Deadline: 22-Jun-2026
The Young Women in Mind 2026–2028 programme is a UK funding initiative supporting therapeutic mental health services for girls and young women aged 14–25. It provides £5 million over three years to strengthen and expand community-based mental health support, funding around 15 UK charities. Grants range from £200,000 to £500,000 and focus on improving early, accessible, and gender-responsive mental health care.
Overview of the Young Women in Mind Programme
Young Women in Mind 2026–2028 is a collaborative funding programme designed to improve mental health outcomes for girls and young women in the United Kingdom. It focuses on strengthening existing therapeutic services and expanding access to timely, community-based mental health care.
The initiative is jointly funded by the Pilgrim Trust, the Prudence Trust, and the Julia Rausing Trust.
Purpose and Objectives
The programme aims to:
- Improve access to therapeutic mental health services for young women
- Strengthen and expand existing mental health service providers
- Address worsening mental health outcomes among girls and young women
- Provide early intervention to prevent long-term mental health conditions
- Deliver gender-responsive and trauma-informed support
- Increase access to care in trusted community settings
- Support services tailored to lived experiences of young women
The focus is on scalable, community-based mental health interventions.
Target Group
The programme specifically supports:
- Girls and young women aged 14–25
- Individuals experiencing mental health challenges
- Those requiring early intervention and therapeutic support
- Young women accessing community-based services
The emphasis is on gender-specific mental health needs.
Funding Details
Key funding information includes:
- Total programme funding: £5 million (2026–2028)
- Number of expected grants: approximately 15 organisations
- Grant size: £200,000 to £500,000 per organisation
- Funding period: three years
Funding is intended to support service expansion and improvement.
Eligible Organisations
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- UK-registered charities operating for at least 3 years
- Organisations already delivering therapeutic mental health services
- Mental health charities with a youth-focused mission and income of £750,000+ annually
- Specialist women and girls’ charities with mental health focus, experience with under-18s, and income of £350,000+
Only established and operational service providers are eligible.
Geographic Scope
Eligible organisations must operate in:
- Northern Ireland
- Scotland
- Selected regions of England including:
- North East
- North West
- Yorkshire and Humber
- Midlands
- UK-wide or England-wide organisations (for relevant regional work)
The programme focuses on areas with identified service needs.
Focus Areas of Funding
Supported activities include:
- Expansion of therapeutic mental health services
- Community-based mental health care delivery
- Gender-specific counselling and therapy
- Early intervention programmes
- Service strengthening and scaling
- Trauma-informed care models
- Mental health support in trusted community spaces
Projects must demonstrate direct service impact.
Programme Approach
The programme is designed to:
- Build on existing services rather than create new ones
- Strengthen capacity and reach of established providers
- Improve quality and accessibility of care
- Address gaps in gender-responsive mental health support
- Ensure early and effective intervention
The emphasis is on scaling proven models of care.
How the Programme Works
The funding process includes:
- Selection of eligible UK-based mental health service providers
- Evaluation of service capacity and impact potential
- Awarding of multi-year grants
- Implementation of service expansion or improvement plans
- Monitoring of outcomes for young women’s mental health
The programme prioritizes measurable service improvements.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications are assessed based on:
- Quality and effectiveness of therapeutic services
- Experience working with young women and girls
- Capacity to scale or strengthen services
- Evidence of impact and outcomes
- Alignment with gender-specific mental health needs
- Regional need and service accessibility
Strong applications demonstrate proven service delivery and growth potential.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Common issues in applications include:
- Applying without existing therapeutic services
- Weak evidence of impact or service outcomes
- Not meeting income or eligibility thresholds
- Lack of gender-specific or youth-focused approach
- Unclear scaling or expansion strategy
- Limited experience working with target age group
Competitive proposals are evidence-based and service-driven.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is Young Women in Mind 2026–2028?
It is a UK funding programme supporting mental health services for girls and young women.
Q2. How much funding is available?
A total of £5 million across approximately 15 organisations.
Q3. What is the grant size?
Between £200,000 and £500,000 per organisation.
Q4. Who can apply?
Established UK-registered charities providing therapeutic mental health services.
Q5. What age group is supported?
Girls and young women aged 14–25.
Q6. Which regions are eligible?
Parts of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and UK-wide organisations.
Q7. What is the main goal?
To improve access to early, gender-responsive mental health care.
Conclusion
The Young Women in Mind 2026–2028 programme strengthens mental health support for girls and young women by funding established charities to expand and improve therapeutic services. By focusing on early intervention, community access, and gender-responsive care, the initiative aims to address rising mental health needs and improve long-term wellbeing outcomes across the UK.
For more information, visit Pilgrim Trust.
