NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB) has set up a community investment fund, aimed at children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing, and has distributed £300,000 to 33 community projects through their Mental Health & Wellbeing Programme via Cornwall Community Foundation (CCF).
The NHS funding pot will provide support to 33 local voluntary, community, and social enterprises, which are now running specific projects targeting c.3,200 vulnerable young people of children and young adults experiencing poor mental health.
The fund was established for the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly residents aged 0-25, specifically vulnerable groups experiencing poor mental health, including children who are experiencing adversity or in care, having difficulty accessing their education, have carer responsibilities, are at risk of offending, are subject to bullying and discrimination or are living with complex disabilities.
A total of £297,069.35 in grant funding has now been distributed.
The 33 successful groups included Carefree Fostering, Penhaligon’s Friends, St Petrocs, Wild Young Parents, RJ Working which will also cover the Isles of Scilly, and many other projects. These community projects and charities will provide much needed help all across Cornwall from Launceston to Hayle, and also the Isles of Scilly.
Penhaligon’s Friends, a Redruth based charity enabling bereaved children and families to explore and process their grief reactions received a grant of over £8,000 to continue to support the work they do.
St Petrocs, a charity with an ambition to end homelessness in Cornwall, received a grant of £10,000 to fund wellbeing sessions for residents in their supported accommodation.
Mr John Govett, Chair of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB, said: “The ICB is a new organisation and we really want to make a difference in how we integrate NHS care in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly with other non-NHS services.
“This scheme extends the NHS into communities with support services that will help to address health inequalities and give children and young adults support in improving their resilience, self-care and emotional well-being and to offload some of their stress.
“We are grateful to CCF for their support and to the VCSE (voluntary sector) for their guidance.”
Tamas Haydu, Chief Executive of Cornwall Community Foundation, said: “We are so grateful to the NHS Cornwall & Isles of Scilly ICB for allocating us this significant amount to help young people and children in our area with their mental health and wellbeing.
“We are proud to have been able to support these 33 remarkable organisations and help to improve the lives of young people across the Duchy.”