News from Reading Voluntary Action (RVA)
We are pleased to announce this new funding to deliver early help and wellbeing support for Black and Asian Minority Ethnic and Refugee (BAMER) communities within Berkshire West.
The programme aims to identify voluntary sector organisations that can deliver and support BAMER groups in our communities accessing early help, support with navigating the system to access the right level of support they need to prevent mental ill health, reduce mental health stigma and promote good wellbeing. Groups can apply for a maximum of £5,000 with multiple applications. The funding is from Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which has been awarded £20,000 as part of winter pressures planning in delivering Mental Health Urgent and Emergency Care for 2020/21. RVA is managing the grants process in partnership with Volunteer Centre West Berkshire, Involve – Wokingham and Berkshire Health NHS Foundation Trust.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted significant inequalities within the BAMER communities across health, social care, and social determinants of life such as loss of finances, unemployment/redundancies, social isolation including people living alone and people not being able to go out due to complexities. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a well-recognised collective spirit of communities coming together to help rebuild our social networks and support people in need in the communities. We have seen the strength in joint collaboration of health, social care and our voluntary sector partners working to deliver service integration for all.
Whilst we recognise that there is an incredible voluntary and community sector and many larger groups and charities need financial support, we have specifically been awarded this sum to distribute to those groups who often do not have the same access to funding opportunities. Your organisation will need to fit the criteria outlined in the guidance notes.
To make an application:
Complete the online form here.
You will need to submit your organisation’s set of accounts and bank statement with your application. The application deadline is 9 December 2020, successful applicants will be notified by 14 December 2020 and your project is to be completed by 31 March 2021.
If you need help with applying or have any questions about this funding, please contact Herjeet Randhawa, RVA Advice Manager at herjeet.randhawa@rva.org.uk or telephone our main number on 0118 937 2273. One-to-one support is available to all small community groups in Reading for support with this application and a meeting can be set up via telephone or Zoom.