Mental health groups and organisations in Bedford can now apply for grants of between £5,000 and £100,000 as part of a £1.8m fund, launched by East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT).
The grants are available to voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) organisations of any size and the programme aims to fund voluntary sector-led projects that reach communities experiencing challenges and exclusion resulting in inequalities in mental health.
The programme, which launched on Monday (17 January) is also open to mental health voluntary sector organisations if they are at direct risk of closing or losing capacity as a result of the COVID pandemic.
Funding is project-based and all applicants will be asked to indicate which population group or priority area their work most closely aligns to from a list of themes including children and young people (CYP) community and crisis, young adults (18-25) and adult and older adult mental health in the community.
Dr Mohit Venkataram, Director of Commercial Development, said: “We are fortunate to have a dynamic, creative, varied, energetic and enthusiastic local VCSE – but many of these organisations have been hit hard by the pandemic and need support to continue their incredible work.
“This fund is in place so we can continue to work together with these amazing people in improving health outcomes for the communities we serve.”
Richard Fradgley, Director of Integrated Care said they had seen the value that investment in the voluntary sector has brought.
“VCSE networks are often the beating heart of the communities we serve,” he said.
“We are launching this fund to help them continue giving voices to people that the health and social care system has sometimes struggled to hear.”
For more details, to express an interest and receive an application form, visit the Compass Wellbeing website here.
Anyone interested can also email funding@compasswellbeing.co.uk with any queries.
