Revenue funding to help support the increased demand for suicide prevention services in England as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) invites applications from voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations across England to its new £4 million Suicide Prevention Fund.
The funding is intended to support suicide prevention VCSE organisations and groups to meet the increased need or demand for services, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and enhance service provision, with a particular focus on high-risk groups.
High-risk groups are defined as those who were already at a higher risk of suicide, as well as those for whom there is particular concern in the context of the pandemic.
These include:
- Middle-aged men
- Children and young people
- People in contact with mental health services
- People who self-harm
- People who are economically vulnerable
- NHS and social care staff
- People in contact with the criminal justice system
- People who were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic
- Ethnic minorities.
The funding can only be used to support running costs and can be used to cover small capital costs which are critical to the delivery of suicide prevention activities and in line with the organisation’s capital costs policy (for example, mobile phones to support additional helplines or equipment to ensure public health requirements).
There is no set amount for grants. Organisations can apply for the lower of either:
- The value of eligible activities from April 2021 to March 2022. The funds can be backdated to cover activities from April 2021.
- 25% of annual income.
A ring-fenced pot of money is available to micro-organisations and groups who may apply for a maximum grant of £5,000.
All awarded funding must be spent by 31 March 2022.
A webinar will be held on Tuesday 7 December at 10am to give an overview of the Fund and application process. For those who cannot attend the webinar, a link to the recording (and transcript) will be added to the GOV.UK website afterwards.
The deadline for applications is 6 January 2022 (17:00).
How To Apply
The deadline for applications is 6 January 2022 (17:00). The funder intends to begin awarding applications as soon as possible and within approximately four weeks following the closing date.
The guidance notes and online application portal can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Applicants that need support may contact PricewaterhouseCoopers who is managing the grant process on a day-to-day basis.
A webinar will be held on Tuesday 7 December at 10am to give an overview of the Fund and application process.
A link to the recording (and transcript) will be added to the GOV.UK website afterwards.
The webinar will be hosted on Webex and can be joined, either
For more information, visit the Suicide Prevention Fund web page.
Addresses and contacts
For further information on how to obtain this grant locally, please contact the following:
- Suicide Prevention Fund Enquiries
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
1 Embankment Place
London
WC2N 6RH
United Kingdom
WC2N 6RH
Tel: 0113 289 4424
Email: [email protected]