Liverpool ONE Foundation Small Grants

We are pleased to announce the launch of the new Liverpool ONE Foundation grant-making programme. Liverpool ONE, with support from the Community Foundation for Merseyside, have taken time to review their giving and align it with the needs of the local community, following this plan to take a more dynamic and less conventional approach.

Adopting a long-term approach, the aims of the Liverpool ONE Foundation are to demonstrate a decrease in the number of children and young people suffering with mental health problems in Merseyside. As part of their wider plans, the Foundation wishes to deliver a pilot open-grants programme demonstrating how voluntary and community sector organisations can support the prevention of mental health problems in children and young people and improve their mental wellbeing. The Foundation will be looking to support projects that decrease the number of children and young people suffering with mental health problems, raise awareness of mental health issues and projects that help to remove the stigma currently associated with mental health problems or the promotion of mental wellbeing.

What is the focus of the fund: The Liverpool ONE Foundation aims to improve the lives of local children and young people up to 21 years of age. The main focus of any potential projects should be on the prevention of mental health problems.

Fund priorities: The Foundation is keen to fund projects that help support children and young people to develop methods to equip them with the skills necessary to prevent mental health issues occurring.

Examples of the sorts of projects that may be funded:

Projects developing children and young people’s resilience to mental health problems, e.g. teaching children and young people methods and techniques to equip them with the skills necessary to prevent mental health issues and focus on their mental wellbeing
Parenting support to help prevent the development or escalation of mental health problems in children and young people
Peer mentoring projects
Alternative approaches such as mindfulness classes or meditation to help children and young people combat feelings of anxiety and worry
Projects that look to achieve a positive mind-set change around mental health, e.g. awareness raising projects that look at the impact of bullying

How much is available:

Grants are available for project related costs for up to £5,000
Grants are available for upto £20,000 a year over a period of three years to support running costs for projects that are currently focusing on the prevention of children and young people mental health problems and the promotion of mental wellbeing.

Which areas are covered: Merseyside and Halton

Any special criteria:

Both programmes are targeted at grassroots groups; however, priority for the larger grants will be aimed at those with an income of under £500k (larger charities may still be considered but priority will be given to those with an income of under £500k)
Liverpool John Moores University Public Health Institute (LJMU) will continually assess the overall impact and success of the Foundation. Applicants will be expected to work with LJMU to determine the impact and outcomes of their projects and costs for applicants' time can be included
As part of their wider strategy, the Liverpool ONE Foundation plans to develop a community/statutory forum aimed at those working on the front line with children and young people. The purpose of the forum will be to provide opportunities to share best practice, identify gaps or duplication in provision and set some key aspirations for mental health and mental wellbeing. As a condition of grant, successful applicants will be invited to participate in the forum which will take place approx. 4 times per year.

The closing date is 18^th August 2017.

Please note that the total budget available for small grants is £40,000 to support project-related costs of up to £5,000. We recommend that you apply as soon as possible, as if we are significantly oversubscribed we will close the fund early so we don’t disappoint too many applicants. If this is the case, we will use our social media channels and website to notify you.