Applications Invited – Grant for VCS Alternatives to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

26th April 2022

All evidence about mental health conditions suggests that the earlier a person gets treatment and support, the better their recovery outcomes are. This is especially true for children and young people and if young people get help as soon as possible they are less likely to go on to develop more complex mental health conditions.

There are a number of Voluntary Community Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations who do brilliant work with children and young people to enhance their skills, build their confidence and provide them with the ability to grow, develop and thrive. The two local authorities of Dorset Council and Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council together with Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group have agreed to utilise £495,000 of non-recurrent funding for the purposes of a  Grant Funded delivery opportunity. We want to tap into that sector’s expertise to improve outcomes,  generate innovation and develop best practice approaches.

We are hoping to fund a small number of VCSE’s support and personalised programmes across Dorset. The organisations will be experienced service providers, already working with children and young people up to the age of 18, or up to age 25 for those with SEND around emotional wellbeing and mental health issues. The grant funded period will be two years. The maximum individual grant that will be made available is £82,500 to cover the whole of this two year period.

Full details about this opportunity, how to apply and where to direct further queries can be found via the Dorset Council Website VCSE Early help alternatives to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) - provision Grant - Dorset Council Applications close at midday on Friday 20 May.