A new men’s mental health fund for local projects is being launched in Salford during Men’s Health Week with applicants receiving a maximum of £3,500 in funding.
The Men’s Health Forum leads the week (9 to 15 June) to raise awareness of preventable health issues and encourage men and boys to seek professional advice for health-related problems.
With the discussion of mental health, Salford City Council, Salford CVS, and Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership have created the fund and are opening it to applications to residents.
A women’s mental health fund will be launched in the autumn this year.
Following Salford Healthwatch’s publication of the Salford Men’s Mental Health Commission Report, as well as work on issues affecting men’s mental health and suicide risk, Salford’s Suicide Prevention Partnership has set up the Men’s Mental Health Fund.
The commission was set up in 2023 because evidence has shown many men don’t seek help and may be struggling to cope as a result.
The grant funding aims to improve the mental health of local men and is open to voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) groups and organisations, which are full members of Salford CVS.
The priority areas for funding will be for physical activity to improve mental health, and access to outdoor spaces to improve mental health, as well as supporting young men’s (aged 18 to 25) mental health in the community.
Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Health Councillor John Merry said: “Salford men’s mental health is important to us, and we want to do everything we can to help support them, their partners, carers, and families.
“In the UK men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women but are much less likely to seek help with their mental health.”
Councillor John Merry continued: “We are looking to support a range of projects and activities with this new funding which we hope will make a real positive difference to men’s mental health.”
Groups can apply for a maximum of £3,500 to deliver projects that support men’s mental health – with the amount of funding applied for being related to the size of the group, organisation, or project.
And it is expected that the fund will be awarded to 12 projects, with six grants in the region receiving £500, three grants in the region getting £1,500, and three grants in the region being awarded £3,500.
The deadline to apply is 12pm on Friday 18 July – with further information about the men’s mental health fund and the application form are on the Salford CVS website can be found here.
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