Mental Health Support Fund

Charities and groups are invited to submit project proposals for improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of the population

The Community Foundation NI on behalf of the Department of Health is calling for applications to the Mental Health Support Fund. The Mental Health Services Support Fund will provide support for mental health charities to provide a wide range of support services for people with mental ill health throughout Northern Ireland. This may include services aimed at keeping people well, and/or ensuring that those who have previously been unwell remain well.

Grant values of between £5,000 and £100,000 will be made available to charities. Projects can be for 12 months, 24 months, or longer, providing that they are all complete by mid March 2024.

Priority areas for funding

Mental health charities and groups are invited to submit proposals on key themes including specific outcomes, all which are linked to improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of the population, such as:

• Talking therapies, psychological therapies and similar interventions;
• Interventions which reduce pressures on mental health acute in-patient facilities for adults and children including in-reach to in-patient mental health services where there is support from the HSC Trusts;
• Interventions which is expected to have an overall impact on the need for people to access statutory services;
• Support for individuals, families and carers to improve emotional wellbeing and mental health through self help;
• Support individuals, families and carers to access mental health and wellbeing services they need at the right time and place;
• Support to individuals with mental health problems to engage more fully in society;
• Support to individuals, families and carers to access technology to assist in improving their mental health, managing their mental health, treating their mental health, or in their recovery from mental ill health;
• Reduction in stigma associated with mental health;
• Advocacy and peer support work; and
• Capacity building and sustainability in the delivery of mental health interventions and projects.

Who can apply?

Constituted organisations with charitable purposes, operating within Northern Ireland.

Applicants will be required to provide the following with their application:

• A copy of their governing document, e.g. constitution – this must be in the name of the applicant organisation unless governed through an umbrella organisation
• A copy of the organisation’s most recent accounts
• Evidence of need for the project eg: stakeholder analysis
• For projects seeking over £100,000 a copy of their current organisational budget and their latest Management Accounts must also be submitted
• A copy of safeguarding policies
• A current account bank statement dated within the last three months.
• A copy of equality policy

How to apply

The deadline for applications was 1pm on Friday 22 October 2021.

First published 28 September 2021