Funding to Reduce Black Maternal Health Inequalities

Call for Proposals

Working together for safer births, stronger families and a fairer health system for Black communities in south east London

About the fund

Impact on Urban Health and NHS South East London are inviting applications for new funding to improve experiences and outcomes for Black mothers, birthing people, and their families.

A total of £1,500,000 is available for multi-year grants of up to three years, across 11 solution areas developed through community-led design. 

This call is part of a wider programme to rebuild trust and create maternity and neonatal services that truly work for Black communities. It brings together Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations, healthcare staff, and decision-makers to co-design and deliver solutions that tackle racial inequality and improve maternal care. 

What is being funded?

  • 1. Peer Support for Black Women and Birthing People

    Phase: Cross-Stage

    This solution invites the design of peer support models rooted in community, connection, and trust. It could offer one-to-one, non-clinical support from trained peers who reflect the identities and lived experiences of the people they walk alongside. This support might begin before pregnancy and continue after birth, offering emotional care, advocacy, and navigation support in ways that feel familiar, affirming, and responsive.

    2. Strengthen Links amongst NHS & VCSEs 

    Phase: After Birth

    This solution builds or strengthens partnerships between the NHS, local authorities, and small and medium VCSE organisations to reinforce community-led support for Black mothers, birthing people and their families after birth. VCSEs would be engaged early in service planning and funded to deliver postnatal care that includes mental health support, trauma recovery, breastfeeding support, psychosocial support, and services for both birthing people and partners.

  • 1. Continuity of Carer

    Phase: Cross-Stage

    This solution proposes that every Black birthing person is supported by a named midwife and a counterpart, working as a consistent team across preconception, pregnancy, birth, and postnatal stages. This solution could also embed anti-racist practice in the care team by supporting training in cultural humility, embedding policies and procedures around collaborative, rights-based care and providing ongoing coaching in relational care.

    2. Scenario-Based Training

    Phase: Early Specialist Care

    This solution proposes ongoing, scenario-based learning and coaching for healthcare professionals to change everyday practice and support for Black women, birthing people and their families. It focuses on collaborative, culturally humble care and could use a range of creative methods to support behaviour change.

    3. Early Birthing Plan

    Phase: Early Specialist Care

    This solution proposes developing and introducing an Early Birthing Plan specifically designed for Black mothers, birthing people, and their families when specialist care may be required for their newborn. It expands the traditional birth plan model to include early, structured conversations about possible neonatal scenarios, treatment options, and family preferences. The plan would be co-created with families, beginning at the point a baby’s health issue is identified, and would be adapted and updated as care evolves. 

  • 1. Information Portal on Black Maternal Health 

    Phase: Birth

    This solution proposes creating a central online hub that brings together trusted resources, tools, and guidance from across the UK on Black maternal health. It could serve multiple audiences (e.g. Black birthing people, partners and carers, healthcare workers, and community organisations) through tailored sections and inclusive formats. Rather than recreate existing work, it should build on and connect community-developed content, giving credit to original creators and supporting learning between regions.

    2. Resource Pack for Black Mothers and Birthing People 

    Phase: Pregnancy

    This solution invites the co-creation of a Black Maternal Rights & Support Pack designed by and for Black birthing people to make care pathways and rights easier to understand and act on. It would cover both the development of the resource in different formats and languages and activities to ensure the resource is known, accessed and used by Black women and birthing people, their families, communities, and health care workers alike.  

  • 1. Support the Supporters

    Phase: Birth

    This solution invites organisations to reimagine how mental health, healing, and sustainability can be supported for those working in community-based maternal health. This solution might include reflective supervision, healing circles, peer support networks, or access to culturally aligned therapeutic care.

    2. Support Racially Minoritised Mental Health Professionals 

    Phase: After Birth

    This solution supports racially minoritised mental health professionals to specialise in Black maternal mental health through funded advanced learning on specialised content such as perinatal trauma, systemic racism, partner engagement, and the extended emotional needs of Black families. Mental health professionals should also have access to support for their own wellbeing, recognising the emotional labour and isolation they may face in this work. 

  • 1. Community-based Maternal Health Education

    Phase: Pre-Pregnancy

    This solution supports community-based education for Black women and birthing people, and their families. It should include a holistic view of health, including supporting mental wellbeing, physical health, chronic conditions, and informed decision-making while centring joy, autonomy, and care.  

    2. School-based Sexual and Reproductive Health Education 

    Phase: Pre-Pregnancy

    This solution calls for bold, community-driven approaches to sexual and reproductive health education that start early and centre joy, identity, and agency. Grounded in the realities of Black youth and co-created with them, this work has the potential to transform how health is taught, understood, and lived. Organisations might reimagine school-based or out-of-school learning spaces where young people of all genders can explore topics like consent, relationships, pleasure, and self-advocacy.   

Who can apply?

Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations, including Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) and Community Interest Companies (CICs), with a stated charitable or community-purpose mission, that are based in or serve the south-east London boroughs of Lewisham, Lambeth, Southwark, Bromley, Bexley or Greenwich. Non-south east London organisations are eligible to apply if they do so in partnership with a south east London-based organisation or entity. 

Partnerships or consortia involving community groups, health services, local authorities, or academic institutions, where a VCSE is the lead partner. 

Organisations or consortia must demonstrate a commitment to anti-racism, trauma-informed practice, and centring the voices of Black mothers and birthing people.

Applications will be prioritised from: 

  • Organisations that are by and for Black and racially minoritised communities. 

  • Consortia that demonstrate trusted, equitable partnerships amongst community organisations themselves or together with system partners. 

  • Submit an Expression of Interest by 10:00 AM on 10 January 2026. Expressions of Interest can be submitted by:

    Tell us about your organisation and describe what solution(s) you are addressing with your idea and the change you are hoping this will bring about.

    If you're applying as part of a partnership or consortium, tell us about each organisation and how the collaboration is more than the sum of its parts.  

    Please let us know how much funding you require to adequately implement your idea and what you aim to do with those funds. We recognise that great ideas need great people to bring them to life, so include your core costs.

    All applications will be collaboratively reviewed by Lived Experience Assessors, representatives from the Impact on Urban Health and NHS South East London partnership, and members of the Expert Reference Group. Based on this review, a shortlist of applicants will be invited to progress to Stage Two. 

    During this process, similar or complementary applications may be invited to join facilitated roundtable discussions to explore potential collaboration.

    Organisations may then choose to form a consortium and apply together or continue to apply independently for Stage Two.

  • If your idea is shortlisted, you will be invited to expand on it by submitting a project plan, a budget, and an outline of how you'll measure success.

    You will be invited to discuss your proposal during a site visit completed by Lived Experience Assessors. They will review your idea using the following criteria: 

    • Feasibility & Practicality: Is the project achievable and well planned? 

    • Sustainability: Can the impact continue beyond the funding period? 

    • Scalability: Can this project be scaled up or adapted for broader use? 

    • Accessibility: Does it remove barriers and reach those most impacted? 

    • Intersectionality: Does it address overlapping inequalities (race, gender, class, disability, etc.)? 

    • Reach: How many people or communities will benefit, and how deeply? 

    • Measurable Outcomes: Are there clear indicators of success or change? 

    • Community Anchored: Is it led or co-designed with the community? 

    Final decisions on funded ideas will be made in March 2026, with projects expected to start in April 2026.

    Please note that due diligence checks will be conducted on applicants. More details on this will be provided at the final decisions and feedback stage in late February. 

How to apply

Frequently Asked Questions

  • 1. Can organisations outside South East London apply?  

    Yes — organisations outside the six south east London boroughs can apply if they are partnering with a south east London-based organisation. 

    The partnership must show clear benefit for south east London communities and demonstrate how local voices will shape the work. 

    2. Can NHS organisations or local authorities lead an application?  

    No.  NHS bodies, local authorities, or universities are encouraged to join as partners in a consortium or collaboration, but the lead applicant must be a community or voluntary organisation. 

    3. What defines an organisation as being by and for Black and racially minoritised communities?

    'By and for' organisations are led, designed, and delivered by and for the communities they aim to serve.

  • 1. How do partnerships or consortia work in this process? 

    You can apply individually or in partnership with other organisations. 
    Partnerships (or consortia) can bring together community groups, NHS services, local authorities, or academic partners — as long as a VCSE is the lead applicant. 

    When you apply, you’ll be asked to describe what each partner will do, how you’ll work together, and how decisions will be shared fairly. 

    2. Does every partner need to be based in south east London? 

    The lead organisation must be based in or serve south east London communities. If other partners are outside the area or do not serve south east London, your application should clearly explain why they’re important and how their involvement benefits local communities.

  • 1. Can doulas for Black women and birthing people be supported under any of the solutions?

    Yes, of course! Doulas could be a part of multiple solutions to strengthen care, including (but not limited to) Peer Support for Black Women & Birthing People or Continuity of Carer, and they might benefit from workforce development envisioned in Support the Supporters.  

  • 1. What are the minimum and maximum grant amounts?

    For this funding opportunity, we have set the following indicative funding thresholds (amounts are in total, not per year):

    • Minimum grant size: £40,000

    • Maximum for a single organisation: £400,000

    • Maximum for a partnership or consortium: £600,000

    We want you to determine what level of funding is realistic to deliver your idea. These amounts are therefore only a recommendation.

    If you want to request more than £400,000 (single organisation) or £600,000 ( partnership or consortium), please provide a clear rationale in your Expression of Interest. This should explain why a higher amount is necessary, and how it is proportionate to the scope, scale, and expected impact of your proposed programme.

    2. Can an organisation request to have funding for less than three years?

    Yes, there is an option on the Expression of Interest to request funding for one, two or three years.  If you choose to request funding for one or two years, we encourage you to share a reason for why this makes most sense for your organisation or partnership.   

    3. I come from a small organisation. Will my proposal still be competitive if we only apply for £40,000?

    Yes!  We hope to fund a range of small and larger grants.  We value the work small organisations do and the deep community insights and connection you bring.  

    4. Can funding support ongoing work or is it only for new initiatives?

    Funding can support ongoing work!  We value services and supports that VCSEs are already delivering for Black mothers and birthing people in south east London.  We hope that funding might be used to sustain programs that are already working or to help them expand to new areas or reach more mothers, birthing people and their families.   

    5. What are the geographies and scales at which work can be funded?

    We welcome applications that seek to deliver work at all levels across our south east London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Greenwich, Bexley and Bromley. This may include delivery at one or more of the following levels:

    • At ‘system’ level across all six SEL boroughs

    • At borough level, and across one or multiple boroughs

    • At ‘Neighbourhood’ level – the new geographical units that will be key to the delivery of an integrated, community-based healthcare system

    At a hyper-local level, such as a section of a neighbourhood or borough where a high level of need is identified 

    6. Can we fund work that already exists? 

    We acknowledge that lots of good work is already happening and may not have a secure funding base. We cannot ‘double fund’ work at a scale and timeframe where funding is already in place, but we welcome applications where successful projects and services require further funding to continue, or there is an appetite to spread and scale across south east London. We also encourage applications that build on existing successful delivery and add in elements of innovation. 

  • 1. Do I need to include a detailed budget with my Expression of Interest? 

    No. For Stage One, we only ask for an overall amount of funding requested and a short explanation of what the funds will be used for. You’ll only need to prepare a detailed budget if you’re invited to Stage Two.  

    2. Can I get help with my application?

    Yes — An online community briefing and networking event A WhatsApp Q&A for quick questions (reach out to +44….) 

    If you need support in a different way, we’ll do our best to provide it.  Contact JRNY Consulting at noa@jrnyconsulting.com.   

    3. When will we hear back about our application? 

    You’ll hear the outcome of your Expression of Interest by late January 2026. If shortlisted, you’ll move into Stage Two in February, and final decisions will be shared by March 2026. Projects are expected to start in April 2026.

 This call for proposals is managed by JRNY Consulting, the learning partner to the NHS South East London and Impact on Urban Health partnership. 

Across both stages, Teia and Susanna from JRNY Consulting will be available to support the development of your expression of interest and full submission.

Join us for an online community briefing from 10:00 - 11:30 on 2 December 2025

Change starts with community

The call for proposals to improve Black maternal health in South East London closes at:
10:00 AM on 10 January 2026.

Please reach out if you have any questions.