Cancer Charities Grant Scheme 2025/26

The purpose of the Cancer Charities Grant Scheme is to provide funding that will enable charities, voluntary and community sector organisations to deliver the greatest support to cancer patients and their families across our communities.

The Department of Health, in conjunction with representatives from the Northern Ireland Cancer Charities Coalition (NICCC), have worked together to co-design and co-produce a Cancer Charities Grants Scheme that meet the needs of the sector, Department and citizens.

Additionally, Macmillan Cancer Support has pledged to match fund the Department’s initial investment of £1m, towards the Scheme which will provide a total of £2m to support charities, voluntary and community sector organisations across Northern Ireland in 2025/2026.

Available Funding 2025/26

The Department and Macmillan Cancer Support will provide a funding pot of £2m, collectively, to support the Cancer Charities Grant Scheme.

Applications are invited for grants under the following categories:

• Applications of up to £25,000.
• Applications between £25,001- £150,000

Organisations may only submit one application to the Cancer Charites Grant Scheme overall.

It is anticipated that, up to £500,000 of the total funding available will be ringfenced for allocation to smaller grant scheme applications and up to £1,500,000 will be ringfenced for allocation to larger grant scheme applications.

Applicants should ensure that they are using no more than 50% of public money for their application proposal or their application may be deemed ineligible and that applications for funding do not represent more than 25% of the organisation turnover.

To be eligible for funding, an organisation must meet the following requirements:

• Be a UK Charity Commission registered charity, or an independent not for profit organisation with a constitution or set of rules defining its aims, objectives and operational procedures.
• As stated in your Memorandum and Articles of Association, or constitutional document and/or, your Charity Commission Registration, have as a primary charitable purpose a focus on the prevention and detection of cancer and/or the provision of support for people with/or affected by cancer and; have proven experience of delivering impactful cancer services and programmes in Northern Ireland which are aligned to the core aim of the scheme. The organisation must currently be operating in Northern Ireland and be able to identify expenditure incurred by its activities in Northern Ireland.
• Be able to demonstrate that the organisation complies with all relevant legislative requirements in respect of employment, safeguarding, health and safety, data protection and equal opportunities. This includes promoting equality of opportunity and good relations in accordance with section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Applications must support the development or implementation of Department of Health policy in one or more of the following areas:

1. Delivery of the actions in the Cancer Strategy for Northern Ireland 2022 - 2032.
2. Improve cancer outcomes and support for all.
3. Support Department of Health initiatives to target waiting lists.
4. Support NI Health and Social Care (HSC) cancer services, policies or service delivery.
5. Reduce the number of cancer patients re-presenting into HSC Secondary Care.
6. Address health inequalities across Northern Ireland.

Applications should positively impact one or more of the following areas of need:

• Mental Health: e.g. Provision of counselling, psychological support for individuals, families, adults, children and young people, either with/or impacted by a cancer diagnosis.
• Living Well: Support to enable individuals or families to carry out normal daily activities that help to promote social inclusion e.g. rehabilitation, prehabilitation, physical and mental health therapies and activities.
• Practical Support Services: e.g. Transport to/from appointments, support to attend or whilst attending difficult appointments.
• Awareness: e.g. Provision of information or advice on available services, processes, guidance or support for engagement in cancer screening or other HSC services.
• Education: e.g. In relation to the onset of symptoms, screening services, causes of cancer, lifestyle, pre or post treatment advice on general or specific tumours or which target differing age groups.
• Health Inequalities: e.g. Activities which promote cancer awareness in areas of deprivation and or support minority groups to access services or, encourage participation in screening programmes or promote activities or services that focus on prevention.

Please note the activities listed are indicative and not exhaustive, activities and services will be considered outside of those listed where there is sufficient evidence provided within the submitted application proposal.

The following costs are eligible:

• Salary and employer costs for qualified practitioners, therapists or sessional costs paid.
• The direct cost of materials consumed in service or programme delivery.
• The direct cost of professional supervision, development and training that supports the organisation to deliver the proposal.
• The direct cost of marketing, promotional, educational or awareness activity.
• 25% overhead recovery on total eligible proposal costs.

The Department is now seeking applications for funding from 27 November 2025 until the application closing date of Friday 30 January 2026.

A detailed information sheet is available by clicking the link below. Please refer to this for a further overview of the Scheme.

Cancer Charities Grant Scheme Information Sheet

The application form and guidance are available by clicking below:

Application form and guidance for grants up to £25,000

Application form and guidance for grants from £25,001 - £150,000

Please read the application guidance carefully before starting an application.
You may email a completed application form to:

CancerCharitiesGrantAdmin@health-ni.gov.uk

Completed paper application forms can be posted to:

DoH Cancer Charities Grant Scheme
Floor D1
Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate
BT4 3SQ

Completed forms must be received electronically or via post prior to the application closing date of 5pm on Friday 30 January 2026.