Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1.35 million+ (via Cancer Transformation Fund)
• Grant Range: £500 - £10,000 (Community Partnerships); up to £20,000 (TIED programme)
• Geographic Focus: Cheshire and Merseyside (9 localities: Halton, Knowsley, Warrington, Wirral, Liverpool, Sefton, Cheshire East, Cheshire West, and St Helens)
• Application Method: Through partner VCSE organisations (Community Partnerships) or competitive rounds (TIED)
• Host Organisation: The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust

Contact Details

Website: https://cmcanceralliance.nhs.uk

General Email: ccf-tr.admin.cmca@nhs.net

TIED Programme: ccf-tr.tied@nhs.net

Community Grants Partners:

• Warrington Voluntary Action: helenp@warringtonva.org.uk | 01925 246880
• One Knowsley: Paula.Kearns@OneKnowsley.org

Overview

Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance was established in January 2017 as part of the national cancer strategy to deliver NHS Long Term Plan cancer ambitions. Hosted by The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust and aligned with Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership, the Alliance received nearly £6 million from the Cancer Transformation Fund, making it the sixth highest beneficiary among Cancer Alliances nationally. The Alliance operates multiple grant programmes, including the award-winning Community Partnerships scheme and the TIED (Targeted Interventions for Early Diagnosis) initiative. The Community Partnerships programme won “Community Care Initiative of the Year” at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards and contributed to the region being ranked 8th for early detection of cancer, a remarkable improvement from 20th out of 21 Cancer Alliance areas in England.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Partnerships Small Grants Programme

• Grant Range: £500 - £10,000 (higher amounts considered on discussion)
• Total Per Locality: £90,000 for grants + £10,000 administration
• Application Method: Rolling applications through local VCSE partner organisations
• Focus Areas: Halton, Knowsley, Warrington (initial areas, now expanded)

TIED (Targeted Interventions for Early Diagnosis)

• Grant Range: Up to £20,000 per project
• Application Method: Competitive rounds with fixed deadlines
• Application Window: Typically runs for a short period (approximately 9 days) in early summer
• Decision Timeline: Notifications typically sent approximately 3 months after application deadline
• Contact: ccf-tr.tied@nhs.net

Priority Areas

Community Partnerships Programme:

• Improving knowledge of cancer signs and symptoms within local communities
• Encouraging NHS screening uptake
• Reducing inequalities in access to high-quality cancer treatment and care
• Supporting emotional wellbeing of those affected by cancer
• Reducing stigma and discrimination relating to cancer diagnosis
• Reducing emergency (A&E) cancer diagnoses
• Increasing access to early intervention services
• Supporting co-working between primary care and health/social care services

TIED Programme:

• Projects improving early diagnosis in tumour sites with low early detection rates
• Interventions targeting deprived populations (CORE20PLUS5 priority groups)
• Clinically led, evidence-based projects with defined start/end points
• Sustainable or potentially replicable interventions
• Pathway changes, awareness campaigns, innovation support, or rollout of proven projects

Eligible Organisations

Community Partnerships:

• Constituted organisations and non-registered charities
• Registered charities including Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs)
• Community Interest Companies (CICs) and community benefit organisations (minimum 3 unrelated directors)
• Voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations

TIED Programme:

• Clinically led projects with direct patient benefit

What They Don't Fund

The Alliance focuses specifically on cancer-related projects, particularly early diagnosis and reducing inequalities. Projects must align with NHS Long Term Plan cancer ambitions and demonstrate clear community benefit.

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Governance and Leadership

Senior Responsible Officer: Joan Spencer (CEO of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust)

Managing Director: Jon Hayes

Board Structure:

• Established January 2017
• Meets quarterly (2pm-4:30pm)
• Includes patient representation
• Comprises clinical and executive leads representing geographic areas and sectors across the cancer pathway
• Covers local authority to tertiary services

Key Personnel:

• Sarah Grice (Associate Director)
• Suzanne Dixon (Senior Project Manager)
• Racheal Jones (Programme Lead)
• Alison Cullen (Programme Lead)

Leadership Philosophy: Jon Hayes, Managing Director, states: “Driven by desire to reduce health inequalities... cancer messaging is most effective when communities put it into their own words.”

How to Apply to Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance

How to Apply

Community Partnerships Small Grants Programme:

• Warrington: Contact Helen Parker at Warrington Voluntary Action (helenp@warringtonva.org.uk | 01925 246880)
• Knowsley: Contact Paula Kearns at One Knowsley (Paula.Kearns@OneKnowsley.org)
• Halton: Contact Halton and St Helens Voluntary and Community Action
• Other localities: Contact ccf-tr.admin.cmca@nhs.net to identify your local partner

• All applicants should read guidance notes first
• Contact the relevant VCSE partner to discuss your proposal before applying
• Discuss if seeking more than £10,000

• Successful applicants must share experiences, learning, and good practice
• Feedback is shared with the Cancer Alliance to improve programme delivery

TIED Programme:

1. Join Mailing List: Sign up at ccf-tr.tied@nhs.net for guidance, funding details, and application updates

• Complete 4 key questions about your project idea
• Projects graded: Green (strong likelihood), Amber (probable with challenges), Red (unlikely)
• Reduces time on applications unlikely to succeed

• Application window typically opens in early summer for approximately 9 days
• Development Reviews conducted over subsequent months
• Notifications sent approximately 3 months after application deadline

Decision Timeline

Community Partnerships: Rolling basis through partner organisations; timelines vary by locality

TIED Programme:

• Application window: Approximately 9 days (typically early summer)
• Review period: Approximately 2 months
• Notifications: Approximately 3 months from application to decision
• Check website or mailing list for specific dates

Success Rates

Around 30 organisations received funding through the initial Community Partnerships programme in Halton, Knowsley, and Warrington. The TIED programme is competitive with limited funding and no guarantee of success.

Reapplication Policy

The Community Partnerships programme operates on a rolling basis through partner organisations, suggesting reapplication is possible. For TIED, unsuccessful applicants can refine proposals based on Early Scoping Assessment feedback and reapply in future rounds.

Application Success Factors

Community Partnerships Programme:

1. Co-production Approach: Alison Cullen emphasises the programme is “delivered through a truly coproduced approach that recognises local people are best placed to deliver grassroots community engagement.” Projects that empower communities to communicate in their own context succeed.

1. Community-Led Messaging: Jon Hayes notes that “cancer messaging is most effective when communities put it into their own words.” Applications demonstrating authentic community voice and culturally appropriate approaches are favoured.

1. Integration with Existing Work: The programme isn't about creating “whole new cancer support services” but considering how your organisation can integrate cancer awareness into existing community connections and activities.

1. Proven Example - Tower Hill Amateur Boxing Club Soul Sisters: Received funding for a programme supporting mothers, grandmothers, and aunties of children attending the club, discussing wellbeing, screening importance, and cancer symptoms. Success led to Teen Soul Sister and Soul Kings programmes expansion.

1. Proven Example - Brook Acre Community Primary School: Received approximately £4,000 for “Well Being Warriors” intergenerational project about cancer prevention and lifestyle.

1. Collaboration and Sharing: Commitment to participating in Community of Practice, sharing learning, and working collaboratively increases success likelihood.

TIED Programme:

1. Clinical Leadership: Projects must be clinically led and evidence-based

1. Clear Boundaries: Defined start and end points required

1. Direct Patient Benefit: Must demonstrate tangible impact on patient outcomes

1. Sustainability: Projects should be sustainable or potentially replicable beyond initial funding

1. Target Priority Groups: Focus on CORE20PLUS5 priority populations and tumour sites with low early detection rates

1. Use Early Scoping: Engaging with the Early Scoping Assessment saves time and increases success rates by identifying projects with strong alignment before full application

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• NHS Body ≠ No Grants: Despite being NHS-hosted, the Alliance actively distributes grants to external VCSE organisations through established programmes
• Local Partnership Model: Community Partnerships grants operate through local VCSE infrastructure organisations—identify and contact your relevant partner first
• Community Voice is Central: Applications demonstrating authentic community leadership and culturally appropriate approaches align with the Alliance's philosophy that communities communicate health messages most effectively
• Award-Winning Programme: The Community Partnerships scheme won the HSJ Patient Safety Awards for Community Care Initiative, indicating strong national recognition
• Rolling vs. Competitive: Choose your pathway—Community Partnerships for smaller community-focused projects (rolling) or TIED for larger clinical innovations (competitive rounds with fixed deadlines)
• Pre-Application Engagement is Expected: Both programmes encourage early discussion—don't submit cold applications
• Impact Focus: The Alliance contributed to the region being ranked 8th for early detection of cancer (improved from 20th out of 21 Cancer Alliance areas), so demonstrate how your project contributes to measurable outcomes

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Rosemere Cancer Foundation
• Lingen Davies Cancer Fund Charitable Incorporated Organisation
• People's Health Trust
• Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals Nhs Charity
• North East Essex Health And Wellbeing Alliance
• North West Cancer Research (incorporating Clatterbridge Cancer Research Ccr)
• Yorkshire Cancer Research
• Southwest London Health Inequalities Fund
• The Carlton Hayes Mental Health Charity
• City Health Care Partnership Foundation

References

1. Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance Community Partnerships page: https://www.cmcanceralliance.nhs.uk/work/prevention-early-diagnosis/early-diagnosis-community-engagement

1. Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance Governance page: https://cmcanceralliance.nhs.uk/about/governance

1. Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance TIED Programme page: https://cmcanceralliance.nhs.uk/work/prevention-early-diagnosis/targeted-interventions-early-diagnosis-tied

1. “Cancer Alliance wins prestigious national award for Community Partnerships scheme” - Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance: https://cmcanceralliance.nhs.uk/news/cancer-alliance-wins-prestigious-national-award-community-partnerships-scheme

1. "£1.3 million funding secured to reduce lives lost to cancer in Cheshire & Merseyside" - CHAMPs Public Health: https://www.champspublichealth.com/news/%C2%A313-million-funding-secured-reduce-lives-lost-cancer-cheshire-merseyside

1. Warrington Voluntary Action Cancer Alliance Fund page: https://www.warringtonva.org.uk/cancer-alliance-fund

1. One Knowsley Cancer Alliance page: https://oneknowsley.org/volunteering/knowsley-cancer-alliance/

1. NHS England Cancer Alliance contacts: https://www.england.nhs.uk/cancer/cancer-alliances-improving-care-locally/cancer-alliance-contacts/

1. “HSJ Patient Safety Awards success for Cheshire and Merseyside Trusts” - NHS Cheshire and Merseyside: https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/posts/hsj-patient-safety-awards-success-for-cheshire-and-merseyside-trusts/

1. “More people surviving cancer in our region than ever before” - NHS Cheshire and Merseyside: https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/posts/more-people-surviving-cancer-in-our-region-than-ever-before/

1. “The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre announces new chief executive” - The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre: https://www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk/about-us/news/clatterbridge-cancer-centre-announces-new-chief-executive-march-2025