Deadline: 03-May-24
Applications are now open for the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Fund to sustain and improve third sector, non-clinical support for babies, parents and carers affected by, or at risk of, perinatal and infant mental health issues in Scotland.
The Scottish Government’s Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (PIMH) 2024 Fund is an 18- month funding programme for third sector organisations who support babies, parents and carers affected by, or at risk, of perinatal and infant mental health issues in Scotland.
Aims
- The aim of the PIMH 2024 Fund is: To sustain and improve third sector, nonclinical support for babies, parents and carers affected, or at risk of, perinatal and infant mental health issues in Scotland.
- Funding will support and strengthen third sector organisations who deliver mental health care to babies, parents and carers.
- This funding will prioritise direct service delivery in the areas of:
- peer support
- parenting/infant support
- counselling/psychological support
- These areas of practice have shown to be effective through this fund to date and were highlighted as having the best evidence of effective third sector delivery in the Robertson Trust’s Maternal Mental Health Research Briefing.
Funding Information
- The PIMH 2024 Fund is an 18-month fund
- Applicants can apply for up to £132,000 for the duration of the 18-month fund, split proportionately across the two financial years. (6-months, then 12-months)
- Funding allocated will be spread across a range of grant sizes. Across the 18- months, organisations can apply for:
- Band 1: between £100,000 – £132,000
- Band 2: between £50,000 – £99,999
- Band 3: up to £49,999
Funding Criteria
- Organisations can apply for funding to continue and/or improve existing perinatal and infant mental health services. Organisations must be based in Scotland.
- Successful organisations will be providing either or both:
- Mental health focussed direct support to parents or carers in the perinatal period. The ‘perinatal period’ typically refers to the period of pregnancy, childbirth, and the first year after birth
- Mental health focused direct support to babies/infants in the context of their current relationship with their primary care givers. This is from conception to three years of age on initial referral.
- Organisations should apply for funding for activities in line with the PIMH 2024 Fund aim and be delivering either peer support, parenting/infant support and counselling/psychological support.
- While not the focus of this funding, in some cases, training, consultancy, supervision, or other support to organisations with the explicit aim of improving perinatal and infant mental health may also be considered.
- While the PIMH 2024 Fund cannot fund bereavement or baby loss support, it can fund those working with parents and carers who are pregnant again after experiencing loss.
- Services should show how they are proactively ensuring they are open and accessible for families. This may include:
- Taking a whole family approach to the needs of infants, mothers, fathers, carers, and families as a wider unit
- Taking a strengths-based approach, focusing on a person’s inherent strengths to aid recovery and improve wellbeing
- Taking a holistic view to tackling the barriers caused by inequality of income and poverty
- Ensuring service provision is available as widely as possible across all protected characteristics and other marginalised groups
- Enabling inclusive access using technology in line with safe practice
- Working collaboratively and sharing information in the child’s best interest
Fund Outcomes
- Parents and carers with perinatal mental health concerns have improved wellbeing, feel less isolated, and better able to seek support.
- Parents and carers feel better able to meet the needs of their infants and children (physical, social, emotional and cognitive).
- Parents and carers, whose infants are at higher risk of mental health problems, are better able to support their babies through warm, secure and interactive relationships.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applications are invited from incorporated third sector organisations who are currently delivering Perinatal and Infant Mental Health support. Incorporated means an organisation that has a legal personality.
- Eligible organisations are likely to be either a Company limited by Guarantee or a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) and registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) however:
- Community Interest Companies (CICs) will also be eligible, providing you submit your governing document for a review of governance, finance, and organisational structures.
For more information, visit Inspiring Scotland.