Salford launches new women’s mental health fund with £18,000 in grants up for grabs

Salford community groups working to improve the mental wellbeing of women are being invited to apply for new grants of up to £3,500 as part of a targeted £18,000 fund launched on World Mental Health Day.

The funding, provided by Salford’s Suicide Prevention Partnership, is open to community organisations supporting women’s mental health and wellbeing. Grants of £500, £1,500 or £3,500 are available, with the application deadline set for 12pm on Thursday 24 October.

The aim is to reach women at local level through grassroots support, especially those struggling with mental health issues or recovering from trauma. Applicants can find full details and apply online via Salford CVS: https://salfordcvs.co.uk/womens-mental-health-fund 

Councillor Mishal Saeed, executive support for social care and mental health, said the launch of this dedicated women’s fund reflects a broader effort to provide gender-responsive support. “We know the rate of attempted suicides is higher among women. These grants will help offer more targeted and local support to groups focused on improving women’s mental health and wellbeing,” she said.

Saeed added that the key message is simple but vital: “No matter what someone is going through mentally, there is help and support available.”

The fund was announced alongside the conclusion of the Salford Men’s Mental Health Commission, which earlier this year distributed £18,000 to seven men’s mental health projects. Insights from that commission, which involved local men and organisations including Healthwatch Salford and Mandem Meetup, highlighted the pressures many residents face and the need for accessible, local mental health services.

The women’s fund seeks to build on that model by backing trusted community-led initiatives that already have strong links with local women.

Sam Cook, chief officer at Healthwatch Salford, praised the expansion of mental health funding: “Poor mental health can have a huge impact on people’s lives. We hope these projects will be an important step forward in achieving real improvement.”

Community groups are encouraged to act quickly, as funding is limited and demand is expected to be high.