News

Time To Change Champions Fund in County Durham

We are proud to announce that earlier this year County Durham was selected as one of eight areas to tackle mental health stigma locally after winning a bid to become one of 2019’s Time to Change Hubs.

Each funded Hub is provided with £10,000 for a Champions Fund where local champions can bid for funding to run stigma busting events and activities within their area.

Who can apply?

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be an individual who has lived experience of a mental health problem.
• Run the activity in a Time to Change hub area (they may not live in the hub area).
• Be registered as a Time to Change champion (by the time you deliver your activity/ event).

How much can you apply for?

You can apply for up to £500

What can the fund be used for?

The Champions Fund is a fund to empower people with lived experience of mental health problems to have conversations about mental health with those who do not identify with having lived experience, with the view to eliminating stigma and discrimination in our society.

The Fund can be used to develop and deliver an activity or an event to challenge mental health stigma and discrimination through ‘social contact’. At Time to Change, we define Social Contact as “Conversations that take place between people who have lived experience of mental health problems and those who may not”.

When people talk to each other and establish common ground, prejudices and assumptions are often challenged and replaced with mutual understanding and respect. This can lead to changes in attitudes and behaviours, and our campaign is proving that this is an incredibly effective way to reduce stigma and discrimination.

Activities or events can be delivered as part of a wider event where there will already be a crowd as the idea is to talk to people who wouldn’t necessarily attend a mental health related event.

What kind of things can’t be funded?

We will not fund:

• Equipment (i.e. cameras, computers etc.)
• Training courses
• Salary costs
• Activity solely based in a workplace (i.e. not public facing / community based).
• Fundraising activities

Champions Fund Launch Events – How to apply

To find out more about the Champions Fund, to meet with Time To Change Champions, and to access Social Contact training register to attend one of the Launch Events taking place throughout August and September:

1. Friday 23rd August 11am-1pm - The Sjovoll Centre, Pity Me, Durham, DH15BZ

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/county-durham-time-to-change-champions-fund-tickets-67026045707

2. Friday 6th September 1pm-3pm – UTASS, 9-11 Chapple Row, Middleton-in-Teesdale, DL12 0SN

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/county-durham-time-to-change-champions-fund-tickets-67028312487

3. Thursday 12th September 10.00am-12.00pm – Peterlee Leisure Centre, St Cuthbert’s Way, Peterlee, SR81AF

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/county-durham-time-to-change-champions-fund-tickets-67028641471

For more information about the Champions Fund please get in touch with Investing in Children by email chris.affleck@investinginchildren.net or call 0191 3077030 or visit https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/get-involved/become-time-change-hub/the-champions-fund.

The deadline for the first round of applications is 12pm on Tuesday 1st October with successful applications announced on World Mental Health Day Thursday 10th October.

Application forms should be emailed to info@investinginchildren.net or posted to Investing In Children, Sjovoll Centre, Pity Me, Durham, DH15BZ

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION FORM

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE CHAMPIONS FUND HANDBOOK

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN

Please click on the various localities to view what activities are available in the County over the school holidays.

Locality 1 – Consett, Stanley, Chester-le-Street and Durham West

Locality 2 – Horden, Easington, Peterlee, Seaham and Durham Central

Locality 3 – Newton Aycliffe, Spennymoor, Chilton, Shildon, Wheatley Hill and Ferryhill

Locality 4 – Bishop Auckland, Barnard Castle, Crook and the Dales

MIND

Mind has launched an ambitious programme to improve the information and support available to young people across England and Wales.

Our research shows that around one in eight 5-19 year olds has a mental health problem – that’s four in every class. But we know that mental health support for young people is approaching breaking point. We want to change this.

To make sure we’re providing the best possible support for children and young people, we want to hear about their experiences. Mind’s Young People Survey is the first stage of this process. It’s an online survey for 13-24 year olds and a safe, anonymous space for young people to tell us what they think about mental health and wellbeing.

By taking part, young people can directly influence the work that Mind develops over the next few years, and the specific things that need improving.

It only takes around ten minutes to complete and can be accessed by laptop, tablet or smartphone. https://www.mind.org.uk/news-campaigns/campaigns/young-people-survey/

Children Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Newsletter

We are excited to launch the 1st quarterly newsletter featuring highlights and updates focussing on mental health and emotional wellbeing projects within County Durham that Investing in Children are involved in. For more information please contact chris.affleck@investinginchildren.net or call 0191 3077030 - CLICK HERE TO VIEW A COPY

Survey - Toileting for Children & Young People with SEND

The NHS wants to improve toileting services for children and young people with special educational needs and disability aged up to 25 years. They need to gather the views and experiences of families, clinicians, school and social care staff, to establish how toileting is managed currently. The results of the survey will help inform health and care services for children in the future.

Are you a young person aged up to 25 with special educational needs and/or a disability?

OR

Are you a parent or carer of a child or young person aged up to 25 with special educational needs and/or a disability?

OR

Do you have experience of working with children and young people with special educational needs and disability, and/or toileting difficulties?

We want to hear from you!

Please click on the following link http://sites.exeter.ac.uk/iconstudy/taking-part/ to register your interest to take part

Funding Awarded

We are so pleased to announce that Investing in Children have recently been awarded funding from the County Durham Community Foundation. Thank you. The funding will be used for a project to support a youth led Durham City centre safer space initiative. Watch this space for further updates!!