More than £54,000 of grant funding has been awarded to small voluntary and community groups across the Isle of Wight to deliver innovative projects which support and improve people’s mental health and wellbeing.
Seventeen organisations have received one-off grants of between £750 and £5,000 under the Mental Health Small Grants Fund, launched last month by the Isle of Wight Council’s Public Health team in partnership with Mental Health Champion, Cllr Michael Lilley, and Healthwatch Isle of Wight.
Lilley: Grassroots initiatives show how powerful self-help and peer support can be
Cllr Lilley said,
“The response to the call for applications was amazing and it was really difficult to decide the final projects all of which had incredible innovation.
“The range of projects awarded covers the Island geographically and some of the groups who we know can be more vulnerable to loneliness, isolation, depression, and suicide such as the LGBT+ community, veterans and men.
“There were some real social entrepreneurs who were tackling the barriers to support in creative ways, such as Natural Therapy with drumming in the outside environment and Dale Hiller, the pioneer behind the Veterans’ Hub cafe on the High Street in Ryde.
“These were real grassroots initiatives by Islanders which show how powerful self-help and peer support can be in supporting people with their mental health, and helping them to overcome factors such as isolation and loneliness that can lead to anxiety, depression and suicide.
“I look forward in visiting them all over the next six months.”
The fund was developed to make a real difference to people’s lives through providing support for mental health and wellbeing in places and ways that Islanders really need them.
Non-judgmental support
Other recipients included Men Only Isle of Wight to establish a Ryde hub offering non-judgmental support and a safe place for men in the community, and Sensory Space CIC providing peer support and safe space for parents with children with additional needs.
Love: Support for the socially isolated or those in deprivation
Cllr Karl Love, Cabinet member for Public Health, said,
“Each project is inspiring in its own way, and we are thrilled to be able to give them a much-needed boost — particularly during these difficult times.
“This funding enables the projects to support more people than ever before, and they cover a real mix of ages, abilities and backgrounds. In particular, many of them support people who are socially isolated or from areas and communities of deprivation.
“I know that all the projects who have been successful will make a significant difference to the communities in which they work. Our administration recognises that this is just one small but important step in supporting our Island people. We intend to make additions steps in the future.”
These projects below will support and improve people’s mental health in many different ways.
Men Only Isle of Wight
Establishing Ryde hub to offer non-judgmental support and a safe place for men in the community.
Nature Therapy CIC
Extending reach of Travelling Artful Drumming Cafe across other venues to support those in mental distress.
Community Spirited Cafe
Extending offer of Community Spirited Cafe groups based in East Cowes for people in need of support.
Ventnor Wellbeing Cafe
Extending offer of Ventnor Wellbeing Cafe for those in the community in need of support.
The Veterans’ Hub Isle of Wight
Offering a range of tailored support to veterans.
Brading Men’s Shed
Relaunching of Brading Men’s Shed to wider community post Covid.
Sensory Space CIC
Peer support and safe space for parents with children with disability / special needs.
Tidal Family Support
Support for children and young people whose mental wellbeing impacted by family break up/parental conflict.
Our Place — West Wight
Cross generational support for those affected by pandemic and the community to socialise, learn, exercise in a supported and safe place.
Pigsty Farm
Supporting the delivery of a mental health and wellbeing farm for military and serving veterans and their families.
Carers Isle of Wight
Support to increase mental health offer for adult carers.
Isle of Wight Prostate Cancer Support Group
Mental wellbeing support for those living with prostate cancer and their families.
Cowes Men’s Shed
Supporting offer of Cowes Men’s Sheds.
Equals Isle of Wight
Promoting social renewal through natural way to good emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Wight DASH
Supporting women and their families who have experienced disadvantage.
Out on An Island
Support to extend offer to older participants and those who are disabled.
Safe Place Alzheimer Cafe
Extending safe places in more locations for those feeling vulnerable, lost, frightened or in need of help.
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
Image: Jacqueline Munguia under CC BY 2.0
