Mental health struggles affect everyone - whether it be personally, or through someone close to us. According to Mind, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year.
With these staggering figures, comes the need for greater support. Thankfully, there are lots of mental health projects that enable people to share experiences and feelings; provide comfort and resources; as well as raise awareness and understanding.
But with this demand - also comes the need for more funding to carry out such services. In this blog, we will round up the top funding opportunities in the UK, and introduce you to a handy platform where you can find even more.
Funding for Mental Health Projects
Below, we’ve highlighted 5 trusts and foundations inviting applications that support projects focused on mental health. These are rolling programmes, so you can apply any time of the year.
The Tudor Trust
The Tudor Trust offers unrestricted grants and other types of support to small, community-led organisations that are often under-resourced. The Trust places great importance on projects that focus primarily on people who are on the edges of mainstream society, and support them in ways which encourage inclusion, integration and independence.
When granting funding, the Trust wishes to support work that:
Develops social connections and relationships
Promotes positive well-being practices that enhance the quality of life of individuals
Strengthens communities
Challenges injustice and inequality
There is no maximum grant amount specified, but it is unusual for grants of less than £10,000 to be awarded.
Tesco Community Grants
Administered by Groundworks, Tesco Community Grants awards funds to voluntary or community organisations, schools, health bodies, parish/town councils, local authorities and social housing providers that aim to make a positive difference within their immediate area.
Projects that are eligible to apply include:
Breakfast clubs
Holiday clubs
Food banks
Equipment for nurseries or schools
Equipment for Brownie, Guide or Scout Groups
Play areas
Counselling and support services
Activities to improve mental health
Equipment/kit for sports teams
Services or equipment to support health issues such as cancer or dementia
Equipment for village/community halls
This is a national scheme, with small grants of up to £1,500 being awarded to successful applications.
Cameron Grant Memorial Trust
The Cameron Grant Memorial Trust offers small grants to individuals, charities and not-for-profit organisations wishing to do any of the following:
Trial a new service
Create an asset, piece of technology or performance
Fund research
Or experiment in any way that supports the treatment of mental health
Great emphasis is placed on innovation. This includes using new methods, channels, technology or approaches to create positive change. Such ideas should typically fit into one of the following categories:
Destigmatising mental health
Reducing mental health care barriers
Improving mental wellbeing of beneficiaries
Grant sizes are up to £2,500, and are ideal for ‘seed funding’ opportunities.
The Albert Hunt Trust
The Albert Hunt Trust awards grants to UK registered charities that support a variety of health-related services, including:
Hospice care
Homeless support
Improving health and wellbeing e.g. physical and learning disabilities, physical and mental health, as well as social challenge and deprivation
Grants may be considered for a range of purposes and could include:
Capital projects e.g. building, equipment and renovation
Core funding to include staff costs.
Ongoing running costs for specific projects
There is no maximum grant amount specified.
The Mrs Smith and Mount Trust: The Mount Fund
The Mrs Smith & Mount Trust gives grants to registered charities whose beneficiaries are based in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, Surrey and London.
It aims to assist disadvantaged people towards a better quality of life.
Its current priorities are focused on mental health, homelessness and health in the community.
For mental health projects, there are several specifics to be aware of. Applications to fund counselling services will only be supported where at present, these are either free or very low-cost, and are provided specifically to address mental ill health as it results from social disadvantage or discrimination.
Charities applying for this opportunity should have annual income of up to £1 million. Smaller charities with incomes of up to £500,000, particularly those working in rural communities, could be considered for larger grants of up to £20,000 paid over two or more years.
For More Funding Opportunities, Choose FundReady
FundReady offers a subscription-based funding information platform for organisations working in the third sector. Complete with specialist advice and daily updates - the solution saves endless research time, and helps to enhance your chance of securing significant funding.
The service is tailored to the funding needs and profile of each organisation. Established by S3 Solutions, which aims to provide professional consulting and support services for organisations - you can trust us to offer support packages to meet the needs of organisations of all sizes and types.
Since the launch of FundReady, we have supported clients across Ireland to secure over £120 million of investment for new capital projects, services, equipment and organisational developments.
For further information, or to find out more funding opportunities for mental health projects - get in touch with the S3 Solutions team today.