Lasting Impact Large Grants Programme

Supporting ambitious projects to deliver lasting health and wellbeing benefits across Grampian

Our Lasting Impact Large Grants Programme supports ambitious projects which have the potential to deliver significant and lasting benefit for people across Grampian.

We are looking for projects that can demonstrate clear and tangible benefits for NHS Grampian patients, carers, and communities, with the potential to improve health outcomes, wellbeing, or quality of life.

We want to invest in projects that can make a meaningful difference, whether through the scale of people reached, the depth of benefit achieved, or the potential to create lasting improvements in health, care, or support across Grampian.

Who can apply?

The Lasting Impact Large Grants Programme is open to NHS services, local charities, community and voluntary organisations, research and academic partners, and partnerships involving one or more of these organisations.

Projects must be focused on improving health and wellbeing, and demonstrate a clear benefit for people in Grampian.

What can the grant be used for?

Funding is available to support ambitious projects that have the potential to deliver significant and lasting benefit.

Projects can be funded for up to three years, and may include the development, testing, delivery, or scaling of approaches that respond to an identified health or wellbeing need.

We want to support projects that will help:

  • Prevent ill health and promote wellbeing
  • Reduce health inequalities
  • Improve mental health and emotional wellbeing
  • Strengthen community-based support and access to healthcare
  • Support children, young people and families
  • Test innovative or evidence-informed approaches
  • Deliver meaningful and lasting benefit for patients and communities in Grampian.

Projects do not need to address all of these priorities, but applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong and credible contribution to at least one.

What are we looking for?

Strong proposals will demonstrate:

  • Clear patient or community benefit – A tangible difference for people in Grampian
  • Alignment with Grampian health priorities – Responding to an important local health or wellbeing need
  • Evidence of need – Proportionate evidence, data, insight, or lived experience demonstrating why the project is required
  • Additionality – Charitable funding will add value beyond statutory or core NHS responsibilities
  • Impact – Clear outcomes and a credible explanation of the difference the project will make
  • Lasting benefit – Consideration of what will remain or change beyond the funding period
  • Deliverability – A realistic approach, appropriate partnerships, and the capacity to deliver
  • Good value for money – The scale of investment is proportionate to the expected benefits

How much can we apply for?

There is no set minimum or maximum award for this programme.

Rather than designing a project around a predetermined funding limit, we want applicants to tell us what investment is needed to achieve meaningful and lasting impact for people in Grampian.

We therefore ask applicants to consider carefully:

  • What resources are genuinely required
  • Whether the proposed costs are reasonable and proportionate
  • The number of people who are expected to benefit
  • The scale and depth of the anticipated impact
  • What other financial or in-kind contributions may be available
  • How the project will demonstrate good value for money

At the initial Expression of Interest stage, you will only be asked to provide an estimated funding requirement. Applicants invited to the second stage will be required to submit a detailed and fully-costed budget.

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How do we apply?

The Lasting Impact Large Grants Programme has a two-stage application process.

Stage 1: Expression of Interest

The programme is now open for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) until 12pm on Monday 9th November 2026.

The EOI is designed to help us understand:

  • The problem or opportunity you want to address
  • Who will benefit and how
  • The evidence of need
  • The difference you want to make
  • How your proposal aligns with health priorities in Grampian
  • How charitable funding is needed
  • The potential for lasting impact
  • The approximate level of investment required

We are unable to progress EOIs that are incomplete, or that arrive after the deadline.

Following the closing date, all eligible EOIs will be reviewed and assessed against the programme criteria. We aim to notify applicants of the outcome of Stage 1 in early-December 2026.

Stage 2: Full application

Applicants with the strongest EOIs will be invited to submit a full application.

The full application will provide an opportunity to develop the proposal in greater detail, including:

  • Project delivery
  • Outcomes and impact
  • Evaluation
  • Partnerships
  • Sustainability
  • Risk
  • Detailed costs and value for money

The deadline for full applications is expected to be in late-January 2027. Further information and guidance will be provided to applicants invited to Stage 2.

Please note that any changes to the published timetable will be communicated through NHS Grampian Charity’s social media channels.

Apply

Download the Expression of Interest Form