitious programme will fund a range of innovative public health projects across Essex, supporting our aim to address the wider determinants of health in the communities where this is needed most. “We’re excited to see the benefits projects will bring to residents and I would urge organisations to take a look at the website where they can learn more about the funding criteria and the process of submitting a bid.”

The deadline for the first round of expressions of interest is 5pm on Friday 25 August. If successful in their expression of interest, bidders for the major funding round will be invited to submit an application form.

Applications for the small grants and first round of the major grant will open on Monday 4 September.

The first grants are set to be awarded at the beginning of November and can fund projects for up to two years.

More information on the PHAB programme is available at: https://www.essex.gov.uk/phab.

Interested parties who have any queries can also email PHABApplications@activeessex.org.