Launch of the GetInVOLved Innovation Fund
New Innovation Fund seeks to help more people get involved in volunteering…
A brand-new fund has launched in Norfolk and Waveney to help more people take part in volunteering — especially those who may not usually get the chance.
The Get Involved Innovation Fund is offering up to £7,500 to local charities and community groups who want to try out new ways to support people into volunteering. The fund is especially focused on:
- adults with learning disabilities,
- people who are neurodivergent or autistic
- young people who are currently in care or who have recently left care.
These groups can sometimes face more challenges or barriers when it comes to getting involved in volunteering. The new fund seeks to change that, helping people feel more confident, more included, and more connected to their communities.
What is the Innovation Fund for?
Organisations can apply for funding to run new activities — or to extend or adapt something they’re already doing. As long as it is something new for them and designed to help people from the target groups. The project could take place in the community or in a health or care setting.
Nicky Stainton, Head of VCSE Sector Support for Volunteering at Voluntary Norfolk, said:
“We know that volunteering helps not just the person or cause being supported, but also the volunteer too. It can improve mental and physical health, build confidence, give people new skills, and help them make friends.
“However, we also know that not everyone feels that volunteering is for them. Some people have never been asked, or might not have the support they need to get involved. This fund is about changing that. It’s about giving money to organisations to hopefully achieve those ‘quick wins’ so that we can learn useful lessons about how to best overcome barriers. These can then be shared with other organisations that engage with volunteers.
“That’s why we want to support groups that are already trusted by the communities in which they operate to help people take their first steps into volunteering — and feel proud to be involved.”
The fund is part of Volunteering for Health. This is a £10 million national programme funded by NHS England, NHS Charities Together, and CW+, the charity for Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. The goal is to make volunteering more inclusive, especially for people who experience unfair health inequalities – which means they don’t get the same chances at good health as others, because of things like where they live or the support they have.
The local project is a partnership between NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, Norfolk County Council, Voluntary Norfolk, Community Action Norfolk, Community Action Suffolk, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and the Institute for Volunteering Research at the University of East Anglia.
Innovation Fund Application Process
We’ve designed the application process to be simple and supportive. Groups start by filling in a short Expression of Interest form. They then meet with the Volunteering Innovation Manager to talk through their ideas and possible costs. Organisations will also get help to plan, deliver and evaluate their project, and to collect stories and feedback from the people who take part.
Voluntary Norfolk is keen to hear from any not-for-profit groups that are based in or work in Norfolk or Waveney, and who already work with at least one of the target groups. This includes community organisations run by and for young people.
The fund is open to creative ideas – from gardening groups and theatre clubs, to youth groups and support services. As long as the project aims to help people who don’t currently volunteer to become “volunteering ready” and try out real volunteer activities.
Funding can cover things like venue hire, session staff, transport, personal support costs, and any equipment needed for the activities.
Groups can apply more than once. If a first bid is unsuccessful, there’s support available to help improve it before trying again. There will be several application rounds between May 2025 and March 2027.
To find out more or to submit your Expression of Interest, visit:
https://www.getinvolvedskills.org.uk/
FAQs
What is the Volunteering for Health Fund?
Volunteering for Health is a UK-wide programme. It is funded by NHS England, NHS Charities Together, and CW+, the charity of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. It supports 15 local partnerships to explore how volunteering can help tackle health inequalities and improve wellbeing.
What is the Get Involved Innovation Fund?
The Get Involved Innovation Fund is the local grant programme for Norfolk and Waveney. It sits under the Volunteering for Health banner. It aims to support creative projects that enable people from underserved groups – especially adults with learning disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, autistic people, and young people in or leaving care – to get involved in volunteering for the first time.
Why does volunteering matter for health?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Volunteering has been shown to help people feel more connected, develop new skills, improve their confidence, and even reduce feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. It also helps services better reflect the communities they serve by welcoming people with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
