Local charities and community groups in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, can now apply for new funding to help run health and growth projects. The Sunderland Voluntary Sector Alliance (SVSA) opened applications in February 2026 for its 2026 “Health and Growth” community grants to help small organisations keep their services running. The grants are designed to support activities that improve resident wellbeing and help the local economy grow, with an emphasis on resilience and community wealth building.
Sunderland City Council is working with the Alliance to distribute this support across the city, including Washington and the Coalfields. The programme focuses on resilience, meaning groups can use the funding to cover core costs or start new efforts such as community shops and wellbeing classes. The support is intended to help prevent a funding cliff for many voluntary groups operating in the area.
Organisations like CHANCE Sunderland (Community Help And Neighbourly Care for Everyone), which was established in the East End in 1993, are the types of groups this funding is meant to protect. By supporting neighbourhood-level services, the city hopes to reduce pressure on statutory health and social care systems. The funding aims to help ensure that local services — from mental health hubs to community cafes — can remain operational through the 2026/27 financial year.
Interested groups can apply through an online portal run by the Alliance. SVSA says each application will be reviewed by a panel of community representatives and council health leads to ensure proposed projects align with the Sunderland City Plan. The goal is to keep economic benefits within the city while helping local people run services for their neighbours.
