Grant programme to strengthen maternity care across South Yorkshire

Now in its second year, the programme will fund grassroots organisations to engage with women and families whose experiences are often underrepresented in maternity care research. This includes people living in areas of high deprivation, Eastern European communities, Roma and Slovak families, and Black African, Black Caribbean and other Black communities.

The programme builds on the success of its first round in 2025, which awarded £35,000 to eight grassroots groups across South Yorkshire to gather and share birthing stories and lived experiences. This research is helping inform South Yorkshire’s Maternity Strategy and address inequalities in care.

Through the latest round of funding, SYCF will work with community organisations in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield to gather feedback from women and families who have used maternity and/or neonatal services within the past three years.

Jodie Deadman, program director at NHS South Yorkshire ICB, said: “We exist to improve health and wellbeing and ensure people can access the services they need to live well throughout their lives. This starts from birth, which is why we work with pregnant women, birthing people, parents and families to improve the care and support provided during pregnancy and beyond.

“The research gathered through the first round of funding has proved incredibly valuable in helping us address some of the inequalities women face in maternity care. To design services that truly work for everyone, we need to listen to the communities whose voices are often underrepresented.

Working with SYCF has enabled us to gather honest, meaningful feedback to help shape maternity services around the experiences of the people who use them. We want to build on this work so that future care is inclusive and co-designed with our communities.

 

Grants can support staffing and volunteer costs, resources, marketing and tools to encourage meaningful community engagement. Contributions towards overheads may also be included where they directly support the project.

Jess O’Neill, grants and partnerships manager at SYCF, said: “We’re keen to hear from community organisations across South Yorkshire that can help women and families share their experiences of maternity and neonatal care, from pregnancy and birth through to the postnatal period.

Grassroots organisations have trusted relationships within their communities and are well placed to reach people whose experiences might otherwise go unheard. By supporting them to gather their stories and feedback, we can help ensure the voices of South Yorkshire’s diverse communities inform future service.

 

Successful applicants will begin their engagement work in December 2026 and will be expected to share their findings at a South Yorkshire Listening Event in summer 2027.

The deadline for applications is 9am on Monday 9 November 2026.

Community organisations can find out more at an online drop-in session on Wednesday 4 November, from 10.30am to 11.30am. To access the link please email grants@sycf.org.uk.