Early Diagnosis and Health Inequalities Small Grants Scheme
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in the UK, with nearly 3.5 million people currently living with the disease. In the South West alone, over 722,000 new cancer cases are expected between now and 2040. While progress has been made in early diagnosis, significant inequalities still persist - particularly for people living in low-income areas.
These differences are often caused by things such as late diagnosis, difficulty accessing care, and preventable risks like smoking. At SWAG Cancer Alliance, we are committed to reducing these inequalities. We believe that local organisations, like charities, community groups, and GP practices, are key to reaching people in ways that are trusted and effective.
That’s why we launched the Small Grants Scheme to support organisations working at the grassroots level to address these challenges and promote earlier diagnosis in underserved communities.
We opened the scheme up to applications in September 2025, receiving 49 applications from local community organisations, charities, community interest companies, GPs, pharmacies, and primary care networks - each for an amount of funding up to £15,000 to tackle health inequalities or improve early diagnosis in their local community.
40 bids were successful in being accepted for funding across all four ICB's within SWAG Cancer Alliance's region:
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) ICB
Health Checked: Communities, Conversations, Care - Future Pages CIC
Addressing inequalities in cancer screening uptake by raising awareness in ethnic minority and neurodivergent communities, tackling stigma, misinformation, and providing culturally and cognitively inclusive information.
Early Bird (internal campaign) - Bristol City Robins Foundation
Utilising their unique reach into underserved communities to provide an earlier, more preventative approach to supporting the local community to spot cancer symptoms earlier and attend screening.
Cook Smart, Live Well - Batch Cook Club CIC
Increase understanding of the role of healthy food and nutrition in cancer prevention and improving health outcomes and build skills and confidence in cooking from scratch using fresh, high fibre ingredients and alternatives to processed, sugary foods.
Early Diagnosis Podcast and Campaign - Bristol Community FM
Building on the success of their Real Women Talk Health podcast series, BCFM are launching a new radio show and podcast focusing on early cancer diagnosis, with each episode featuring local clinicians, community leaders and people with lived experience.
Early Diagnosis and Health Inequalities - Avon Indian Community Association (AICA)
Increase cancer awareness and early symptom recognition within the Indian community in South Gloucestershire and Bristol and reduce cultural, language and stigma-related barriers that delay early presentation and diagnosis.
Community Engagement with Groups affected by Health Inequalities - Weston Hospicecare
Breaking down barriers to ensure all cancer patients have access to specialist support following a palliative diagnosis by building relationships with communities who experience increased health inequalities.
Wadajir Health Initiative - 'Wajadir' means 'together' in Somali - ALIBSA: Ageing Lifestyle in Black and Asians
Increase cancer awareness among Bristol's Somali community around breast and prostate cancer symptoms, risk factors, and the importance of early detection. Break down cultural taboos and stigma around discussing cancers that affect intimate body parts.
Identifying 'hidden' health needs and raising awareness of cancer screening within the Chinese community
Increase awareness of cancer screening within Chinese-speaking communities with tailored awareness-raising workshops to reduce fear and misinformation.
Spot the Signs: Community Cancer Project - Heart of BS13
Deliver locally targeted cancer symptom awareness campaign with a particular focus on digestive (GI) cancers that engages communities, increases public knowledge and drives higher screening participation across Hartcliffe & Withywood.
Screen-Saver: Reducing inequalities in Cervical Screening & HPV vaccine uptake - East Trees Health Centre
Strengthen community awareness of cervical screening and HPV vaccination through
engagement with community organisations already advocating for people from ethnic
minority backgrounds and supporting people living in deprivation.
Community Conversations for Better Health for People with a Learning Disability - Sirona Care & Health
Ensure people from global majority communities in BNSSG understand what support and services are available for individuals with a learning disability, with an emphasis on support for cancer screening and providing clear, culturally appropriate information in trusted communities.
Helping women from underserved communities in Avon & Somerset access cancer prevention initiatives - The Nelson Trust
Support women from marginalised communities to take proactive steps in managing their health, particularly around cancer
awareness, early detection, and access to screening by training two keyworkers from Bridgwater and Bristol to become Cancer Prevention
Champions.
Early Cancer Screening - Black Mothers Matter
Improve the confidence of Black pregnant women and new mothers in accessing healthcare by reducing barriers and improving their engagement with health professionals by encouraging open dialogue and peer connection.
Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) ICB
Headway Cancer Awareness Project - Headway Southampton & West Wessex
Improving rates of Early Cancer Diagnosis in the homeless and boater populations - Trowbridge Primary Care Network
Increase the uptake of all current cancer screening programmes in hard to reach communities via direct patient outreach and collaboration with VCSFE partners, and decrease overall health inequalities faced by boater and homeless populations.
Conversations about cancer with Autistic People - Wiltshire Service Users' Network
WSUN delivers support for autistic people by holding one to one and small group discussions across the community, this project will aim to help autistic people understand the reasonable adjustments they can request, encourage participation in national screening programmes and be better informed about symptoms of cancer.
Somerset ICB
CASC - Cancer Awareness and Support Cafes
Use trusted community venues and local partners to run CASC events across Somerset to increase awareness of cancer symptoms and screening in deprived areas and reduce inequalities by reaching rural, isolated communities.
Early Action Matters: Cancer Awareness for Young People -
West Mendip PCN
Targeting young people who are not yet eligible for routine screening and who often have low awareness of symptoms and pathways for help-seeking by providing accurate information and practical guidance.
Early Cancer Awareness and Access Project - Midsomer Pharmacy
Utilising their rural community location to reach people who may not engage with traditional healthcare services. Pharmacies are often the first point of contact for health concerns.
Gloucestershire ICB
GL11 Cancer Awareness Outreach Project - GL11 Community Hub
GL11 will deliver a targeted community outreach campaign, to reduce health inequalities in the Berkeley Vale PCN area by engaging with hardly reached communities, as well as co-producing and trialing community solutions with those with lived experience to increase awareness and engagement.
Supporting people in poverty with early cancer diagnosis to reduce health inequalities
Supporting people on low incomes and underserved communities across Gloucestershire to ensure they are financially resilient while dealing with health conditions, including cancer and raising awareness of symptoms and screening.
Don't Be Afraid, Ask: Cancer Awareness and Early Detection for Refugee & Ethnically Diverse Communities - Homeward Horizons
Deliver culturally sensitive community sessions in Arabic and English about cancer symptoms, NHS screening programmes, and how to access GP services, with open conversation and a shared meal to encourage attendance and build trust.
Further projects who have secured Small Grants funding will be added to this page in due course.
The funding was open to projects that specifically targeted priority populations, including those who are from underserved communities who have unmet healthcare needs, including but not limited to:
- People living in areas of deprivation
- People who experience ethnic health inequalities*
- People from LGBTQIA+ communities
- People experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping
- People in social housing
- Older adults
- Children and young people
- People with neurodiversity
- People with mental health issues
- People with disabilities / learning disabilities
- People with long term conditions
- People previously or currently in the military, and their families
- People from Gypsy, Roma, Traveller or Boater communities
- People in contact with the justice system
- People who have had contact with the care system
- People experiencing substance misuse
- People from rural communities
- People who are refugees / vulnerable migrants
- People in routine and manual work
- People in sex work
- People experiencing poverty
- People experiencing fuel poverty or food insecurity
- People who are digitally excluded
