SNG supports mental health community projects with new funding
This week we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week, a national campaign led by Mental Health Foundation to raise awareness for better mental health.
SNG is using this opportunity to highlight how building strength in our communities is fundamental to making our homes great places to live. We work in partnership with key anchor organisations and customers to raise awareness and co-create programmes that improve quality of life and enhance wellbeing in our communities.
Over the last few weeks, SNG has awarded £120,000 in grant funding to 126 organisations to support projects aimed at improving the mental and physical health of SNG communities across London and the south of England.
The microgrants programme delivered grants of between £500 and £1000 to support projects that focused on the five ways to wellbeing developed by the New Economics Foundation, all based on evidence and research; Connect, Be active, Take notice, Keep learning and Give.
A variety of projects were funded including activities to help people cope with stress, anxiety and depression; projects reducing loneliness or isolation; encouraging overall wellbeing and physical activity as well as the provision of specialist support for people with mental health conditions.
Among the beneficiaries of the grants was Bristol Youth and family charity Ignite Life which was granted £1000 to support young people to overcome adversity through counselling and mentoring support. Another beneficiary was Moveability, a social enterprise based in Berkshire that received £1,000 to provide body strengthening and movement classes aimed at people of all ages and abilities.
Bethanie Cundy, Chief Executive of Ignite Life said:
“The funding from SNG will be hugely helpful in supporting young people who are deemed hard to reach to access essential mental health care with professional counsellors.
“We support young people with bespoke mental health care to remove intimidation and stigma. Mental health care lays the foundation for positive life outcomes and community engagement and with this funding support we will be able to continue to provide this care for those who need it most. Thank you”
One of the programme participants from Moveability said:
“This class was recommended to me by my doctor, and I first thought what good is exercise for a 92 year old but now these classes are very important to me as they have helped me so much. I hope they will continue for a long time. I feel much better.’’
In addition, SNG has just partnered with the Hampshire Active Health Programme, to deliver a £83,000 health programme in communities facing health inequalities.
Funding will be used to work in collaboration with Hampshire Age Concern to deliver a 12 month wellbeing and physical activity programme which aims to engage 180 older people from the community and SNG housing for older people schemes across Basingstoke and the New Forest.
The programme is managed by Energise Me, on behalf of Hampshire County Council, with funding provided by the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) from the Department of Health and Social Care.
Emily Khural, Health Manager at Energise Me said: "I'm so pleased we're able to support Sovereign Network Group in their mission to bring accessible and enjoyable physical activity to their older residents, so they can reap the physical, mental and social benefits of moving more."
SNG is also investing £1 million over the next three years in our youth-led SNG #iwill Fund Wellbeing Champions Programme. This programme is creating opportunities for youth social action, giving young people the platform and tools to advocate and promote the importance of health and wellbeing. 16 organisations have been funded throughout round 1 with grants of up to £10,000. Our second round of funding for applications opens in September 2024 and a number of local wellbeing festivals will be delivered over the next few months too. For more information about this programme and the upcoming grants and events please, visit our website.
Marta Rios, Community Investment and Partnerships Manager at SNG said:
“SNG’s vision is to provide our current and future customers with more, better quality homes as well as developing resilient and thriving communities. We are aware of the strong link between health and housing as well as the impact that the pandemic, the rise in energy prices and other factors have had on our customers.
This is why we are delighted to support the fantastic variety of organisations that applied for a grant as part of our World Mental Health Day microgrants programme and to be one of the delivery partners of the Hampshire Active Health Programme and acting as an ambassador and match funder of the #iwill Fund. Over the next few months, we will see a good range of specialist, accessible and innovative health and wellbeing services and initiatives being delivered to our customers and benefiting those most in need.”
For more information about the grant scheme, email: community.development@sng.org.uk.
Notes to editors
Hampshire Active Health Programme:
The Hampshire Active Health Programme is managed by Energise Me, on behalf of Hampshire County Council, to support people at greater risk of negative impacts from the pandemic and protect the most vulnerable from Covid-19 infection. Funding has been provided by the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) from the Department of Health and Social Care, which was specifically allocated to fund public health projects that would address health inequalities arising from the pandemic, and prevention projects that will prevent or mitigate unequal impact on populations in future outbreaks.
Funding applications closed on 20th December 2023. Projects will be running until January 2025.
For further information on the programme please contact: grants@energiseme.org.
https://www.energiseme.org/funding-support/hampshire-active-health-programme/
Energise Me
Energise Me is a charity that champions physical activity for all in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. We are work hard to make it easier for everyone to move more. Its goal is to create a happier, healthier and stronger future for local people. We won’t rest until everyone has the confidence, support and opportunity to be active on their own terms.
Funded by Sport England and the National Lottery, it is one of 42 Active Partnerships who work with partners to create an active nation.
#iwill Fund:
The #iwillFund is possible thanks to £66 million joint investment from the National Lottery Community Fund, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to support young people to access social action opportunities. SNG is acting as a match funder and awarding grants on behalf of the #iwill Fund.