A new fund aimed at improving the mental health of people in West Berkshire is to be launched.
The fund ‘Lets Get Mindful’ will support projects that help with anxiety, aiming to reduce inequalities and improve educational attainment and school readiness.
The aim will be to enable voluntary and community sector organisations to apply for funding to set up new projects or contribute to existing projects to improve the mental health and wellbeing of adults, children and young people across West Berkshire.
The council’s executive is being asked to approve funds from the public health and wellbeing ring-fenced grant that will be matched by Greenham Trust to create a total fund of £100,000.
The proposal is for £50,000 to be transferred to a Let’s Get Mindful fund from the public health grant with immediate effect.
Greenham Trust and West Berkshire Council are to contribute equal sums which will fund a range of new or existing projects that support mental wellbeing, focusing on vulnerable families (eg living in poverty and deprivation) to reduce health inequalities.
In 2021/22 there were 270 emergency admissions for intentional self-harm in West Berkshire (all ages), a rate of 168.2 per 100,000, similar to the England average of 163.9 per 100,000 in the same year.
The data shows an increasing and getting worse trend for school pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
The fund will also support organisations who work with adults who are experiencing social isolation or financial difficulties that will have a negative impact on their mental health and wellbeing.
