South West London Bereavement Community Engagement Gap Grants are available for community organisations to run face-to-face focus groups within their chosen community.

NHS South West London (SWL) commissioned Healthwatch Kingston and Kingston Voluntary Action to undertake a SWL community engagement pilot project in 2022 about people’s experience of bereavement services and support, with a focus on the needs of minoritised communities (report here).

They have now been asked to coordinate the rollout of this opportunity across South West London to ensure engagement with groups to address the gaps identified.

The aim is to award 13 gaps grants (from Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations or groups, local Healthwatch and local schools and colleges) that work with any of the following beneficiaries who live, work or study in Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton or Wandsworth:

• children, young people and their families/friends/teachers
• survivors of bereavement by suicide
• people experiencing homelessness
• people experiencing funeral poverty
• people with learning disabilities, special educational needs and disabilities and neurodivergent people (such as autism and ADHD)
• domiciliary (home care), care and nursing home workforce  
• hospice and other palliative care focused teams
• residents in care and nursing homes
• recently widowed
• veterans and their families/friends
• people from the Afro-Caribbean community
• refugees, asylum seekers and people from other migrant communities
• people from LGBTQ+ communities 
• people living with frailty and/or dementia
• people experiencing loss through pregnancy and/or fertility.

Grants of up to £1,000 will be awarded for the running of one or more focus groups with 8-10 participants who have experienced (or have supported someone who has experienced) bereavement.

Each focus group will last between 60-90 minutes. The groups will be facilitated by someone from your organisation and follow questions from a provided template. Materials will be provided to run the groups. 

Richmond-based groups who are able to convene a group but need advice or support to run it, can contact Healthwatch Richmond for assistance. Groups in other South West London boroughs should contact their local Healthwatch.

As part of the process, you will be asked to report your focus group notes into a template and submit these 3-5 working days after your engagement.

You will also promote and encourage completion of the Healthwatch Kingston bereavement gaps survey which will be running at the same time (link to be published on Healthwatch Kingston website).

Reasonable expenses incurred will be funded, such as venue hire, refreshments, volunteer and participant expenses (including childcare), promotion costs, administration, etc.

The deadline for submission of applications is midnight on Sunday 10 November 2024.

Your community focus group(s) will need to be completed and your engagement notes submitted by midnight on Monday 6 January 2025.

Application can be made by completing the online form here

If you have any questions about this funding, email Eneida.capaldi@kva.org.uk.