Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1.35 million+ (via Cancer Transformation Fund)
• Grant Range: £500 - £10,000 (Community Partnerships); variable (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 organizations (Community Partnerships) or competitive rounds (TIED)
• Host Organization: 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. In 2024, their Community Partnerships programme won “Community Care Initiative of the Year” at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards and contributed to the region being ranked joint top in the most improved rates of early diagnosis 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 organizations
• Focus Areas: Halton, Knowsley, Warrington (initial areas, now expanded)

TIED (Targeted Interventions for Early Diagnosis)

• Grant Range: Variable, project-dependent
• Application Method: Competitive rounds with fixed deadlines
• Application Window: June 2-11, 2025
• Decision Timeline: Notifications by August 29, 2025
• 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 tumor 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 Organizations

Community Partnerships:

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

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/Board Chair: Joan Spencer (Interim 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.”

Application Process and Timeline

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: June 2-11, 2025
• Development Reviews: July 7 - August 8, 2025
• Notifications: August 29, 2025

Decision Timeline

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

TIED Programme:

• Application window: 9 days (early June)
• Review period: ~2 months (July-August)
• Notifications: Late August
• Total timeline: ~3 months from application to decision

Success Rates

Around 30 organizations 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 organizations, 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 emphasizes the programme is “delivered through a truly coproduced approach that recognizes 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 favored.

1. Integration with Existing Work: The programme isn't about creating “whole new cancer support services” but considering how your organization 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 ~£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 tumor 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 organizations through established programmes
• Local Partnership Model: Community Partnerships grants operate through local VCSE infrastructure organizations—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 HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2024 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)
• Pre-Application Engagement is Expected: Both programmes encourage early discussion—don't submit cold applications
• Impact Focus: The Alliance contributed to being ranked joint top in England for most improved early diagnosis rates, so demonstrate how your project contributes to measurable outcomes

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/