County Durham Community Foundation 
800k NHS funding for winter resilience.
Groups in County Durham, Tees Valley and Sunderland that support people experiencing hardship and poor mental health could benefit from a pot of NHS funding this winter.
Thanks to funding provided by NHS England, charities and community groups can apply for grants of up to £25,000 to continue community work that relieves winter pressures on the healthcare system.
Community Foundation
The North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) is working with County Durham Community Foundation and Cumbria Community Foundation to directly fund voluntary sector organisations providing additional capacity and alleviating strain on NHS services.
The fund aims to support groups who help people deal with anxiety, stress and depression, in instances where emotional and practical support are more helpful than medical intervention.
Michelle Cooper, chief executive at County Durham Community Foundation said:
“We are really pleased to be able to get this money out into the community where it can make a huge difference to people’s lives, while protecting health services from some extra pressure.
“Time and again we have funded groups who offer people the support they need with their health and wellbeing, and the chance to be part of the community and feel less isolated and frightened. This fund offers groups the chance to apply for a fairly large grant to continue their wonderful services through the winter.”
Grants of £25,000
Grants of up to £25,000 are available to support voluntary and community sector interventions, which promote positive mental health and wellbeing in the widest sense and for all ages. Successful applicants must spend their award by 31st March 2021.
Funding awarded could include retention of much needed community resources and services, to develop or extend healthy activities or initiatives, projects targeting isolation, vulnerability and support to those shielding, and peer-support initiatives.
There will be a particular focus on supporting people facing health inequalities, as well as those who are experiencing the impact of the pandemic.
To find out more about the fund, or to apply, click here
