The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has made available £4 million for a grant fund to support suicide prevention voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations across 2021 to 2022. A portion of the grant fund will be ring-fenced specifically to help support small community-led and user-led groups and organisations.
The strategic objectives of the fund are:
- Service provision: to support suicide prevention VCSE organisations to meet the increased need or demand for suicide prevention services because of the pandemic
- To support service provision particularly to people considered to be at a higher risk of suicide, through the work of the diverse range of suicide prevention VCSE organisations and enhancing service provision to high-risk groups
High-risk groups are defined in the latest progress report of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. It highlights those who were already at a higher risk of suicide, as well as those that this fund are particularly concerned about in the context of the pandemic, which include:
- Middle-aged men
- Children and young people
- People in contact with mental health services
- People who self-harm
- People who are economically vulnerable
- NHS and social care staff
- People in contact with the criminal justice system
- People who were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic
- Ethnic minorities
Purpose of the funding
The funding, applied for on a competitive basis, is to support suicide prevention VCSE organisations and groups to meet the increased need or demand for services, as a result of the pandemic, and enhance service provision, with a particular focus on high-risk groups.
The funding will support organisations to continue providing services, for example by helping to cover any financial gaps for these organisations caused by Covid. The funding is only available to support the delivery of suicide prevention activities in England. All awarded funding must be spent by 31 March 2022.
Value of funding available
You may apply for the lower of either:
- The value of eligible activities from April 2021 to March 2022 – the funds can be backdated to cover activities from April 2021
- 25% of annual income
Micro-organisations and groups are limited to a maximum award of £5,000 from the ring-fenced pot of money.
Deadline: 16 January 2022, 5pm