Lincolnshire community groups to pitch for mental health project funding

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT) and Lincolnshire County Council have just announced the latest round of their Mental Health Promotion Fund. The fund aims to help adults of all ages who have experienced mental health problems to participate in a wide range of activities that will help them to recover and maintain as good a quality of life as possible.

It also allows local people of all ages to play an active role in promoting good mental health for themselves and others and this year includes funding to support dementia groups whose aim is improve the mental health of those living with dementia.

Projects that are successful in their bids will join LPFT’s Managed Care Network, a collection of community groups which offer support and various activities to help keep people living well in the community.

LPFT Associate Director of Community Partnerships, Paul Jackman, said he hoped to see the network’s number grow after this most recent round of funding.

He said: “The county’s established Managed Care Network provides help and support to people who have experience of mental health problems. There are now 44 full member organisations, providing around 30 different types of activities for people to choose from.

“Since it was first launched in January 2012, local people have benefitted from activities such as social support and friendship groups, formal and informal learning, skills and qualifications, and supported volunteering.

“In 2014 the Managed Care Network won a Local Government Chronicle Awards for collaborative work between the council, the Trust and the SHINE mental health network. The Community Partnerships team were also shortlisted in last year’s Health Service Journal Value in Healthcare Awards for the vital role they play in administering the funding.

“We are really keen to hear about people’s ideas and would like new projects to come forward so that we can develop new and imaginative activities for people to try, as well as continue to support the things that people already value.”

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Thursday June 9, 2016.

For more details about the Mental Health Promotion Fund and how to apply visit: www.lpft.nhs.uk/mental-health-promotion or contact the Community Partnerships Team on 01529 222 223 or via email at [email protected]