Giving back to communities in County Durham and Darlington, a successful grant scheme is set to repeat its work of wonders.
County Durham NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and health and wellbeing charity Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP), are relaunching the Happiness Hubs 2021 grants programme to offer community groups and organisations funding from a total of over £140,000.
The Happiness Hubs funding aims to provide safe spaces and activities for local adults to meet, make friends, talk and feel supported, with the ultimate goal is to help people to live a happier, healthier lives whilst promoting mental health and personal resilience.
Sandra Roberts, project lead of mental health services at PCP, said: “It is estimated that over 700 individuals have benefited from the support these grants have provided directly into local communities so far.
“PCP are proud to be delivering a diversity of support through the Happiness Hubs to veterans, new mothers, men and women, older people, young adults, people with learning disabilities to name a few, and look forward to seeing what this year’s grants holders will do with the funding available.”
The new grant scheme enables local community groups and organisations to apply for revenue grants of between £500 and £7,500 to fund projects lasting between 12 and 18 months.
The funding is part of County Durham CCG’s commitment to Community Crisis Care Transformation delivery.
Dr Stewart Findlay, chief officer of NHS County Durham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “It has been amazing to see the impact this funding has had so far, despite the impact of Covid.
“Last year saw grants totalling over £85,000 given out, which was matched by a further £57,000 representing a real investment at community level in mental health support in County Durham and Darlington.”
Grants from the Happiness Hubs can be used to launch or extend current projects, which will provide non-crisis mental health support.
Applications are now open for Happiness Hubs 2021 grants, with a cut off date for applications at midnight, Monday, January 3, 2022.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel in January 2022, with any applications received after this date to not be reviewed until March 2022.
If you would like to find out more or receive an application pack please contact Jane Cunningham on [email protected] or call 07715 204462.