21st April 2022
Almost £250,000 is being made available for community organisations in north Cumbria to support people with severe mental illness.
Third sector groups are being encouraged to apply for grant funding to help people with severe mental illness gain better access services and support. The money from the NHS has been made available to support people to improve and stay well in the community.
The NHS Community Mental Health Transformation Programme was set up by NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to improve the health needs of adults with severe mental illness (SMI) in north Cumbria.
Almost a quarter of a million pounds is being made available and the funding is managed by Cumbria Community Foundation in three separate funds.
The Healthier Lifestyles Fund will specifically support interventions that target health risks such as smoking, obesity, and frailty, and focused on meeting both the physical and psychological needs of people.
The Positive Changes Fund will help people who often face challenges to access services easily. It will support groups such as LGBTQ+, refugees, veterans, ethnically diverse people and the gypsy, roma, traveller community engage with statutory and community mental health services and to develop community support plans.
A third fund targeting those with eating disorders is in development.
Cumbria Community Foundation will host the fund from the Community Mental Health Transformation Project to provide grants to the third sector, in order to help people with SMI live well in their communities. Organisations applying on their own can apply for up to £25,000 and partnership bids can apply for up to £75,000. The closing date for applications is 6th May 2022.
Peter Rooney, Chief Operating Officer at NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We know that the third sector in North Cumbria already provides valuable support for people with serious mental illness and supports them to connect with formal services. These new grants will help organisations to support people to access a range of health services and improvements in their wellbeing.
“We have been working with Cumbria Community Foundation in this way for a while and we know the impact these grants can have on people living here in north Cumbria.”
Dr Jenny Benson, Director of Programmes & Partnerships Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “The grant supports our key aim to tackle health inequalities and create healthier communities through place-based partnerships that can make a genuine difference to people across our region.
“As a Community Foundation, we are delighted to ensure this funding reaches where it is most needed. It will help tackle health inequalities, improve people’s mental health and wellbeing, and offer specialist support to people.”
Applicants interested in applying should contact Sarah Thompson, Grants & Programmes Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation sarah@cumbriafoundation.org or visit www.cumbriafoundation.org for more information.
Further funds are being planned.