A fund established to help communities respond to the COVID-19 pandemic has received a boost.
The North East and North Cumbria Mental Health Integrated Care Systems (ICS) has provided additional funding to help enhance suicide and self-harm prevention work across north Cumbrian communities.
The NE&NC Suicide Prevention Network has allocated additional funding to support organisations and community groups that within communities to reach isolated and vulnerable people and groups within our communities.
Katherine McGleenan, suicide prevention lead across North East and North Cumbria, said: “We are pleased to be in a position to be able to offer further funding for projects supporting vulnerable people across North Cumbria.
“We hope this will help organisations continue to provide vital support, information and training on suicide and self-harm prevention so that we can continue to raise awareness, reduce the stigma and ensure people know how to access help if they need to.”
The money has been donated to the Cumbria COVID-19 Response Fund, managed by Cumbria Community Foundation.
The charity has so far awarded more than £3 million in grants to community groups to help the county respond and recover from the pandemic.
Charitable organisations can apply for up to £35,000 to deliver:
- Focused prevention – raising awareness, campaigns, resources, training
- Targeted preventions – community action, training, campaigns
- Crisis interventions and recovery phase interventions – focused community support.
Andy Beeforth, chief executive of Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “Any death by suicide is one too many and now more than ever we need to be able to provide fresh and creative ways to provide advice and support.
“Thanks to this additional donation, voluntary organisations will be able to increase their support to avoid many people getting to crisis point, where they feel there is no other option.”
