New funding opportunity for the VCFSE sector

Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance has launched a new funding opportunity through its Targeted Interventions for Early Diagnosis programme, known as TIED. The initiative aims to identify and support ideas that help people receive an earlier cancer diagnosis, particularly in communities experiencing the greatest health inequalities.

Working in partnership

Early diagnosis saves lives, yet people living in the most deprived areas are still more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage. Symptoms may go unrecognised or be reported later, which can lead to poorer outcomes. The TIED programme is designed to change this by working in partnership with the VCFSE sector to improve awareness, increase access to healthcare, and support people to get the right care as soon as possible.

What is on offer?

The latest TIED offer provides up to £20,000 for projects that focus on cancer and deprivation. CMCA is particularly interested in working with one or more VCFSE organisations to deliver activity in areas of greatest need.

The programme aims to:

Increase knowledge of possible cancer signs and symptoms
Support people to seek help earlier
Raise awareness of actions that can reduce the risk of some cancers

Who can apply?

VCFSE organisations are invited to apply if they:

Have been operating for at least three years
Have an annual turnover above £250,000
Have experience of working with healthcare partners to deliver projects

Proposed projects should:

Operate in areas of significant deprivation within Cheshire and Merseyside, particularly Index of Multiple Deprivation areas 1 to 3
Ideally take place within Cheshire, although applications from across Cheshire and Merseyside are welcome
Commit to producing a detailed impact assessment report following delivery

Applications should also meet one or more of the following conditions:

Partnership working with a Primary Care Network or GP practice to reduce barriers to healthcare and cancer services
Faith based approaches that support earlier cancer diagnosis
Creative and innovative methods to raise awareness and better understand barriers in communities

Funding cannot be used for recruitment, extending current contracts, capital costs for premises or equipment, or digital hardware and software.

How to apply

The process includes two stages.

Stage one: Complete the Expression of Interest Evaluation form outlining your idea, how it supports earlier diagnosis, who you will work with, how long it will take, and the funding required. Email your completed form to ccf-tr.tied@nhs.net.

Stage two: Successful applicants will be invited to an MS Teams meeting with the CMCA team to discuss the proposal in more detail.

Applications will be assessed on feasibility and fit with the aims of the programme. Please note that this is a competitive process and meeting the criteria does not guarantee funding.

The deadline for submissions is 16 January 2026.

Find out more

For further information or an informal discussion, you can email the team at ccf-tr.tied@nhs.net. You can also sign up to the CMCA TIED mailing list for guidance, funding information and updates.