
The fund supports healthcare in Peterborough and the area covered by Peterborough and Stamford hospitals (postcodes PE1 – PE11). It supports both individuals requiring medical equipment and organisations who carry out healthcare activities.
The Harry Cureton Fund exists due to the generosity of the late Harry Cureton, who for many years lived at Eye, near Peterborough and donated a large lottery win to help local people.
Applications for both capital and revenue costs for healthcare activities are invited covering:
- Preservation and promotion of good health and education about health issues;
- Provision of palliative care in relation to terminal or chronic conditions;
- Research into the causes, treatment and care for of all forms of illness (which can be undertaken anywhere in the UK);
- Relief and treatment of all forms of physical and mental illness and rehabilitation from such illness
Applications for capital or revenue costs for healthcare activities relating to the delivery of Directed Enhanced Services (DES) will not be considered.
Criteria for grant applications
Applications are invited by medical professionals on behalf of individuals in need, or by organisations.
Criteria for grants to benefit an individual
Applications for grants to assist an individual should be made by an Occupational Therapist (or other medical professional who has knowledge of the individual’s overall health and financial position).
Requests will be considered for money towards a piece of equipment or a small adaption to a home to help an individual with their disabilities.
Grants will not be made:
- where the activity could be paid for by a surgery, the NHS or another source;
- where the grant will result in financial benefit to a person or group of people, through for example improvements or alterations to a property;
- to cover expenditure already incurred
While there is no limit to the size of grants, the Fund would like to spread the benefit as widely as possible and are likely to give precedence to applications for grants up to £20,000. However, this should not discourage applications for larger awards, where the applicant considers they can demonstrate a justifiable reason for a large grant.
Conditions may be attached to the awards of grants. In order to promote awareness of the Fund to enable it to bring knowledge of its work to its target audience and to acknowledge Harry Cureton’s generosity, it will normally be a condition of a grant that there will be public acknowledgement of the grant incorporating the Fund’s name.
Criteria for grants for an organisation
While this list is not exclusive or binding for the Fund, the panel will apply the following criteria in deciding whether to award grants:
Preference will be given to:
- capital equipment rather than help with running costs;
- grants where matching funds are available;
- activities that will benefit the widest number of people;
- pump priming grants, e.g. initial support for a medical post if that will lead to funding the post being taken over by the NHS
Grants will not be made:
- where the activity could be paid for by a surgery, the NHS or another source;
- where the grant will result in financial benefit to a person or group of people, through for example improvements or alterations to a property;
- to cover expenditure already incurred
Grants may be either single grants or rolling grants.
While there is no limit to the size of grants, the Fund wishes to spread the benefit as widely as possible and are likely to give precedence to applications for grants up to £20,000 in any year. However, the Fund does not wish to discourage applications for larger awards, where the applicant considers they can demonstrate a justifiable reason for a large grant.
Conditions may be attached to the awards of grants. In order to promote awareness of the Fund to enable it to bring knowledge of its work to its target audience and to acknowledge Harry Cureton’s generosity, it will normally be a condition of a grant that there will be public acknowledgement of the grant.

Example projects funded by the Harry Cureton Fund
For individuals
Peterborough Community Occupational Therapy Adult Social Care was awarded £3,230 towards a specialist seating ‘Hydroflex armchair’ for a patient with dementia.
City Care Centre was awarded £1,780 to purchase a Tomcat Tiger Tricycle for a patient with cerebral palsy.
Peterborough City Council was awarded £9,067 to make adaptions to a bedroom and bathroom to ensure accessibility for a patient with muscular dystrophy.
For organisations
Bretton Medical Practice was awarded £2,398 to purchase a 24 hour ECG machine for patients suspected of abnormal heart rate or rhythm and £601 towards the purchase of an ABPI MD.
Sue Ryder was awarded £20,000 for a contribution to the capital costs of the building work Thorpe Hall, Peterborough.
Shine was awarded £10,000 towards setting up a Health and Well Being Centre to support individuals with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.
Personalised Eating Disorders Charity CIO was awarded £5,000 towards the salaries of two part-time Eating Disorder Nurses to support 30 people and their families.
Boxing Futures was awarded £2,642 to run a daily ‘Fed, Read and Fit’ programme for 195 young people who may experience lack of family support, poor mental health, poor diet, and poor physical wellbeing.
Who can apply?
Medical professionals on behalf of individuals and not-for-profit organisations.
Maximum grant
£20,000
Eligible area
Peterborough (+ 15 mile radius)
Deadline
1st February, 1st August
Apply for a Grant