Why do we run the grants scheme?
We believe that when communities #SpeakUp about their experiences, they can create change. By working with groups who are already trusted partners in their communities, we can make sure we're hearing from even more people, including those whose voices aren't often heard by services.
Since starting the grants scheme we've supported 40 projects from a wide variety of different organisations in the city. These range from focus groups, community fun days, shared meals, creative projects and more. The aim is to engage with people in ways that suit them, and hear a greater range of experiences about local health and social care services.
Watch the video to find out more about what it's like to take part, from some of our previous grant recipients.
2023-24 grant projects are now underway.
Four grants of £2000 were awarded in June 2023, to local community and voluntary groups.
The first project report has now been published - Space to Breathe found out about people's experiences accessing mental health support from their GP. Read it on our website here.
More project reports will be published in the coming months.
Did you miss this year's round?
Let us know if you're interested in working with us - we will let you know when the next pot of funding is available.
In focus: SACMHA Health & Social Care
SACMHA received one a #SpeakUp grant in 2021. They spoke with members of the African Caribbean community about receiving home care, and hosted an event to bring the conversation to decision-makers directly.
Sheffield City Council's Adult Social Care team wrote an action plan to address SACMHA's recommendations, and liaised with them about work-in-progress and wider systemic issues such as the provision of culturally appropriate care.
This is a great example of how #SpeakUp can work - helping organisations to do focused engagement work and creating opportunities to connect with decision-makers, to make a bigger impact for local people.
Find out more - read SACMHA's report and the follow up What happened next?
How does the scheme work?
We open the scheme every year, encouraging voluntary and community sector groups to apply. Grants are then awarded by a panel of staff members and volunteers.
Organisations carry out a range of activities to help them hear from local people, and we help to write up their findings, making recommendations to local health and social care services. We then make sure these reports are seen by those who can make change happen.
We also think it's important that people can share their experiences directly with the people who make decisions about health and care services, and want to create opportunities for this to happen.
The money was fantastic because it enabled us to host the event, to put on some food... to encourage people to come along and relax and get chatting.
Read the reports
All of the published reports are available to read on our website. We have also produced summary reports each year, bringing together the overarching themes that people tell us.