A major £2 million Cancer Charities Grant Scheme for 2025/26 has been unveiled by the Department of Health and Macmillan Cancer Support, boosting community-based cancer services across Northern Ireland.
The grant scheme has been developed through a co-design approach, working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Cancer Charities Coalition. The £2 million funding package will see the deployment of a new partnership funding model, with £1 million funding provided by the Department of Health and £1 million match-funding provided by Macmillan Cancer Support.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: “Every person living with cancer is different, and every local cancer charity offers something different too. That’s why, working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, I am proud to launch this transformative £2 million Cancer Charities Grant Scheme today. It shows what we can achieve when government and the charitable sectors work innovatively together for people affected by cancer.
“This scheme also reflects my wider shift left approach which focuses on moving care closer to people’s homes and strengthening support in the community. By enabling charities to deliver earlier, more localised support, we can help people stay well for longer and reduce avoidable pressure on hospital services.
“This new funding model will secure a future of more personalised, targeted support for people in Northern Ireland, whoever they are and wherever they live. Community charities play an essential role alongside HSC staff and the support of loved ones, and this scheme recognises their impact.”
The Minister highlighted the success of the collaborative approach to the development of this new funding initiative, thanking Macmillan Cancer Support for their generous £1 million match funding. The scheme aims to be a significant step forward in strengthening cancer support outside clinical settings, with an emphasis on tackling health inequalities and improving access to services in local communities.
Gemma Peters, Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “I’ve seen first-hand the power of community action when it comes to delivering brilliant cancer support, and local charities are at the heart of it.
“Macmillan’s partnership with the Department of Health in Northern Ireland (NI) on the Cancer Charities Grant Scheme will create important opportunities to close current gaps in cancer care. I look forward to seeing how cancer charities across Northern Ireland embrace this opportunity, applying for funding which could see them joining our mission to spark a revolution in cancer care across Northern Ireland.”
Macmillan’s £1 million contribution ensures the full £2 million will be invested in community cancer services, and the organisation will not apply for grants from the scheme.
Richard Spratt, Chair of the Northern Ireland Cancer Charities Coalition (NICCC), said: “This investment is an important boost for the cancer charity sector in Northern Ireland. It will help community organisations deliver more accessible and impactful support for people affected by cancer.”
The NICCC worked closely with the Department on the scheme’s development and welcomed its strong emphasis on equity and community-based delivery.
Christine Campbell, member of the Macmillan Cancer Experience Panel, said: “After receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis, I had many conflicting needs, both physically & mentally, outside my chemotherapy – and this is where charities and grassroot groups proved invaluable to me.
“I was able to access counselling through a local charity and seek advice on employment rights, welfare advice, personal & dietary care. This assisted me in removing barriers in care & reducing stress at a time of trauma and means I have been able to live well, do the things I want to do and feel heard as a person and not the disease.
“These grants are so important in supporting those affected by cancer outside the hospital setting, enabling cancer charities to put patients and the community at the heart of their work.”
The funding will be offered across two tiers:
• Tier 1: Grants up to £25,000 for smaller projects (with around £500,000 ringfenced)
• Tier 2: Grants from £25,001 to £150,000 for larger programmes (with around £1.5 million available)
Eligible organisations must be UK registered charities or not-for-profits operating in Northern Ireland with a clear cancer-related purpose. Funding will support services including mental health support, rehabilitation and prehabilitation, transport services, awareness and education initiatives, and programmes addressing health inequalities.
Applications will open on 27 November 2025 and close on 23 January 2026, with awards issued in March 2026.
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