What is the Social Movements for Health Programme?

The Social Movements for Health programme will offer up to seven social movements funding, movement-building opportunities, and connection to social movement peers. It is funded and delivered by Nesta, the UK’s innovation foundation, in partnership with the Dunhill Medical Trust which supports community-based organisations working to enhance the lives of those who need extra support in later life.

What do we mean by “social movements for health?”

Social movements for health emerge when people come together to promote or resist change in the experience of health or the systems that shape it. They unite people around a common vision, and they grow networks to amplify their message and challenge society, institutions and elites to think and act differently. Often they bubble up outside formal institutions, but they can also come from within. They are often most successful when they nurture different voices and diverse interests and motivations.

For more information about social movements, please read our reports: The Power of People in Movements or We Change the World.

Are there specific areas of health that you intend to support?

We are looking for social movements that aim to improve health and care. This might include:

1. Improving people’s experiences of health, including with respect to a particular health condition
2. Improving people’s experiences of the delivery of health and care services
3. Addressing health inequalities, justice and rights issues
4. Addressing the wider determinants of health

How developed does my social movement have to be?

We are looking for groups or organisations that are in the early stages of developing a social movement to grow their influence and impact on health or care. You will already have some momentum, for example, you will have a clear vision of the change you want to achieve and why a social movement is needed. You will have started to mobilise a wider group of people, and may have already run a campaign, reframed an issue or attracted media attention.

How can I find out more?

We will be hosting a webinar on December 11 from 1-2pm to share information about the programme and answer questions.

We are also hosting briefing workshops across the UK in:

• Cardiff
• Edinburgh
• Manchester

The workshops will be a chance to hear more about the programme, meet other movements and potential collaborators, and discuss your application with the programme team.

What is the application process for the programme?

The first step is to submit an expression of interest form by December 21 at 10am. Proposals will be shortlisted and invited to attend a workshop in London to meet other applicants with shared ambitions on 28, 29 or 30 January 2019 before submitting a full application by February 18 2019. An Advisory Board of people with extensive experience of social movements will be involved in the selection process.

What is the timescale for the programme?

The programme will commence in April 2019 and end in the Spring/Summer of 2020.

When will the call for expressions of interest close?

The call for expressions of interest will close on Friday 21 December at 10am.

What level of funding is available?

Grants of between £20,000 and £50,000 are available for up to 7 social movements. The grant period will be April 2019 to April 2020.

When will funding be allocated?

Grant offers will be made in March 2019 and the programme is expected to commence in April 2019.

What support will the programme provide?

The programme will offer:

1. Tailored funding: We will work with successful applicants during the early stages of the programme to agree objectives and milestones that can help each movement grow and make progress towards their longer term goals.
2. Movement-building opportunities: Will be identified and provided by people with extensive experience of specific aspects of movement-building, such as framing, tactical development, network formation and engagement strategies.
3. Connection to social movement peers: The community of peers will provide an opportunity to connect with like-minded people facing similar opportunities and challenges, share ideas as well as explore opportunities for collaborative working.

What type of movement-building opportunities will there be?

The programme will be shaped by participants and respond to the needs of the selected social movements. Opportunities are likely to include:

• Connecting with other participants involved in social movements, including opportunities to generate ideas for collaboration.
• Receiving movement-building support from experts in areas such as mobilising and influencing people, framing, crafting narratives, developing tactics and staging collective actions.
• Tapping into other forms of capacity-building support, such as fundraising, media training, event planning, communications and social media advice.
• Engaging with policy-makers and decision-takers in health and social care as well as informal institutions about how they can best support social movements.

Who can apply to the programme?

To be considered, you must be:

• Based in the UK
• Involved in a social movement focused on improving health and care of people living in the UK (while we anticipate that some social movements will have global reach or aspirations, the primary focus of activity now should be in the UK)
• Committed to actively taking part in the programme between Apr 2019 - Apr 2020, including training, workshops and events, as well as engaging in evaluation and reporting (Apr 2020 - Aug 2020) and ongoing learning.
• Able to receive and process funds on behalf of the movement (through an existing organisation or dedicated bank account based in the UK)
• Able to enter into an agreement with Nesta (as an individual representing an unincorporated or incorporated group).

I work for the NHS or in local government, am I eligible to apply?

Yes, anyone in the UK is eligible to apply.

How will Nesta and Dunhill measure the impact of the programme?

We will work together with applicants to develop approaches to impact measurement which match goals that have been developed for the programme period - at both the level of individual movements and of the programme as a whole. Applicants will need to be committed to documenting their value and learning from the programme as well as measuring their impact through the course of the programme.

I am not in a position to apply for this programme now. Are Nesta/the Dunhill Medical Trust planning to run this programme again in the future?

Currently there are no plans to run the Social Movement for Health programme again in the future. But if you have ideas for the future, please be touch at: [email protected].