Pandemic mental health funding awarded

A total of 19 projects to improve mental health and wellbeing during the ongoing Pandemic are being funded by Liverpool City Council's public health team. Public Health Liverpool has earmarked ₤500k for the community mental health grant programme, with money given to local voluntary, community and faith organisations to help thousands of individuals over the next 12 months.

Councillor Frazer Lake, Cabinet Member with responsibility for public health, said:- "The Covid19 Pandemic has unquestionably had a detrimental effect on mental health and wellbeing in our communities. Having good mental health and wellbeing makes it easier to deal with the different physical and mental stresses and problems in life. It also supports our ability to fulfil our ambitions and dreams, to be more confident, have good relationships with other people and cope with life's ups and downs. This pot of funding is designed to help support people with low level needs, helping them at an early stage before a problem becomes a crisis."

The schemes are focused around 4 themes:- isolation / loneliness, bereavement, welfare / debt and young people's mental health. The applications were assessed by a range of health partners and are being administered by Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services (LCVS) and range between ₤15k and ₤30k.

Clare White, Chief Executive of LCVS, said:- "We are delighted to administer this scheme, which will see small projects make a huge difference to the lives of a significant number of people. We were overwhelmed with the amount of interest in the funding and it was hugely oversubscribed, and it was a really difficult process for the awards panel to choose the winning bids. The successful projects are of a really high quality and will provide a wide range of support, helping improve the mental health of people across Liverpool."

The schemes include:- counselling and therapy sessions for people of a wide range of ages and cultural backgrounds, and include:- workshops, group sessions and the use of art, laughter and cycling as therapy.  More information about the schemes, and contact details, are available on the LCVS' website.

The projects are:-

► Al Ghazali Centre:- 'Youth Mental Health Support Programme'  - Mental health workshops and activities for young people aged 12 to 18 years.

► Autism Adventures Training CIC:- 'My Mental Health- What's OK?' - Project aimed at people with autism to improve understanding of and break down barriers to mental health, as well as providing tools and strategies to manage emotions and feelings.

► Compass Counselling Services:- 'Community Counselling Service/Bereavement Support Programme' - A counselling programme for people requiring support following bereavement, especially those who may not be able to access other services and require the continuity of support that Compass delivers.

► Croxteth Gems Community Association:- 'Taking Care of our Gems' - Sessions for children and young people including;- autism and ADHD friendly yoga and meditation sessions and art therapy.

► Granby Somali Women's Group:- 'GSWG Befriend Me' - A social network where elderly Muslim and minority ethnic women will come together, exchange ideas, have interesting discussions and participate in a number of activities, which will alleviate their loneliness.

►  iiin community:- 'Intergenerational Sustainable Skills Exchanges' - Intergenerational learning project delivering sessions to bereaved and socially isolated older adults.

►  Imagine If Trust:- 'The Zone Youth Hub' - Fun, safe and active sessions for Primary School aged children, providing a stimulating environment where children can thrive and grow in confidence.

► Kindred Minds:- 'Kindred Minds Arts on Prescription' - Arts courses for people in need of mental health support, allowing them to meet new people and participate in a creative outlet.

► Liverpool Arabic Centre:- 'Your Safe Space' - A culturally sensitive mental health support service, which combines Western and Arab / Muslim traditional therapies to provide support for people experiencing poor emotional and mental well being due to financial hardship.

► Liverpool Bereavement Service:- 'Supporting younger people after loss or bereavement' - Counselling sessions for children and young people who have suffered a loss or bereavement.

► Norris Green Community Alliance:- 'Mindful Communities' - Men's and women's support groups with regular meetings, services and activities to reduce isolation and improve mental health.

► Pagoda Arts:- 'Post Covid' - Supporting the Chinese community Post Covid and after an increase in race-related crime by providing a hub in which people can come together to socialise and feel safe out in the community again.

► Peloton Liverpool Ltd:- 'Joy Ride' - A cycling club to support men in recovery, whilst providing an opportunity to socialise, exercise and build skills.

► Priority Youth Project:- 'Priority Youth Counselling Support Programme' - A 1-1 counselling service for children and young people aged 8 to 19 years.

► The Comedy Trust:- 'Laughter After Loss' - Workshops, drop ins and discussion groups for adults following a bereavement, supporting their journey through the power of laughter.

► The Vibe Liverpool:- 'We're Listening' - A 1-1 listening service and group sessions with a focus on bereavement support.

► Triple C Liverpool:- 'Norris Green Debt Advice and Triple C Older Persons Project' - Norris Green Debt Advice: Debt Advice Project providing a free, non-judgmental and confidential advice service with ongoing support for clients.  Triple C Older Persons Project: Supporting older people who have been shielding during the Pandemic through a range of weekly activities such as:- exercise classes, crafts, speakers, afternoon events, befriending calls and welfare checks.

► Valley Community Theatre:- 'Arts4Change' - A range of arts activities and workshops for young people aged 8 to 25 aimed at addressing a rise in mental health issues due to Covid19.

► Vauxhall Community Law and Information Centre:- 'Income, Benefits, Debt and Bereavement Advice Service' - Supporting and increasing the incomes of people living in poverty through free legal advice and representation, bereavement advice such as welfare benefits and housing and debt advice to those who have suffered a loss.
 

The CLA responds to Natural Capital report published by the Green Alliance

THE Country Land and Business Association (CLA) which represents 28,000 farmers, land managers and rural businesses across England and Wales, responds to the Green Alliance's report Natural Capital - the battle for control, that was published on 5 January 2022.

The report explore 4 scenarios around the Governance of natural capital, with a focus on private payments. It recommends that new governance is needed to steer natural capital markets in a direction that is good for both people and planet, including a new Office for Carbon Removal.

The report also suggests the need for a new rural land use framework to provide the spatially explicit natural capital data for both new markets and Government to target efforts in the right place and achieve multiple objectives.

Mark Tufnell, President of the Country Land and Business Association, said:- "As custodians of the Great British countryside, CLA members understand the leading part they need to play if we are to meet our Government's net zero targets and enhance biodiversity. Nature-based solutions that build natural capital can play an important role in this mission, and the report makes a compelling case to harness their untapped potential. We support market governance in the shape of an office of carbon markets to provide guardianship of credibility in the market. Landowners are keen to engage in the emerging market, but realise that this will need collaborative working between land managers and with advice from environmental advisers. In addition, for natural capital markets to work for landowners, they need 3 things:- reliable baseline data and spatial information, a supportive tax system and access to specialist advice and training. This will help create the conditions for a private sector market to work alongside landowners in delivering public goods."