February 13, 2026
It's been a couple of months since the deadline for submissions, so we wanted to share an update on the Carl Ellson Clinical Innovation Awards
We are delighted to say we received 68 bids from across the health and care system, and beyond… each with the expressed aim of making a big difference through small changes.
After much discussion and deliberation, the panel (made up of Carl's closest colleagues, friends and family) came to a consensus… and found 23 winning entries. They will each get a share of the £20,000 funds, ranging from £250-£1000.
Deciding which of the amazing ideas should be awarded a grant was a challenging process. But it is satisfying to know those winners will make a meaningful difference to the lives of many people in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
What We Did
Carl loved innovation. And the NHS 10 year plan, released in 2025, has put an onus on trying new approaches. This is something the CECIF team embraced from the outset.
We consulted widely with VCS advocacy organisations (such as ivar.org, Transformation Tuesday teams, VCSE alliance and council colleagues) to co-create an innovative new way of doing things, while reducing the traditional barriers between frontline staff and funders.
The application process was light on both bureaucracy and admin. This was a deliberate choice as the CECIF team wanted to give anybody- at any level- the chance to be successful. It was underpinned by the belief that frontline bidders may have good ideas, but perhaps feel shut out by long and complex grant applications. It proved to be hugely successful in attracting bids from different sectors and varied professional levels.
The decision to break up the sizeable cash award of £20,000 into micro grants of £250-£1000 was also an ‘against the grain’ idea. It was all about encouraging people with great ideas for small changes, that wouldn't normally feel enabled to apply for one of the existing funds. It also lessened the negative impact for those who weren't successful, as their precious time wasn't given to sizeable bid writing tasks.
Further to this, we made a point of sending a list of carefully curated resources to the unsuccessful bidders, as we were keen to offer a positive experience for everyone who participated in the process of applying for the CECIF Awards.
So what now?
Well… Everyone who applied has been notified of the outcome from the deliberation panel, and the 23 successful bidders have been awarded their funds. As part of the agreement, all projects, events and activities should be completed within 6 months of receiving the cash award. We can't wait to see the collective visions come to life… and will share with you all how they got on a little later this year!
It just leaves me to say thank you, on behalf of all involved in the Carl Ellson Clinical Innovation Fund. Thank you to those who submitted a bid, promoted the scheme, offered kind words of support and encouragement!
If you'd like to contact the CECIF team, you can do so here: hwicb.
