Health and children’s charities are being urged to bid for £3.3m of funding to support mothers and babies from deprived or Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.

Applications for the latest round of the government’s Health and Wellbeing Fund close on 30 October at 12noon, with successful bids announced in December.

The money is being handed out to charities involved in schemes such as children’s learning and development, mental health and tackling obesity as well as preventing smoking among parents.

This latest round of the funding is themed around ‘starting well’ to help mothers and babies in areas of disadvantage or BAME backgrounds.

“Everyone deserves to live a long healthy life, and we’re determined to reduce the inequality that some families face,” said public health minister Jo Churchill.

“We’re committed to start this work from birth, and the voluntary sector have an enormous role to play in its success. This year we have launched the Health and Wellbeing Fund which is centred around Starting Well, to make sure mothers have the help they need to make the right decisions to support their health, and the health of their babies.”

The funding is for three-year projects. The Health and Wellbeing Fund is being run by the VCSE (voluntary and community social enterprises) Health and Wellbeing Alliance.

The Alliance was relaunched this month with a focus on ensuring the lived in experiences of people are reflected in health policy.

It is a partnership between charities and health and care organisations and is part of the government’s Health and Wellbing Programme.

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