Applications and Opportunities Hub
Please click on the headings below to read more about each opportunity.
NHS Funding Opportunities
LLR VCSE Alliance members are invited to apply for an exciting new tender opportunity to coordinate and deliver the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR).
What is the MNVP?
The MNVP is a statutory, independently-chaired forum funded by the NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR ICB). Its purpose is to ensure that the voices of women, birthing people, and families are central to the planning, design, and improvement of local maternity and neonatal services. The MNVP reports into NHS governance structures, which means it can strategically influence maternity and neonatal services. It is committed to inclusivity, co-production and continuous quality improvement.
Funding of up to £83,000 is available for the initial 12-month contract, with the possibility of extending the contract for an additional two years.
This is a unique opportunity to deliver a forum that empowers local voices by engaging with seldom-heard communities, collaborating with stakeholders, and sharing insights to make a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of families across LLR.
On Wednesday 19 November 2025, an informative webinar was held by Gemma Boyd, Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Lead for the NHS LLR ICB, and Jo Ryder, Senior Engagement and Insights lead for the NHS LLR ICB, which gave VCSEA members a chance to find out more about this exciting opportunity. Click here to view the slides shown on the day and click here to watch the recording of the webinar.
How can I apply?
To read more about this opportunity and to learn how to apply, please access the below documents:
- MNVP Tender Document
- MNVP Service Specification
- MNVP Tender Q&A document (updated 23/12/25)
- MNVP Service delivery application form
- MNVP Tender Evaluation and scoring criteria
Please send any questions you have about this opportunity to our Be Involved inbox, llricb-llr.beinvolved@nhs.net.
Please note that all questions and answers will be made publicly available in our MNVP Tender Q&A Document, which will be frequently updated.
The deadline to apply is 11.59pm on Wednesday 14 January 2026.
Other local opportunities
Leicestershire County Council currently holds contracts/grant agreements with a small number of organisations who provide support to VCSE (Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprise) sector organisations, which includes charities, community organisations, social enterprises/CICs and faith-based organisations.
The agreements are as follows:
1. Infrastructure Support for VCSE Organisations (delivered by Voluntary Action Leicestershire)
2. Support for Social Enterprises (delivered by CASE, Co-operative and Social Enterprise Development Agency)
3. Community Buildings Support (delivered by RCC, Rural Community Council)
Leicestershire County Council are seeking your views to better understand the impact of the services delivered by VAL, CASE and RCC, as well as understanding the needs of the VCSE sector, which will help to guide their decision making for the future.
Click here to complete the questionnaire. The deadline to share your views is Friday 16 January 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact shiregrants@leics.gov.uk
Click here to view the latest version of the Leicestershire County Council’s monthly funding bulletin. There, you can also view their latest VCSE Grants and Funding Information document. Both documents detail information about current grants and funding opportunities which are primarily for VCSE organisations.
You may also wish to visit:
- the Grants and Funding page on the Leicestershire Communities website
- the LLEP website for Economic Growth funding (including funding for businesses and regeneration projects).
the Government’s Find A Grant service.
National funding opportunities
The Youth Endowment Fund has an Open Call Funding Round opportunity available. It is inviting funding proposals from delivery organisations that work to reduce young people’s involvement in violence.
The proposed projects must support children and young people between 10 and 18 years old who are either at risk of crime or violence, or are already affected by violence, offending or exploitation. Organisations must be working within one of the Youth Endowment Fund’s seven focus sectors:
- Youth sector
- Children’s services
- Youth Justice
- Policing
- Neighbourhoods
- Health
- Education
Interested organisations must be prepared to provide evidence of the positive impact that the project or programme has already made to children and young people. Their project must align with the Youth Endowment Fund’s primary outcomes.
There is no deadline for this opportunity; this Open Call is ongoing.
Click here to start your application and to view further information about this opportunity.
The Blue Light Card Foundation delivers granting programmes to charities and organisations that support those within the Blue Light community.
The Foundation funds projects that:
- Have health and wellbeing of staff and volunteers at their heart
- Assist in improvements in the places and spaces that staff and volunteers use
- Enable staff and volunteers to keep well
- Employ extra resources to meet demand
To find out more, visit: https://bluelightcardfoundation.org/find-funding/
Apply for a grant of up to £5,000 from the CLA Charitable Trust for a project that helps disabled or disadvantaged people connect with nature and the countryside. For more information, click here.
Apply for a grant from Bernard Sunley Foundation of up to £5,000 for work to raise the to raise the quality of life and provide greater opportunities for the young, the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged. For more information, click here.
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