DHSSPSNI Project grants 2008 - 2011

The Department awards grants to the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of achieving health outcomes which will contribute to the achievement of the aims of the regional strategy. These include:

• reduction of inequalities in health;
• improvement in health and wellbeing;
• improvement in social welfare;
• delivery of health and social services;
• targeting social need and promoting social inclusion; and
• Promoting partnership for health improvement between voluntary and community organisations within their sector, and between the statutory, business and voluntary and community sectors

Further details, including specific objectives can be found in the following links (pdf) Guidance to Applicants. Organisations wishing to apply for funding must submit a completed Application form no later than 1 August 2008.

There is no minimum or maximum level of grant in monetary terms. The specific funding objectives relate to the following four categories which are summarised:

Child Care
The provision of training, advocacy, counselling and support in respect of:

• Child protection
• Looked after children
• Learning and aftercare
• Adoption
• Foster Care

Further information is available from the ChildCare Unit - Tel: 028 9052 2569

Domestic Violence
Research projects aimed at providing education advice and support on a regional basis to mothers and their children, who are the victims of domestic violence. For further information please contact the Domestic Violence Unit - Tel: 028 9076 5607

Mental Health

• To develop and modernise community mental health services
• To progress resettlement programmes for long-stay hospital patients
• To prevent inappropriate admissions and re-admissions to hospital
• To develop forensic psychiatric services in the community
• To supporting carers of people with mental health problems

Further information is available from the Disability & Mental Health Unit - Tel: 028 9052 2543

Sexual Violence
In line with Government's response to Bamford to better promote positive mental health:- To provide information on all services available throughout Northern Ireland for victims of sexual violence and abuse, including contact details for service providers and information of how services can be accessed. This includes mapping current services, production of a regional directory of services, development of care pathway maps and the production of a report to the Department. For further information please contact the Sexual Violence Unit - Tel: 028 9052 0597

Eligibility
The criteria for eligible schemes requires the scheme to be a regional one (or is a local one with potential regional significance): ’regional’ means covering a minimum of 2 HPSS Board areas. There must be a clear demonstrated need for the work and the project does not duplicate existing activity or services already available.Also a specific form of activity is required such as the testing of an innovative idea or the development of a particular pattern of service and the scheme will deliver measurable outcomes.

The following costs are eligible but it should be noted that this list is indicative rather than exhaustive:

• relevant and essential staff salaries related to the project;
• relevant programme and training costs;
• relevant running costs and overheads;
• essential equipment and minor capital items;
• appropriate management and audit costs;
• costs of involving volunteers; and
• Evaluation costs for the project.

Don't forget the deadline for the receipt of completed applications is 1 August 2008 and funding will be available from 1 September 2008 to 31 March 2011. All this information is available via the DHSSPS website at www.dhsspsni.gov.uk