New fund to improve people's health
Published
Tuesday 31 March, 2026
Updated
Wednesday 1 April, 2026
New £30,000 funding pot to help people in Swale with the cost-of-living crisis and improve their health and wellbeing.
Swale Borough Council and the Swale Cost-of-Living Group have launched the new Health Innovation Fund, funded by Kent County Council Public Health, with grants available to local charities and non-profits.
The funding, ranging from £5,000 to £10,000, will support new or adapted community projects that help people with the cost-of-living crisis or Swale resident’s health and wellbeing.
The funding can be used for cost-of-living prevention activities: helping create financial resilience, income maximisation, while promoting cost-of-living support.
It can also be used to help boost the health and wellbeing of Swale’s residents: helping increase physical activity, improving mental health and promoting better health through lifestyle changes.
The fund is looking for innovative ideas to tackle these issues, so applicants are encouraged to think outside the box.
But examples could include funding in person events and activities that promote healthy lifestyles, or projects which offer targeted support that help build financial confidence.
The outcome of the new grant includes helping people:
- feel confident to engage with local community, cost-of-living support, emotional and mental wellbeing support
- maintain a household budget, while eating healthily
- be aware of support, services, and financial entitlements
- understand how a healthy diet and healthier lifestyle activities effects overall health and wellbeing
- participate in emotional and mental wellbeing support and trying to improve their own health through changes in lifestyle
- sign up to emotional and mental wellbeing support and regular lifestyle change support
The funding is open to any grassroots charity, community group or organisation in Swale, with an idea that supports communities in addressing one or more of the local health priorities.
Cllr Hannah Perkin, chair of Swale Borough Council’s Housing, Health and Communities Committee, said:
“This brand-new funding is available to Swale’s community groups and charities who can help improve our health priorities; health and wellbeing and the cost-of-living crisis.
“Health and wellbeing and the cost-of-living crisis are interconnected in many ways, for example, less healthy diets can be the result of a lack of income, which ultimately impacts people’s health.
“We look forward to seeing, and helping to fund, the innovative projects our incredible charities in Swale can develop, which will help our residents deal with the rising cost of living while improving their health and wellbeing.”
