Aims/priorities: The Fund will award grants to help peer support groups to connect remotely, prepare to move their activities to face-to-face, or make their group more sustainable. The peer support, mutual aid or self-help group must benefit people or communities who live with mental ill-health, trauma and distress.
In this context, we are defining peer support as the intentional action of bringing people together who have experiences in common, to offer mutual support. Not all groups will define themselves as ‘mental health groups’. We are interested in groups who recognise that coming together supports wellbeing, healing or connection, and other things we associate with our mental health.
Who can apply? Applicants must be a peer support/mutual aid/self-help group based in England or Wales that is benefitting people or communities who live with mental ill-health, trauma and distress. The group must take place in a community setting.
They are particularly interested in applications from
- Groups led by and for people from racialised communities/people of colour
- Groups led by and for young people (aged 18-25)
- Groups who have been unable to meet during the pandemic, which may be due to digital poverty
Grant amount: The Fund will award grants of up to £500. The minimum award is £200. The grants will need to be spent by 31 December 2021. They will be awarded by the end of July.
Application process: Online application available on Funder’s website
Deadline: 31 May 2021
Contact Information: Email: sidebyside@nsun.org.uk
Website address: www.nsun.org.uk/nsun-side-by-side-fund