Enhancing Mental Health Funding: Insights and Examples from The National Lottery Community Fund
Explore the funding initiatives led by Ruth Stephens, the Funding Manager for Mental Health at The National Lottery Community Fund. Discover their focus on mental health projects, funding priorities, and key factors considered when selecting projects. Learn about examples of funded initiatives like TrustLinks and the Anna Freud Centre in the mental health sector.
- Mental health funding
- National Lottery Community Fund
- Ruth Stephens
- Funding Manager
- Mental health projects
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Presentation Transcript
Mental Health: Our Funding Ruth Stephens Funding Manager (Essex) and Mental Health thematic lead for LSE Region
What we do - The National Lottery Community Fund funds a wide variety of different organisations and projects across the UK - Many of these projects touch on mental health, loneliness and isolation, wellbeing, etc. What we will focus on today are those projects that specifically focus on mental health for example offering counselling, or peer support groups. - Our funding in this area ranges from strategic programmes like Head Start, to large projects covering whole countries, regions or themes, to very local work in one estate, street or allotment (or beach!). We have funded over 1bn in this area since 2012. Local examples are Sociability, the Listening Post, Kool Carers. 2
Our Learning - The range of learning we collect is as wide as the projects we fund. You can see more on our Insights page on our website, and the Evidence Library. Here you can read insights such as our learning from strategic programmes Talent Match, Head Start and other Reaching Communities projects. - This learning, as well as external information, influences how we fund in future and what decisions we make about which projects can be successful. - However, there are many other factors. Nothing is black and white and we are always interested in different perspectives. 3
What do we look for? - The million question! Difficult to answer but there are some key areas we can focus on. - People in the Lead: our key focus as a funder. This describes how service users, beneficiaries, or whatever word we use, are fully involved in and able to direct the services they receive. Work is strengths-based and looks to empower. How does this work with users with multiple needs? - Our funding priorities: early intervention, building relationships, places and spaces and how these relate to your work / mental health. - Do No Harm: are you clear that your work will not cause (further) harm? How? The onus on this rises the more vulnerable the people you support. 4
What do we look for? - Theory of Change: are we clear that the activities will lead to the outcomes / impact? Are the outcome realistic? - Quality: this covers factors such as supervision being included and costed. Are new approaches evidence-based? - Referral pathways: what happens to the people you can t support? What happens to them after your support? Can you demonstrate good relationships with other providers? - Partnership working 5
Examples of our funding - TrustLinks: mental health support based on horticulture, gardening, working outside. Work across a range of need and with high needs individuals. Service users are all members with a vote, difficult to distinguish between them and staff members. www.trustlinks.org - Anna Freud Centre: funded by our UK portfolio to set up UK Trauma Centre, bringing together learning and best practise. www.annafreud.org - Colchester CAB: grant of 40,000 to provide debt and money advice to people exiting local MH Hospital. Early intervention and empowerment. 6
Questions TNLCF Essex team: Ruth.Stephens@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk - FM covering pan-Essex, Basildon, Thurrock, Castle Point, Rochford and Southend on Sea Jessica.leonard@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk Funding Officer, covering Tendring, Colchester, Braintree, Uttlesford danielle.lawrence@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk Funding Officer, covering Chelmsford, Maldon, Brentwood, Epping Forest, Harlow Website: www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk Email: Londonandsoutheastteam@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk Big Advice Team 0345 4 102030 Thank you! 7
