Council provides £70k for new mental health support for men at risk of suicide

A new funding programme is being launched on World Suicide Prevention day – 10^th September - to provide community projects in Leeds with grants of up to £25,000 to help to reduce social isolation for men at risk of suicide and to provide social activities and outreach work in communities where suicide risk is higher.

Following the announcement at a meeting of the council by the Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor Judith Blake earlier this year of extra funding for suicide prevention, the council’s Public Health team are working with Leeds Community Foundation to distribute a total of £70,000 annually, with grants of up to £25,000.

Cllr Rebecca Charlwood, Leeds City Council executive member for Adults and Health, said:

“Each death by suicide is a tragedy. This new programme demonstrates our commitment to help tackle this important issue in Leeds. It focusses on improving the health of communities that need it most. It’s really good that we’ll be using best practice and innovative ideas to help reduce the number of suicides and attempted suicides in the city.”

The areas prioritised for funding are Inner South, Inner West and Inner East Leeds and Horsforth: areas with higher incidences of suicide. The programme is now open for applications from community projects and Leeds Community Foundation is keen to hear from organisations who can focus on local community engagement and participation in the development and delivery of social activities that reduce social isolation in men.

Dr Ian Cameron, Leeds City Council’s Director of Public Health said:

“This programme will provide small grants of below £10,000 and larger grants of up to £25,000 for projects with a wider reach or potentially more significant impact. We will be looking for applications from projects delivering new activity or increasing the reach of existing activity in relation to suicide prevention work within local communities.

Pip Goff, Partnerships Director of Leeds Community Foundation, said:

“The grants are available for local organisations delivering targeted and evidence-based interventions in line with the Leeds Suicide Prevention Action Plan. This could include activity such as supporting engagement and empowerment of local people; encouraging innovation to support decision making and choice; widening access to local services that reduce the risk of suicide; capacity building to help emerging groups develop; use of new technologies and innovative ways of connecting with socially isolated men.”

Leeds City Council and Leeds Community Foundation will be holding the launch event and briefing session in Leeds on World Suicide Prevention Day, 10^th September where applicants will be able to find out more details about the programme, how to apply, and the desired outcomes of grants.

The funding will include the cost of evaluating the projects.

The programme for applications closes at midday on Thursday 25^th October 2018. For more details on the programme and how to apply visit: https://leedscf.org.uk/leeds-mens-suicide-prevention-fund/

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Notes to Editor:

Launch event and briefing session

Places for the launch event can be reserved on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mens-suicide-prevention-grants-briefing-event-tickets-49383861459

• 10^th September 2018, 9.30am – 11.30am, St. George’s Conference Centre, Leeds

More information about work done in Leeds to prevent suicide can be found at: http://bit.ly/LeedsSuicide