A new Sheffield mental health service has opened a £300k fund that voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations can apply for to support people with serious mental health illness in the city.
The service is being set up by Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, Primary Care Sheffield, NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group and Sheffield Mind to deliver support in four areas of the city known as Primary Care Networks. It will be launched later this year.
The new service will provide access to locally-based mental health teams in four areas of the city. In addition to this, it will fund voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations offering holistic, social and lifestyle activities for people with a serious mental illness such as psychosis, schizophrenia, eating disorders, bipolar, personality disorder and other complex needs. The activities will help people live as well as possible in their community and could include debt and financial support, physical health activities, family support, hobbies and activities and education or training.
Dr Terry Hudsen, GP and Chair of NHS Sheffield CCG said: “It’s clear many things help a person’s mental health besides treatment so working with the voluntary sector to provide holistic activities to support people in their community is a step in the right direction. The voluntary sector plays an important role in supporting people with mental health challenges in Sheffield so I'm proud that the wider health and social care system can partner with it in this way. As this week is national Mental Health Awareness Week, it is particularly appropriate to be announcing this exciting new opportunity provided by the Primary & Community Mental Health Transformation Programme.”
Sheffield Mind CEO, Margaret Lewis said: “This funding has come at a crucial time for the voluntary sector. Organisations who are interested in applying can find more information and details of how to apply on NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group’s website www.sheffieldccg.nhs.uk.”
As social distancing measures are in place, the programme is keen to hear expressions of interest from voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations that are able to offer innovative and supportive services that have adapted to meet government guidelines.
Organisations are invited to submit applications either individually or as part of a wider group with partners. Different amounts of funding are available in each of the four areas according to local need and the panel will award on the basis of what best meets the needs of each area. Local mental health experts, a panel from the partnership, people with lived experiences of mental health problems, and independent health and social care experts will decide which organisations to award funding to. The funding will be distributed by NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group. Sheffield Mind will support and manage the successful organisations.