A new fund has been announced by the government to support VCSE organisations that help children and young people with their mental health. Applications are invited from existing schemes to trial a new approach to helping children and young people with their mental health. 
Projects should:
• adopt community and person-centred approaches to improving the mental health of children and young people aged 0 to 25 years
• particularly support children and young people through life-changing events
• have strong local connections already in place
• be delivered by the VCSE sector
• be co-produced with service users and stakeholders
The expansion of projects should enable the testing of a new approach within an existing project to reach a different audience (either age range or demographic). The Fund cannot be used to support geographical extensions of a project.
The core objectives of the Programme are to:
• Build evidence of sustainable, scalable solutions to mitigate and prevent inequalities from impacting on health and wellbeing of communities
• Encourage co-production in the creation of person-centred, community-centred health and care which promotes equality for all.
• Enable the voice of people with lived experience and those experiencing health inequalities to inform national policy making and shape the delivery of services
Through this programme, the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and Public Health England are working with VCSE organisations to promote equality, address health inequalities and support the wellbeing of people, families and communities.
A total sum of up to £510,000 is available per applicant.
For further information and to apply, visit: www.gov.uk/government/publications/vcse-health-and-wellbeing-fund-2019-to-2020-how-to-apply, or email: [email protected]
Deadline for applications: Friday 15 February 2019, 12:00