Local communities encouraged to apply for funding programme
Community and voluntary groups are being encouraged by the Public Health Agency (PHA) to apply for a short-term funding programme which can be used to improve the health and wellbeing of local communities, with a particular focus on improving mental and emotional wellbeing.
The funding programme will also support a range of strategic themes and priorities under the ‘Making Life Better’ public health framework, in particular, mental health, emotional wellbeing, suicide prevention and self-harm.
Shauna Houston, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Manager at the PHA said: “We are all aware of the impact COVID-19 has had on our society over the last few years, however, despite these difficulties, and in order to provide support in our communities, over 350 projects across Northern Ireland mobilised themselves to benefit from just over £1 million from the PHA’s short-term funding programme during 2021/22. This has been used to put in place programmes and interventions to help improve their citizens’ health and wellbeing.
“The aim of this year’s funding programme is to continue to support communities throughout 2022/23 and to help build back stronger from the impact of the pandemic through improved connection and partnership working, in particular, to enhance capacity in emotional resilience and mental and emotional wellbeing.
“The PHA is keen to invest in programmes that have been identified within communities that have a particular focus on using one or more of the ‘Take 5’ Steps to Wellbeing’. These are five simple steps that can be built into our daily lives to maintain and improve wellbeing – Connect, Be Active, Keep Learning, Give and Take Notice.
“We are encouraging applicants to work collaboratively to develop innovative projects and most importantly involve local communities in project design.”
The short-term funding programme provides the community and voluntary sector with the opportunity to access small, non-recurring funding which can be used to support health improvement in local communities. Projects eligible for funding must encourage healthy lifestyle choices and support a range of themes and priorities relating to the ‘Making Life Better’ strategy.
The PHA has commissioned the Clear Project to facilitate this process in the Western, Southern, South Eastern, Belfast and Northern Health and Social Care Trust areas.
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.”
Two types of awards are available under the programme:
· Award one: Funding of up to £1,000 for non-constituted and constituted non-profit taking community/ voluntary sector groups.
· Award two: Funding of between £1,001 and to a maximum of £5,000 for constituted, non-profit taking community/ voluntary sector groups.
Closing date for applications is Thursday 21July 2022 at 3pm
To apply for the short-term funding opportunities across all of the Health and Social Care Trust areas go to:
www.dhcni.com/pha-short-term-funding-grants
For further details please contact - funding@dhcni.com