The Getting Help in Neighbourhoods (GHIN) grant programme is one of many schemes aiming to transform support for mental health and wellbeing across LLR. The fund is dedicated to  increasing activities in local neighbourhoods, closer to where people live.

A key part of the GHIN project is the grant scheme which aims to invest more into local voluntary and community sector partners (VCS) to deliver mental health and wellbeing projects. Funded by the NHS in partnership with Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council and Rutland County Council, this latest round has seen £500,000 awarded to 23 local VCS organisations and builds on the 28 projects that received awards totalling £800,000 in the first round of funding in May 2022.

Justin Hammond, Head of All Age Mental Health, Learning Disability, Autism and Dementia Services at the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR ICB), said: “We recognise and value the immense contribution that the voluntary and community sector makes in the delivery of support services for the people of LLR. I am so pleased that we have been able to extend our investment further this year and in doing so, support the fantastic work these organisations are doing to help people with their mental health and wellbeing.”

One of the successful bidders was Claire Gray, a founder of Angels and Monsters/Bloom Learning in Braunstone. Claire said: “We are delighted to receive this funding which will be used to expand our counselling support. We’re a small charity that specialises in supporting young parents, mainly the mothers, with their mental health and wellbeing. Our therapist works on issues linked to post-natal depression and general anxiety and depression. This money will help us to provide support to 30 young families and will make such a difference as they start their lives as parents.”

Rob Melling from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, one of the partners behind GHIN, added: “Once again, we were overwhelmed with applications and impressed with the quality and diversity of the applications that were awarded grants. We have now invested in a further 23 VCS organisations to enable them to make a difference to the lives of the people that they support. We have already seen a positive impact from organisations who were successful in round one (awarded in May 2022) and we expect this next cohort to do the same.”

One such organisation from round one was the Sue Young Cancer Support charity that received funding to expand its counselling service. Courtney Nagle from the charity said: “Because of this funding we can see more people and meet their needs more effectively. COVID has been a big issue as people have not been seeing their GP and not getting out. Our offer is now a holistic service; we assess people and they get a care plan that could include counselling, mindfulness, relaxation, gentle movement classes, pilates, yoga and complimentary therapies such as rake, relexology, facial massage and aromatherapy. This has made such a difference to our clients’ wellbeing.”

The GHIN grants scheme is administered by Leicestershire & Rutland Community Foundation (LRCF), an organisation that strengthens local communities by giving thoughtful grants to local charities and voluntary groups, for all kinds of local needs. LRCF assessed each organisations due diligence and projects again the fund criteria and presented all applications to a diverse panel of experts from different local and national organisations to oversee the decisions which were made against set criteria. The grants awarded ranged from £5,000 right up to the maximum of £50,000.

Information about the fund – here

Information about Getting Help in Neighbourhoods here

A full list of successful applicants

 

Name Area covered Project
Afro Innovation Group

We address the specific needs of client groups (migrants, refugees and asylum seekers), who face barriers to accessing employment / training to be able to live economically sustainable lives in the community.

 Leicester City and across all Leicestershire: Blaby 10%, Charnwood 20%, Hinckley/Harborough/Lutterworth/Melton Mowbray/ Markfield 10%, Wigston 10%,Loughborough 20%, Coalville 10%, Leicester 20% Mental health and wellbeing support to 80 refugees and asylum seekers in Leicester and Leicestershire, via a total of 480 sessions that’s will include
• Health and Wellbeing groups
• Mental Health support groups
• 1-to-1 support – meeting each person weekly, on average supporting someone for 6- weeks..
After18

Works with asylum-seeking and refugee young adults up to the age of 25 who are living in Leicester and the surrounding area

 Leicester To deliver 45 two-hour weekly wellbeing sessions over the course of the year with 20 young women refugees. Each session will be for two hours with the activities are chosen collectively by the group and may included music workshops, yoga, cooking traditional foods, bracelet-making and glasswork. Support will also include educational support depending on the needs of the group.
Angels and Monsters

Providing free services to young parents and their families with the ultimate aim of encouraging learners into more formal education, training and employment.

 Leicester and Leicestershire-25% county and 75% city Funding offered to deliver 4 sessions per week, one with Black dog therapy and the other 3 with existing tutors/mentors to offer tools and techniques for supporting good mental health. The sessions will be targeted, preventative workshops as well as limited access to one-to-one therapy sessions. Existing staff will offer complimentary sessions to support these alongside learners other studies.
BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health CIO

supports people living with severe and enduring mental health problems to develop their creative skills through regular workshops, projects, events and publications led by professional artists experienced in mental health

 Burbage, Newbold Verdon, Coalville, Loughborough Funding offered to deliver two comedy based workshops per week, led by an experienced team of artists and delivered between January and December 2023, in four areas of the county The workshops will be delivered in community venues and designed to support people experiencing mental health challenges including people living with severe and enduring mental illnesses.
Communities Food and Wellbeing Hub CIO

Operating foodbank(s), offering food, essential items and linked support, to individuals or families in financial need. Also provides seminars, workshops and literature regarding covid-19 and hygiene awareness, physical and mental fitness, healthy eating and nutrition.

 Loughborough Funding offered to deliver two cycles of the mental wellbeing programme. Two consecutive groups of 15 individuals will enter the programme in 6 week cycles, enabling 30 people in total to benefit. The format of this project will provide access to social prescribing, GP mental wellbeing support, an emotional wellbeing health coach, diabetes & nutritional support, active wellbeing signposting and friendship opportunities
Community Advice and Law Service

CALS is a registered charity that has been providing social welfare advice and representation to the people of Leicester and Leicestershire for over 40 years.

 CALS main office; B Inspired, Braunstone; Beaumont Leys Library; Eyres Monsell CYP, home visits Funding is offerd to suport individual’s access specialist advice, casework and representation relating to debt, housing, welfare benefits and related matters with a particular aim to make an understanding of mental health and how it can both be a cause and an effect of the financial difficulties their clients experience.
Coventry and Warwickshire Mind

CWM is a local mental health charity affiliated to Mind: the leading mental health charity in England & Wales. For over 50 years we have been delivering quality services with, and for, people with mental health problems

 North West Leicestershire Funding to deliver ‘Active Monitoring’, a tried and tested Mind product designed to improve the mental health and wellbeing of adults through the use of a guided self-help programme facilitated by Mental Health Practitioners. Sessions will cover topics including Self-esteem, Depression, Anxiety and Panic Attacks, Feeling Alone, Anger Management, Stress, Grief and Loss. Beneficiaries will receive six sessions each, with the option of an additional session for those with more complex needs.
Diabetes Self-Help group

The group was set up in January 2012 to offer help and support to people in Leicester and Leicestershire who have diabetes condition, social & emotional isolation as well as taking control of their sugar level through our regular meetings.

 Belgrave, Abbey, Rushey Mead, Highfield Funding is offered to support the delivery of 50 weeks of 2×2 hour sessions each week at Shree Shakti Mandir and Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre in Leicester. In particular to support people adjust their lifestyles to better manage long term conditions, particularly diabetes, as well as helping to improve the mental health of people with these conditions by building knowledge, local networks and friendships.
Enrych Leicestershire

A Leicestershire based charity providing services for adults with a broad range of physical and learning disabilities, neurodiversity and poor mental health.

 Melton Mowbray; Wigston; Ashby de la Zouch; Hinckley & Bosworth; Market Harborough Funding is offered to deliver the Pathfinder project comprising of a twice weekly group sessions; one session will focus on employability and the other on social/emotional wellbeing for young adults

 

 

Headstrong Wellbeing CIC

A team of counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists delivering therapeutic services to working with young people, adults and couples. Specialists in trauma, historic sexual abuse, perpetration of violence and abuse, anger management, personality disorders, depression, anxiety and addiction to name a few.

 The project will be delivered across LLR– County 65%, Rutland 5%, City 30% Funding is offered to provide 350 sessions of individual therapeutic support across the 12 month period – all clients will be assessed, and a bespoke treatment plan put in place. Includes 50 group sessions covering tips for managing anxiety, depression, stress, grief and flashbacks and 6 workshops delivering activity to support mental health management such as yoga and meditation sessions.
Leicester Counselling Centre

Aims to relieve and prevent suffering caused by mental or physical ill-health or by social or economic circumstances by providing a confidential counselling service. We are one of the few charities/services providing long term counselling.

 65% are Leicester residents, 30% Leicestershire and 5% Rutland. Funding offered to deliver an additional 75 counselling sessions per week to current provision, reaching a minimum of 75 additional clients accumulating to a total of 2,250 extra sessions over the year.
Leicester LGBT Centre

A voluntary organisation established to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

 Leicester, (56%) Leicestershire (37%) & Rutland(7%) Funding offered to cover three main areas where LGBT see the greatest need: 1. A weekly drop-in with an availability of 4 hours for immediate support. 2. Activities totalling 6 hours per week but built across a month- a trial for a monthly Trans inclusive swimming group, archery, walking football for ‘Active Wellbeing’ to support better Mental Health. For a total of 40 hours delivery per month. 3. Capacity for an additional 4 counselling sessions a week, benefiting 16 people over a year
Pepper’s, A Safe Place

Our centres in Melton and Rutland offer a safe and welcoming space for anyone struggling with severe and ongoing mental illnesses, many of whom have been hospitalised in the past.

 Oakham and Melton Mowbray Funding is offered towards overall running costs of Pepper’s, to support people experiencing loneliness or who are affected by mental ill health. At least three drop-in sessions and three activities sessions are run on each site (Rutland and Melton Mowbray), each week. Activities include art workshops, music for wellbeing, cooking, tai-chi and gardening. The emphasis is on accessible and “fun” activities at both an energetic and gentle levels so all can be involved.
Peter Le Marchant Trust

The Trust is specifically geared up to meet the needs of people living with mental and physical disabilities we have supported over 150,000 people since our establishment

 Charnwood and Leicester Funding is offered towards PLMT’s Waterways Wellbeing Project for people living with mental health conditions. The project will include general and bespoke canal boat trips, “Companionship” sessions based around the canal side sensory garden and individual drop in sessions, where people can find “a listening ear” and be signposted to further support.
Pink Lizard Developing Youth And Community

Pink Lizard is youth and community development organisation created in 2011 based in Saffron Lane a deprived area of Leicester. Our goal is to support, develop and educate people living deprived areas of Leicester and Leicestershire.

 Saffron Lane Funding is offered to deliver The Esteem Team Project. A range of activities likely to include to include: • Multi-sports including walk football, bowls, tennis, basketball, hockey, lacrosse, box fit and park gym sessions. • Gardening/growing veg, herbs and fruit, at the local communities raised garden beds and allotments – one session per week. • Music tuition including guitar, drums, piano, singing. • Eat and Greet cooking sessions to teach people how to cook on a budget, cooking different cultural food and vegetarian and meat meals.
Root-and-Branch Out CIC

We aim to use connection with nature to provide both place, method and relationships to enable healing, flourishing, and healthy growth for people living with anxiety, depression and loss.

 Oakham Funding is offered to deliver a six month therapeutic gardening course, open to all with specific support towards mental health
Rural Community Council (Leicestershire & Rutland)

RCC  has spent almost 100 years working with people to improve wellbeing, increase resilience, and tackle disadvantage across Leicestershire, Rutland, and the surrounding rural areas.

 NWL; Charnwood; Melton; Rutland; Harborough; Blaby Funding is offered towards RCC’s ‘Little Cup of Joy’ project; a mobile barista van will travel to rural communities across Leicestershire & Rutland. RCC will particularly target community outreach within rurally located care homes, retirement homes and supported living settings. Simple and inclusive mood boosting activities will be offered as part of this service, well as in-depth 1-2-1 keywork for the most vulnerable residents engaged with the project.
Saffron Lane Neighbourhood Council

Services to support local residents, including legal and welfare rights advice and advocacy, services for young people with special needs, daycare and activities programmes for the elderly, a local newsletter, an environmental project, education advice and advocacy, mobility trike hire.

 Saffron Acres Project, & Saffron Heath Project Funding is offered to provide a dedicated member of staff to specifically support beneficiaries with additional mental health needs alongside our existing staff team members at their therapeutic gardening sessions and other activities ,
Somali Development Services

Supports ethnic minority groups who are facing many barriers to accessing mental health services. Most of the time they seek support when it is too late.

 Leicester Funding is offered to deliver to integrated one to one mental health support into all advice and information services, offering a more holistic solution to client’s needs.
Spring Educational Society

Promotes general charitable purposes for the benefit of the public, in particular, but not exclusively for the Turkish speaking community in the UK

 Leicester, Oadby and Wigston, Evington, Harborough Funding is offered to support lessening the trauma of migration in the Turkish community in Leicester. This will be undertaken by delivering a variety of sessions for individual both online and in person with the aim of supporting them to a better understanding of what they feel and what they think about their mental health status with a focus on the negative effects of migration on well-being.
The Carers Centre

The centre works with unpaid carers who are providing vital support to loved ones who due to illness, disability, mental health issues, addiction or long term condition, would be unable to manage without this caring support.

 Loughborough and surrounding areas Funding offered to deliver twice weekly The Carers Wellbeing Café + Project. This will include a drop-in session which is open to all carers and those with Mental Health needs,  presentations and activities which focus on self-help techniques to maintain good mental health and and 1-2-1 advice, information and support from a dedicated Mental Health & Wellbeing Worker
The Way Of The Horse

A multi award-winning equine facilitated learning (EFL) centre dedicated to helping children and adults with emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties.

 Leicestershire Funding offered to deliver the mental health programme, Recovery Ranch, for one-year, providing eight x eight week long courses (a two hour session per week per course) of mental health support. for six people per course struggling with their mental health and/or unresolved trauma.
Women 4 Change

Founded by a group of mothers and women from St Matthews and the surrounding area. The fundamental priority of our group is to support, educate and empower women and young people.

 St Matthews, Beaumontleys, New parks & Braunstone, Highfield area, Saffron lane, Hamilton, Funding is offered to deliver monthly workshops to raise awareness relating to mental health issues and to help to remove community stigma around mental health. Includes weekly support group sessions for mothers to come together, socialise, discuss issues they are facing and get support from professionals or be signposted to the relevant help. Also includes monthly trips for mothers and their children to aid their mental health by doing physical activity and going outdoors to local parks.