Call for Applications
We are inviting applications for our Thriving Community Zone VCS Challenge Fund focused on Northumberland Park, Haringey.
This round will award grants of up to £15,000 to Haringey-based voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations with an annual income of £500,000 or less.
Funding will support community-led projects that improve health and wellbeing in Northumberland Park (N17). including:
- Groups and initiatives that are already active in the Northumberland Park area
- Community-led collaborations and partnerships in Northumberland Park with local partners – whether that be health services, the public sector, or other community organisations.
- Activities or services that engage, or co-design, directly with local residents
Applications open Wednesday 5th August 2026 and close on Wednesday 9th September 2026 at 5pm.
About Haringey Community Collaborative
Haringey Community Collaborative is jointly delivered by Public Voice and Mind in Haringey.
We provide strategic leadership and capacity building support to the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in Haringey, with a particular focus on grassroots organisations and underserved communities. Our work supports organisations to strengthen sustainability, governance, service delivery, partnerships, impact, and influence, and ensures that residents and VCS organisations are involved at all levels of decision making in the borough.
Background
VCS Challenge Fund
The VCS Challenge Fund is a community grant fund led by Haringey Community Collaborative. Each round focuses on a priority theme identified through the Haringey Community Collaborative VCS Priorities Report and wider engagement with partners and communities.
Applications are assessed and selected by a community panel of local residents, experts, and stakeholders. Alongside grant funding, awardees will receive tailored capacity building support and will participate in shared learning and a final showcase event.
Why Northumberland Park?
Haringey is a borough starkly divided by wealth and health inequalities. In east Haringey, up to 1 in 3 children live in poverty; in the west, as low as 1 in 331. Situated in Tottenham, Northumberland Park is the most deprived ward in London, this includes high levels of economic inactivity, low income, debt, and poor health.
This Thriving Community Zone: Northumberland Park round is funded by the NHS West and North London Integrated Care Board. A ‘Thriving Community Zone’ aligns with the Neighbourhoods-health model, but focuses on a smaller (most deprived) geographical area.
Health outcomes and inequalities are driven by a wide set of social, economic, and environmental conditions – known as social determinants of health. Residents of Northumberland Park experience worse health and social outcomes and face greater risk of needing complex or crisis interventions compared to their peers living in more affluent areas.
This fund aims to address health and social inequalities by providing resources to community-led initiatives in Northumberland Park.
What kind of projects will be funded?
We encourage applications from community-led projects that build healthier lifestyles and social capital in Northumberland Park (N17), including:
- Groups and initiatives that are already active in the Northumberland Park area
- Community-led collaborations and partnerships in Northumberland Park with local partners – whether that be health services, the public sector, or other community organisations.
- Activities or services that engage, or co-design, directly with local residents
What are the desired outcomes of the funded projects?
We will fund projects that aim to achieve one of more of the following outcomes:
Healthier lifestyles:
- Help people feel confident accessing services / support
- Understand and overcome barriers to good health (e.g. stigma, mistrust)
- Help people take steps to support their own health and wellbeing
Social capital:
- Help residents and groups to build or access supportive networks
- Build resident trust in services and support available to them
- Increase access to opportunities (e.g. employability and skills) particularly with young people
Who we want to help
We are particularly interested in groups and activities that support the following in Northumberland Park:
- Young children, parents, families
- Children and young people experiencing mental health issues
- People living with health conditions that impact their physical activity, or ability to work
Grant size and funding available
Main Fund
- Total main fund: £80,000
- Grant size: Typically up to £15,000 per organisation
- Funded cohort: Approximately 5-6 organisations
- Delivery period: 6 months (1 October 2026 – 31 March 2027)
As part of the funding requirements, applicants must allocate £1,500 of their project budget to participate in required Thriving Community Zone capacity building activities (see Application Guidance for more information).
Follow-on Fund
Organisations that successfully deliver a Main Fund project will be eligible to apply for a follow-on fund, designed to help scale and deepen impact.
- Total follow-on fund: £70,000
- Grant size: Typically up to £15k – 20k per project
- Number of projects funded: 3-4 organisations
- Delivery period: A further 6-9 months
Support for grant holders
Alongside funding, grant awardees will receive:
- Structured onboarding, including theory of change and impact measurement
- Introduction to Thriving Community Zone partners
- Information sharing, key health messages, and support to signpost/refer at risk populations
- Co-design of targeted engagement and awareness raising initiatives
- Ongoing tailored support from Haringey Community Collaborative
All projects will conclude with a showcase event, connecting funded organisations with partners, funders, and decision-makers.
How to apply
Please read the Thriving Community Zone: Northumberland Park Challenge Fund Application Guidance in full before applying.
To apply, complete the Thriving Community Zone Challenge Fund Application Form (Survey Monkey). Applicants will be asked to clearly demonstrate how their project is rooted in Northumberland Park and addresses the desired outcomes.
Application deadline: Wednesday 9 September 2026 at 5pm
Download the Application Guidance
Any questions, please contact Haringey Community Collaborative team: hello@haringeycollaborative.org