NSUN’s hosted project North East together is running a small grants programme, open to applications from the 13th November to 5pm on the 15th January 2024.
About the fund
North East together is awarding small grants of £500 to mental health user-led groups and projects in the North East. By user-led, we mean run by and for people who use (or are potential users of) mental health care and support services. As a user-led regional network ourselves, we are distributing funds in support of others doing this work to build connections and solidarity across the region.
We hope this fund can be the start of building relationships between North East together and grant applicants. We would like to stay in touch with successful grantees to talk about what you spend the grant on and learn more about your work. We will also be organising a meet up for grantees in Spring 2024.
North East together mission and objectives
North East together (NEt) is a user-led network for people with lived experience of mental health difficulties living in the North East of England. We work with service users, carers, and their representatives to improve services, to challenge mental health stigma and to speak out about the issues that affect us.
As an organisation, North East together aims to:
- Bring together the many and varied grassroots perspectives from mental health service users.
- Support, grow and link user-led organisations and groups throughout the region.
- Work with all communities and cultures to improve mutual understanding of different views and perspectives of mental health.
- Promote education and anti-stigma campaigns to raise awareness and greater understanding of mental health difficulties and social wellbeing.
Eligibility criteria
- Your group/project must be in the North East of England.
- Your group/project must be user-led by and for (and for the benefit of) people with lived experience of mental health difficulties. This includes, but is not limited to:
– Peer support, mutual aid and/or self help groups
– Groups doing campaigning and activism - You need to register as a North East together member to apply for this grant, which you can do for free via this signup form (will open in a new tab).
What we will not fund
- Organisations which are not primarily set up as not-for-profit
- Groups operating solely outside of the North East
- Applications for individual expenses and/or profits
- Any reimbursements in retrospect
- Projects for people under the age of 18
We will be prioritising applications from
- Groups led by and for young people (approximately defined as 18-25 but no younger than 18)
- Groups led by and for people from racialised communities/people of colour
- Groups led by and for people facing poverty
- Groups led by and for LGBTQ+ people
The deadline for applications is 5pm (when the application form will be closed to further submissions) on Monday 15th January 2024.
This fund is supported by Mind and NSUN.
How to apply
Before you apply you will need to become a North East together member which you can do for free via this signup form (will open in a new tab).
You can then apply via our online form:
Alternatively, you can download the form as a Word document and email the completed document to hello@netogether.co.uk.
FAQs
How much can I apply for?
You can apply for any amount up to £500. Please apply for what you need! In the application, we’ll ask for a breakdown of how you want to spend the money.
What can I apply for?
You can apply for money that will help you sustain your group. For example, this might include tech subscription costs such as a Zoom plan; rent for space; technology such as tablets or laptops; refreshments and food for your meetings or events; masks or other PPE; materials for your activities (art supplies etc.); publicity costs; staff costs; volunteer and group member expenses (e.g., travel costs). This isn’t an exhaustive list, but if you are in doubt as to whether your group should apply to this fund, please email us at hello@netogether.co.uk.
Successful applications will express clearly why the money is needed for the groups, and who it will help.
What is your process?
This is our first time running a grants programme. We do not know how many applications to expect, but we will be distributing funds to a maximum of ten groups.
The fund will be open from Monday 13th November to 5pm on Monday 15th January 2024. Once we are closed for applications, North East together committee members will review applications and decide who will be awarded grants.
We aim to let you know if you have been successful as soon as possible after the closing date.
I need help with the application form
You can email hello@netogether.co.uk and we will do what we can to support you with filling in the application form.
We’re based outside of the North East of England. Can we apply?
This fund is only open to groups working in the North East of England, as that is where North East together carries out work. However, we also understand that many groups are now online, so as long as group members are based in the North East, this is fine.
When does the grant need to be spent?
Within six months of being awarded. We expect to award grants in early 2024.
What reporting requirements will there be if we are successful?
This is a small grant aimed at groups that are likely to have low capacity, so we want to avoid asking for disproportionate amounts of reporting such as lots of paperwork. We will contact you towards the end of the 6-month grants period to have an informal conversation about your group and the impact of the grant over email, phone, or in person, depending on your preferences. We will not ask for any written information at the end of the grant, except for confirmation of your final spend.
We would like to stay in touch with grantees to talk about what you spend the grant on and learn more about your work. We will also be organising a meet up for grantees in Spring 2024 to get together and connect.
How much should I write in the application?
On the application, questions with written answers have approximate word counts. These word counts are not strict guidelines, but rather suggestions to reduce the time you spend writing your answers and/or editing them down.