Now closed for applications.  Closed on Friday 28th June 2024 at 3pm

Funding for community mental health projects launches

Friday 31st May 2024

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1. Types of Awards
2. How do I apply, am I eligible?
   • General Guidance Notes
   • Guidelines for Completion
   • Troubleshooting
3. Enquiries
4. Check your Super Output Area
5. Previous projects

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Community and voluntary groups are being encouraged to apply for a short-term funding programme that focuses on improving mental health and emotional wellbeing.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) initiative which aims to address health and wellbeing needs in local communities, is now open, with groups having until 3pm on Friday 28th June to submit applications.

The funding will support a range of strategic themes including:

• ‘Making Life Better’ (Public health framework)
• Protect Life 2 - Suicide Prevention Strategy
• Mental Health Strategy

Fiona Teague, Regional Lead for Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing at PHA, said: “Community and voluntary organisations are most acutely aware of the issues that affect people on the ground and this short-term funding programme will give them the opportunity to address issues of mental health and emotional wellbeing specific to their communities.”

"Last year the PHA invested more than £1.4 million in this scheme and more than 29,000 people benefited from direct involvement in the 438 funded projects across Northern Ireland."

“The PHA is keen to invest in programmes that will have a particular focus on using one or more of the ‘Take 5’ Steps to Wellbeing’.  These are five simple steps that we can build into our daily lives to maintain and improve wellbeing – Connect, Be Active, Keep Learning, Give To Others, and Take Notice." 

Further information can be found on the Minding Your Head website.

“We are encouraging applicants to work collaboratively to develop innovative projects and most importantly involve local communities in project design.”

The PHA has commissioned the Clear Project to facilitate this process in each Health and Social Care Trust area.

Brenda Morris, Manager of the Clear Project, said: “Short-term funding plays a vital role in supporting programmes within the community. This work can take a range of forms from self-help and life skills initiatives supporting those in need to giving groups the opportunity to develop and build their capacity to help others.”

Types of Awards:

Two types of awards are available under this scheme.

1. 1. Award One: Funding of up to £1,000 for non-constituted and constituted non-profit taking community / voluntary sector groups.
   2. Award Two: Funding of between £1,001 and to a maximum of £5,000 for constituted, non-profit taking community / voluntary sector groups.

There are limited resources available therefore a strict Assessment Criteria will be applied (see general guidance notes).

Now closed for applications

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How do I apply, am I eligible?

To apply for the short-term funding opportunities for Western, Belfast, Northern, South-eastern, and Southern Health and Social Care Trust areas, click on the link below.

Documents

1. General Guidance Notes
2. Guidelines for Completion of Application Form
3. A Word version of the Application Form is available click here to download.  This is to assist you in drafting your application form.
4. The online application form must be completed.  Guidance on using the portal can be found in the Guidelines for Completion. 

Troubleshooting 

**As this is a new round of funding ALL USERS MUST click on ‘Not a member?’ the first time they enter the portal, AND create their organisation. 

Applications will not save, and errors may occur if:

1. The following mandatory fields are not completed;
   • Q 5.1 – Application for award 1 / award 2.
   • Section 6 – Confirm not for profit.
   • Section 7 Finance / Funding – Cannot be left blank, must enter a numerical value (e.g. ‘0’ in Cost of each unit; Funding requested from Clear; Other funding sources).
2. The character count is exceeded.     
3. The portal is open on more than one screen, (close other open screens, and only work on one at a time).
4. You do not save as you go along (e.g. every 15 minutes) as information may be lost.

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Completed Application Forms:

Applicants are responsible for ensuring the application is submitted in a timely manner.  The Clear Project assumes no legal liability or responsibility resulting from any information technology problems when submitting the application.

For enquiries or further details please contact:

• Email: [email protected]
• Tel: 028 7138 3386
• Address: The Clear Project (Developing Healthy Communities), Building 83, Ledwidge Avenue, Ebrington, Derry~Londonderry, BT47 6GZ.

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Check your Super Output Area

If you do not know Super Output Area (SOA) and / or would like to check your Council Area / Local Government District (LGD), or Multiple Deprivation Measure (MDM), click here to check using a postcode on the NISRA website.

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