Local communities encouraged to apply for PHA small grants

Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement
PHA Small Grants

Community and voluntary groups are being encouraged to apply for small grants which can be used to improve the mental and emotional wellbeing of local communities.

Funding is being provided by the Public Health Agency (PHA) for a small grants scheme to address the themes of Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing, Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm.

Fiona Teague, Senior Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager with PHA, said: “This is a great opportunity for the community and voluntary sector to access small, non-recurring grants which can be used to support health improvement at a local level. We are encouraging applicants to be proactive and work collaboratively to develop innovative projects to help build resilience in the community.”

Programmes eligible for funding must be founded on evidence-based practice, with a particular focus on those using one or more of the ‘Take 5’ Steps to Wellbeing (Connect, Be Active, Keep Learning and Give and Take Notice).

Projects which benefitted last year through the small grants scheme include: Take 5 Mental Wealth Games for sports groups; ADHD parenting programmes; Wellness Recovery Action Plan sessions for people who are homeless; dance, drama and art activities for young people; healthy cooking and gardening for a Men’s Shed project and mindfulness and physical activities for women.

The PHA has commissioned the CLEAR Project to facilitate this process in the Western, Southern, South Eastern and Belfast Local Commissioning Group areas. Small grants have already been allocated in the Northern area via the four community networks.

Brenda Morris, Manager of the CLEAR Project, said: “Small grants play 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 this scheme:

  • Award one grants of up to £1,000 that non-constituted and constituted non-profit taking community/ voluntary sector groups can apply for, and
  • Award two grants of between £1,001 and to a maximum of £5,000 for constituted, non-profit taking Community/ Voluntary sector groups.

Any group interested in applying for the small grants for the Western, Southern, South Eastern and Belfast areas can find out more at www.dhcni.com/grants  Further details are available from the CLEAR Project on (028) 7138 3386 or clear@dhcni.com    

The closing date for applications for these grants is Wednesday 1 August 2018 at 3pm.