- Area:
- England
- Programme:
- Reaching Communities
- Release date:
- 14 8 2012
An England-wide project that provides essential support to people with mental health issues, their carers and families is one of 55 groups across the country sharing over £13 million in Lottery good cause cash today.
The funding comes from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme, which aims to help those most in need and build stronger communities.
Rethink Mental Illness has been awarded close to £320,000 to continue and expand its vital work providing practical advice, information and support to people with a mental illness and their loved ones via email, letter and helpline. The service is focused on giving people the necessary knowledge to overcome their problems in relation to a wide range of issues including debt, employment, getting the right treatment and services whilst also understanding their rights under the Mental Health Act and medication, discrimination and benefits.
The volume of calls the charity receives for help is steadily rising and this funding will pay for new members of staff to come on board so the service can reach even more people, the helpline hours can be extended and emails can be answered far more quickly.
Paul Jenkins, CEO of Rethink Mental Illness said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded this funding, which has secured the future of our advice and information service for the next three years. It means over that time, our specially trained staff will be able to provide much needed advice to over 12,000 people affected by severe mental illness on issues such as navigating the mental health system, getting access to treatment and debt management. Without this specialist service, many vulnerable people would have been left with nowhere to turn.”
Over £290,994 also goes to Herefordshire Mind to further develop an adult learning programme for people with mental health problems. The project supports people to become more independent, gain new skills and improve their future employment prospects. Also in the West Midlands, YMCA Black Country Group receives £287,334 to support young people aged 16 to 35 with physical and mental health problems. The project aims to improve people’s health and wellbeing by offering a health assessment and access to a 24-week health and wellbeing programme, which is tailored to individual needs and interests, and features cooking sessions, exercise classes, yoga, aromatherapy and healthy living workshops.
In Southend, Essex, Trust Links receives £300,000 to run social and gardening activities to improve the health and wellbeing of adults and young people dealing with mental health issues. The project will develop a community garden from a disused allotment site where people can take part in activities and gain horticultural skills. Trust Links will also work with local schools to build the vocational skills of young people through alternative education projects including building, gardening, sales and enterprise. It will also work in partnership with Southend Adult Community College to provide an accredited horticulture diploma course and vocational training in food hygiene and first aid.
Meanwhile in County Durham, Veterans at Ease Ltd will use their £380,635 to work with service personnel, veterans and their families who are suffering from the after effects of war, including post traumatic stress disorder. The project will run one-to-one and group sessions using neuro linguistic programming (NLP) therapy to address mental health issues. Veterans will also be supported to find employment and take part in community activities and volunteering. They will also be encouraged to raise awareness of the mental issues caused by war through talking about their experiences at public events.
Nat Sloane, Big Lottery Fund England chair, said: “It is estimated that one in four people will experience mental health difficulties at some point in their lives and it can happen to anyone at any time. I am therefore delighted the Big Lottery Fund has invested this significant sum of money in projects that will go a long way towards removing the stigma that surrounds mental health issues and supporting people in their treatment and recovery.”
A full list of awarded announced across England today
- 30KB
Further Information
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours media contact: 07867 500 572
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
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Notes to Editors
- The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
- BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since June 2004 BIG has awarded over £4.4bn.
- The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
- Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £28 billion has now been raised and more than 383,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
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