Department of Health and Social Care
About This Funder
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is a UK Government ministerial department, tracing its roots to the 19th-century Board of Health and formally established as DHSC in 2018, overseeing national policy for health and adult social care in England through arms-length bodies like NHS England, UK Health Security Agency, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Its mission is to enable people to live healthier, more independent lives longer by shaping policy, securing frameworks, supporting public delivery, and responding to crises, guided by values of equity, innovation, accountability, and safeguarding health for all, especially vulnerable groups.
DHSC funds strategic initiatives addressing NHS productivity, social care reform, health inequalities, mental health (particularly youth), public health prevention (obesity, addiction, infectious diseases), women's health, cancer, dementia, digital technologies, and service integration. It supports research, innovation pilots, third-sector partnerships, and outcomes for the English population, prioritizing vulnerable communities like those with disabilities, armed forces families, and children facing inequalities, via NIHR grants and targeted calls rather than broad charitable support.
Eligible applicants are limited to UK-registered charities and academic institutions based in the UK (primarily England-focused work), favoring medium-to-large organizations, NHS trusts, local authorities, and research bodies with proven capacity; unsolicited applications are not accepted. Grants typically range from £50,000 to £2,000,000 for projects or research, applied via online portals during specific NIHR or strategic calls with deadlines varying (e.g., September 2025 for some programmes) and 3-6 month decisions. It excludes unrestricted core funding, standalone capital, or non-strategic activities, standing out as England's principal steward of NHS and social care with unmatched scale for transformative, evidence-based national solutions.
Eligibility Checklist
Funding Details
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does Department of Health and Social Care provide?
Grant amounts vary. Contact Department of Health and Social Care directly for current funding levels.
Where does Department of Health and Social Care fund charities?
Department of Health and Social Care funds charities operating in England, UK.
How do I apply for funding from Department of Health and Social Care?
With Fundermatcher, you describe your charity once and see your compatibility score with Department of Health and Social Care. If you're a good fit, you can start drafting your application immediately using our AI co-pilot — paste each question and word limit, and the co-pilot writes a tailored first draft using your charity's real data and Department of Health and Social Care's priorities. You review and edit every answer before submitting.
Will funders know my application was drafted with AI?
No. The co-pilot uses your charity's real name, numbers, and impact data — not generic filler or templates. Every draft reads like it was written by someone who knows your charity inside-out, because it's built on your actual profile. You edit and refine every word before it goes anywhere, so the final application sounds like you — because it is.
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