HEADS UP MENTAL HEALTH FUND

PLEASE NOTE THIS FUND IS CURRENTLY CLOSED

YCF Heads Up! Mental Health Fund 2024

YCF’s Heads Up! Mental Health Fund is designed to address the mental health crisis among children and young people that emerged both during and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 lockdowns and the cost-of-living crisis. The fund also provides the opportunity for YCF members to strengthen the capacity of their own staff.

We know that youth workers and youth service providers are often at the coalface of youth mental health provision in Camden and beyond, especially as statutory services in this area face significant reductions—with a third of statutory mental health services reportedly undergoing cuts or closures. In response to this growing need, Young Camden Foundation remains steadfast in our commitment to bolstering our members' efforts in supporting young people’s mental health through our Heads Up! Mental Health Fund.

The Heads Up! Mental Health Fund aims to provide grants to member organisations delivering: play or youth work that supports the mental health of young participants.

The fund can also be used to support training and support for staff working with children and young people around mental health.

These may include but are not limited to:

  • Education on supporting children and young people with their ability to better understand and manage their own thoughts and emotions
  • Education on strategies to improve mental health
  • Activities that improve the confidence and self-esteem of participants, through developing new skills or trying new experiences, for example
  • Activities that improve the social confidence of participants and reduce loneliness
  • Motivational programmes that empower children and young people to face challenges and not feel overwhelmed
  • Traditional therapy delivered by qualified professionals
  • Group discussion sessions
  • Buddy or mentoring schemes
  • Programmes that support children and young people with accessing mental health services that are available
  • Community or nature-engagement programmes
  • Education on improving participants’ relationships with social media and the online space

We also encourage member to apply for funding to provide staff/regular volunteers with mental health training. This includes, but is not limited to, youth mental health training and mental health first aid training.

Members are welcome to submit an application that includes both project work and training for staff/volunteers.

Eligibility

Heads Up! Mental Health Fund is open to YCF members or affiliate members. You must be either a registered charity or a Community Interest Company (CIC) that is Limited by Guarantee. Applicants must be working with young people who either live, go to school, or work in the borough, and we would expect work to be delivered in Camden. Those members who are not based in the borough will be expected to:

  • Show evidence of an agreement with the venue they intend to deliver in. This could be an invoice for a hired venue, a letter of partnership with a venue, or an email confirming with the venue that you intend to use their space if an application is successful.
  • Explain how they will recruit young people who live, go to school, or work in Camden.

If you are not a member and would like to apply for a grant, you will need to submit a membership request.

Funding from the Heads Up! Fund will be considered for the following purposes (though this is not an exhaustive list so do get in touch if you have any questions):

  • Youth or play worker wages @ at least London Living Wage
  • Food and meal provision for participating children and young people during the delivery of the above
  • The commissioning and delivery of education, workshops or trainings for young people
  • Course fees for youth or play workers looking to gain a qualification or education in mental health care or first aid
  • Resources that support the delivery of the project
  • Admission and tickets costs for relevant excursions and off-site visits
  • Costs for transport (either coach or public transport) to said excursions and off-site visits, where reasonable
  • Costs for staff time carrying out research, planning, data collection and reporting (up to 15% of total requested amount)
  • Funding to cover mental health training for staff or regular volunteers
  • Cost of staff time to attend training sessions

We will not be able to fund:

  • Core costs beyond what is described above
  • Regular youth work or play provision that your organisation delivers normally and would continue to deliver regardless of this funding
  • Venue hire costs except where needed for the delivery of work
  • Training on topics that are not mental health-related
  • Training for staff or volunteers that you do not already regularly work with

The maximum grant amount that will be considered is £3,500.

Panel considerations

When reviewing applications, the grants panel will be asked to consider the following criteria, and applicants may wish to take this into account when writing their application. Please note that these do not relate to funding solely for mental health staff training.

    • Is the project clearly defined and well-thought-out?
    • Are the objectives and outcomes clearly stated?
    • How well does the project address the mental health needs of the participants?
    • Does the project have the potential to improve participants' mental health, confidence, and/or self-esteem?
    • Does the project introduce innovative or creative approaches to supporting mental health?
    • How unique or original is the project compared to existing initiatives?
    • Are there clear strategies for ensuring participation and retention of participants?
    • How will the project create lasting positive impacts for the participants and the community?
    • Is the budget detailed and justified?
    • Are the costs reasonable and aligned with the project’s objectives?
    • Does the project provide good value for money?
    • Does the organisation demonstrate the capacity to manage and deliver the proposed project effectively?
    • Does the project ensure accessibility and inclusivity for all intended participants?
    • Are there specific measures to reach and support underrepresented or vulnerable groups?

The application window will open on Monday 3rd June and will close at 23:59 on Sunday 30th June. Applicants should receive an outcome of their applications during the w/c 15th July. All funded projects/work will be expected to have been completed by Sunday 6th July 2025, with reporting obligations due at this time as well.

We will be hosting a webinar to provide more information on the fund and answer questions from interested applicants on Thursday 13th June, from 11:00-12:00. This session will be recorded and accessible to watch afterwards. You can sign-up for the webinar via this link button below. After 13th June, please contact us to receive the recording.

If you have any questions, please contact Sam at grants@youngcamdenfoundation.org.uk.

You may apply via the link below, either for project funding, or for staff training. Applicants may apply for both, but should be aware that the panel is unlikely to approve two applications that are both close to the maximum grant (£3,500).

Signup for the webinar
Apply for project funding! Apply for staff training!