Funding applications open to support mental health in Tameside

Mental health support for families with children under two could be in line for financial support thanks to funding.

The Best Start for Life Community Fund, provided by Tameside Council and supported by Action Together, helps groups providing services for families in pregnancy and the first two years of a child’s life.

The latest round of funding is offering grants of up to £33,000 to Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) groups providing services in Tameside.

Applications are being encouraged from VCFSE groups that help families facing challenges relating to experiences and relationships with their developing baby.

Support can include:

• reducing stigma around perinatal mental health
• reaching and empowering diverse communities with respect to culture, disability, gender and family structure
• inclusion of dads and co-parents
• increasing access through digital offers
• promoting healthy parent-infant relationships, improve the emotional well-being of children and contribute to improved school readiness
• building relationships with families to enable early identification of mental health issues and support accessibility to services

The grant may enable existing organisations to fill a gap such as expanding times or accessibility or reaching out to a wider range of care givers including foster carers, fathers and co-parents.

Grants are split into three types - micro-grants of up to £1000, small grants of up to £11,000, and medium grants of up to £33,000 over three years.

Tameside Council Executive Member for Children’s Services, Councillor Teresa Smith, said: “This is now our sixth round of funding which demonstrates just how vital mental health support for parents and the relationship they have with their babies is, which is key to a child’s development.

“We want to ensure as many parents as possible know where to turn in times of need. I encourage VCFSE groups who fit the criteria to apply for funding so we can reach communities right across Tameside”

Details about the grants available and how to apply can be found at www.actiontogether.org.uk/best-start-life-community-fund-round-6.

The application deadline is midday on Wednesday 5 August.