Workforce Development Grant
If you work or volunteer for a small VCFSE organisation, you can now apply for Round 2 of the workforce development grant from the NEL VCFSE Collaborative.
The grant offers up to £250 per person to support individual professional development that helps tackle health inequalities. This funding is for individuals only and cannot be used for project delivery or organisational development.
You can use the grant in a range of ways, including:
Books, courses, and training
Podcast or online learning subscriptions
Conferences, events, and networking opportunities
Learning visits or field trips
The aim is to support learning, connection, and to strengthen your work on health equity.
Who can apply
- Individuals working or volunteering in small VCFSE organisations with an annual turnover of £150,000 or less
- Work must be carried out in Hackney and City, Havering, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Barking and Dagenham, Waltham Forest, or Redbridge
Deadline: Wednesday 25 February 2026.
If you have any queries please contact Alice Fox, Project Officer at nelvcse@thcvs.org.uk.
Need some inspiration? Click here to see some examples of how you can use the funds.
Click here to apply.
Resources
Click here for the first ever North East London State of the Sector report produced by the NEL VCFSE Collaborative.
Click here for the Integrated Neighbourhood Team briefing document.
About the NEL VCFSE Collaborative
- Equity and inclusivity – Championing compassionate, collaborative, and inclusive multi-professional leadership.
- Collaborative – Meaningful integration with the ICB as a coordinated VCFSE voice.
- Innovative – VCFSE sector contributing expertise in an equitable manner in commissioning, service design and improvement processes.
- Transparent – Building trust across sectors and ensuring the VCFSE is a valued partner.
- Person and community focused – Strengths-based approach by championing our people and communities.
The NEL VCFSE Collaborative works closely with NHS North East London to provide strategic input and representation for the VCFSE across NEL and ensures a two way flow of communication from VCFSE to the ICB. Tower Hamlets CVS currently hosts the NEL VCFSE Collaborative.
The NEL VCFSE Collaborative currently meets monthly with participation of VCFSE across the 7 London places (City and Hackney, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest) as well as our five thematic representatives (Workforce and Volunteers, Long Term Conditions (LTC), Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism, Babies, Children and Young People, and Faith to work with the ICB and to contribute in a meaningful way to health outcomes.
The NEL VCFSE Collaborative currently meets monthly with participation of VCFSE across the 7 London places (City and Hackney, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest) as well as our five thematic representatives (Workforce and Volunteers, Long Term Conditions (LTC), Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism, Babies, Children and Young People, and Faith to work with the ICB and to contribute in a meaningful way to health outcomes.
Monthly highlights reports
Click here to read the January 2026 highlights report.
Click here to read the September 2025 highlights report.
Click here to read the July 2025 highlights report.
Click here to read the June 2025 highlights report.
Click here to read the January 2025 highlights report.
Photographs by FaithAction.