Public Health Agency (PHA)

The Public Health Agency and the Northern Area Community Networks has announced a programme of investment that will provide support to communities in responding to the impact the COVID19 pandemic.

The PHA are encouraging groups to apply for the short-term funding programme which can be used to improve the health and wellbeing of local communities living through COVID-19.

 The Public Health Agency (PHA) has identified funding to improve resilience and the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities by supporting community and voluntary services during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding aims to enable and encourage healthy lifestyle choices and address the wider determinants of health.

 Thematic Priorities

The funding will support a range of strategic themes and priorities including:

• ‘Making Life Better’ (Public health framework) priorities
• Protect Life 2 Suicide Prevention Strategy
• Mental Health, Emotional Well-being, Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm

Northern Area Community Network has been asked to facilitate this process and as such are inviting community and voluntary sector organisations to apply for funding to address the outlined themes.

Aims

•  Support communities to respond to the impact of COVID-19 with particular emphasis on developing resilience and recovery of ‘at risk’ and vulnerable communities.
• Encourage communities to be pro-active in promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing and tackle the contributing factors of self-harm and suicide through the ‘Take 5’ Steps to Wellbeing.
• To achieve better health and wellbeing for everyone and reduce inequalities in health by creating the conditions for individuals and communities to take control of their own lives and move towards a vision for Northern Ireland where all people are enabled and supported in achieving their full health and wellbeing potential (‘Making Life Better’).
• To enhance community capacity to prevent and respond to suicidal behaviour within local communities.
• To build sustainable resilient communities through positive collaboration of organisations/groups.
• Promote innovative interventions/programmes that promote positive mental health and emotional wellbeing and tackle the contributing factors of self-harm and suicide.
• Address the determinants of poor health and reduce health inequalities by increasing the delivery of resources, programmes and/or services to the top 20% most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
• Encourage resilience and capacity in vulnerable high risk groups including LGBT, migrant and ethnic minorities, homeless, abuse/conflict including sexual abuse and domestic violence, “looked after” and care experienced children, PTSD as a consequence of the conflict, long-term unemployed, farming, military, dentistry, “low status” occupations, Men, areas of deprivation, those in contact with the justice system, mental illness including addition disorder, traveller community, those shielding or impacted by Covid-19.

Types of Awards

Two types of awards are available under this scheme. Applicants must adhere to the following preconditions. Failure to do so will result in your submission not being considered.

•  Award One – Eligibility Criteria
• Funding of up to £1,000 (non-constituted and constituted non-profit taking Community / Voluntary Sector groups).
• It is expected, and will be a condition of the funding, that a level of good governance is observed in the running of the group.
• Provide relevant background / qualifications / knowledge and experience for trainers / tutors or facilitators.
• Northern Area Community Network will pay for direct invoices/items needed under the provider/applicants.
• Award Two – Eligibility Criteria
• Funding between £1,001 - £5,000 for constituted, non-profit taking Community / Voluntary Sector Groups (You have adopted a constitution and/or articles and memorandum of association)
• As a commissioned service Community Voluntary Sector organisations are required to consider the implementation of the PHA Quality Standards for services promoting mental health and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention.  Should your application be successful, as a minimum, your organisation should undertake a self-assessment against the core standards contained within the document (and additional sections if relevant to this project).
• Both Awards – Eligibility criteria
• • Projects must take into consideration information regarding COVID-19 regulations in Northern Ireland. 
  • It is not envisaged that monies available under these funding streams will be used as gap funding for projects which are already in development.
  • All Projects must be completed by 29^th January 2021 (allowing for submission of all evaluation returns by 26^th February 2021).
  • If constituted:
  • enclose your most recent annual accounts (or, for new groups, a statement of your income and expenditure). These must be signed and approved by an office-holder.
  • provide a copy of your Committee Members.
  • provide a Child Protection / Vulnerable Adults Policy (if applicable).
  • Your project fits within the advised themes.
  • Your project will run within the area stated in the application form
  • Organisations can only apply for either Award One or Award Two but not both and only one application per organisation for delivery within the area stated on your application will be accepted. 

  Please Note: If applying for more than one area a separate application form must be submitted for each area. Please ensure you complete the correct application form for the area in which your group and project will run.  

  Assessment Criteria

  Applications for both awards will be assessed using the following criteria:

  • Extent to which the application meets funding aims.
  • They want individuals and communities to be active in improving their own health, therefore applications must demonstrate the level of community involvement including how the need for this project was identified at community level.
  • Applicants must evidence which priority theme they are seeking to address.
  • Applicants must evidence how their project is informing how a specific issue is being addressed.
  • Realistic and achievable aims, objectives and outputs.
  • Projects that contribute to models of good practice and evidence of effectiveness.
  • Projects that clearly outline how the project will be monitored and evaluated.
  • Value for money/Reasonableness of costs.
  • Previous Experience.

  Please Note: Management and administration of previous awards funded through this stream will be taken into account.

  Post Date - 10-Jul-2020