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.
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.
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.
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.