Health Work and Well-being Challenge Fund

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched a grant scheme called the Health Work and Well-being Challenge Fund. The fund aims to support local partnerships and SMEs based in the UK that have been in business for a minimum of two years, have a maximum of 249 employees and have developed innovative projects to improve their staff's health and welfare in the workplace. Grants totalling £4million over the next two years are available, but the pot is competitive so not all applications will receive funding.

The scheme is accepting applications for innovative projects that aim to improve occupational health and welfare in the workplace and priority will be given to projects that boost mental well-being in small businesses. Proposals must be for new projects – funding will not be awarded for existing projects. You can apply for a grant of between £1,000 and £50,000.

There are two rounds of funding available. The first closed at the end of December 2009 for awards in 2010. Round 2 applications will be accepted between September 2010 and December 2010 for awards in 2011.

If you are eligible to apply, you should first fill in the Expression of Interest form, which can be downloaded from the Fund's website. There are guidance notes to help you complete the form, which you should save then upload back onto the site. If this is accepted you will be asked to complete a full application form.

Full details, including FAQs, can be found on the scheme's website.