Funding
Apply for Funding
Intro copy here
Neighbourhood Health Fund
Step Up MCR’s Neighbourhood Health Fund has £X,XXX available for community groups in Ancoats & Beswick and Clayton & Openshaw addressing Heart Health & Bowel Health.
About the fund
The Neighbourhood Health Fund is a Step Up MCR and Manchester Local Care Organisation (MLCO) collaborative fund.
The fund has £X,XXX available to support community activities that reduce hypertension (high blood pressure) and bowel cancer.
Applications open Day 0th Month and close at 5pm on Day 0th Month.
What we can fund
Your application does not need to be clinical to get support.
We are looking to fund new or existing work that improves health at a community level.
You could already be supporting people’s Heart Health and Bowel Health through your current activities.
The Neighbourhood Health Fund could be for you if you’re delivering local activities which:
- Boost physical activity
- Reduce stress
- Bring people together
- Encourage healthy eating
- Are for people over the age of 45
Here are just a few examples of eligible projects:
- Healthy cooking classes
- Cost of living or employment support
- Walking, cycling or swimming groups
- Gardening projects
- Support with addiction
- Mindfulness classes or yoga sessions
Fund Information
What is the Step Forward Fund?
Step Up MCR is committed to connecting with local people, groups and businesses to create happier and healthier communities, so that everybody feels at home in our city.
By working together, we know we can support, sustain and strengthen local neighbourhoods, creating places that people are proud of and want to live in.
The Step Forward Fund gives neighbours an opportunity to Step Forward to pitch, Step Forward to vote, and Step Forward to take action.
Pitches should demonstrate how your project will boost health and wellbeing in the community of Ancoats & Beswick or Clayton & Openshaw, or how your project will get people moving more in Ancoats & Beswick.
It’s easy to apply, all you need to do is complete our short application form and we’ll let you know if you’ve been shortlisted to pitch.
Who can pitch?
Anyone!
We want anyone with a good idea for Ancoats & Beswick and Clayton & Openshaw to have access to the funding they need to grow their project.
We’re here to give a step up to local community projects, whether you’re starting from scratch or fundraising for that last extra bit towards your goal. You don’t even need to be incorporated or registered as an organisation.
Need some inspiration? Here are just some of the community projects Step Up MCR is working with in your area.
Is it worth doing?
Pitching doesn’t guarantee funding, but you’ll always get something out of the process by stepping forwards.
The Step Forward Fund is a great way to raise money for your project, build community support and make connections that can help your project thrive.
Collaborative, not competitive
We are more than just a funder. Step Up MCR and MCRactive can offer the connections and peer support, fundraising assistance, development, access to opportunities and promotion your project needs.
We’ll be there on the night along with MCRactive to chat about any ideas you have.
Is it easy to apply?
The application form is short and simple to complete. A plan on a page is all we need!
Applications should be emailed to Step Up MCR (hello@stepupmcr.org) by XX Date Year.
Your application must demonstrate how your idea will improve the health and wellbeing in communities in Ancoats & Beswick and Clayton & Openshaw. Additionally through MCRactive demonstrating how your idea will improve and promote people to move more.
In submitting your application, you confirm that you or a member of your team is available to pitch at the Step Forward event on 20th December at Hallé St. Peter’s in Cutting Room Square, Ancoats.
What if I've never pitched before?
We will offer a pitch training session to all projects who apply – even if you don’t get selected to pitch on the night.
Pitch training will offer advice on how to present your idea in a few short minutes, and be as persuasive as it can be.
What can't you fund?
- Projects out of our neighbourhood wards, except where applicants can demonstrate people from these wards are the main beneficiaries.
- Projects which are for individual benefit or targeting a specific demographic. Where your project does work with one group, we’d like you to let us know how the project will promote community cohesion.
- Projects promoting politics or religion. Churches or religious bodies may apply as long as the project benefits the wider community.
- Companies that can pay profits to directors, shareholders or members.
- Schools and health bodies my apply but we will not fund statutory activities.
Fund Priorities
Heart Health
Hypertension (high blood pressure) has been identified as a leading health risk in Manchester, particularly in Ancoats & Beswick and Clayton & Openshaw.
Persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of a number of serious (and potentially life-threatening) health conditions, including heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and kidney disease.
What causes high blood pressure?
It’s not always clear what causes high blood pressure, but there are some factors which may increase the risk, including:
• Being overweight
• A diet too high in salt and deficient in fruit and vegetables
• Not enough exercise
• Drinking too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeinated drinks)
• Smoking
• High stress levels
• Being over 65 years old
• Being of black African or Black Caribbean descent
• Living in a deprived area
• Having relatives with high blood pressure
How do you know if you have high blood pressure?
Blood pressure can be recorded using monitors that display two numbers: systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. The systolic pressure (higher number) is the force your heart uses to pump blood around the body.
The diastolic pressure (lower number) is the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels between heartbeats when blood is pumped around your heart.
They’re both measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).
What lifestyle changes can reduce blood pressure?
The lifestyle changes your project promotes could help prevent and lower high blood pressure. If your activities enable people to:
• Reduce the amount of they eat
• Introduce more fruit and vegetables to their diet
• Lose weight
• Exercise regularly
• Cut down on alcohol and caffeine
• Stop smoking
• Manage stress levels
Our Neighbourhood Health Fund could be for you.
For more information about Heart Health, please visit the NHS website.
Bowel Health
Bowel cancer is cancer found anywhere in the large bowel, which includes the colon and rectum.
It’s one of the most common types of cancer in the UK and has been identified as a high risk health condition in Ancoats & Beswick and Clayton & Openshaw.
What is bowel cancer?
• Bowel cancer is cancer that’s found anywhere in the large bowel, which includes the colon and rectum.
• The large bowel is part of your digestive system. It helps absorb water from your food and removes food waste from your body.
• How serious bowel cancer is depends on how big the cancer is, if the cancer has spread, and your general health.
• Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK.
• Bowel cancer screening can pick up bowel cancer early, which may mean it’s easier to treat.
What causes bowel cancer?
It’s not always known what causes bowel cancer, but it can be caused by genetic changes, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
Having certain health conditions can also make you more likely to get bowel cancer.
You may be more likely to get bowel cancer if:
• You’re over 50
• You smoke
• You’re overweight
• A close relative has had bowel cancer
• You have inflammatory bowel disease, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• You have small growths in your bowel called bowel polyps
• You have Lynch Syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis
What lifestyle changes can lower the risk of bowel cancer?
The lifestyle changes your project promotes could help lower the risk of bowel cancer.
If your activities enable people to:
• Eat a healthy diet including at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day
• Stay active and exercise regularly
• Lose weight (if they are overweight)
• Quit smoking
• Drink less alcohol
• Eat less red and processed meat
Our Neighbourhood Health Fund could be for you.
For more information about Bowel Health, please visit the NHS website.
