Neighbourhood Health Fund

Trauma Informed Communities

Step Up MCR

Neighbourhood Health Fund


Step Up MCR’s Neighbourhood Health Fund has £10,000 available for community groups in Ancoats & Beswick and Clayton & Openshaw addressing Heart Health & Bowel Health.

Step Up MCR’s Neighbourhood Health Fund has £15,000 available for community groups in Ancoats & Beswick and Clayton & Openshaw to develop trauma informed and trauma responsive communities.


Our Trauma Informed Communities funding is supported by Manchester Local Care Organisation and Manchester City Council's Public Health team.


Applications open Friday 28th February and close at 5pm on Friday 21st March.

Click to apply

ABOUT THE FUND

Developing Trauma Informed and Trauma Responsive Communities


Through Manchester Local Care Organisation and Manchester Public Health, funding of up to £5,000 is available to support one of the neighbourhood’s health and wellbeing priorities, which is to be a trauma informed and trauma responsive place to live and work.


We are inviting applications from VCSE organisations based in Ancoats & Beswick and Clayton & Openshaw who can evidence existing work with communities in this area, and show an understanding of trauma informed practice.


Funding is focused on community organisations that:

  • Work with communities, children, young people, families or adults to promote strong, healthy relationships and teach relationship and pro-social skills.
  • Boost protective factors in people who have experienced, or are at risk of experiencing, adversity.
  • Might not have a prior understanding of trauma or trauma-informed practice; yet, recognise their organisation's values align with trauma-informed approaches.
  • Have a sense of curiosity about becoming a trauma-informed organisation.


Activity might include:

·        Implementation of a trauma responsive community hub

·        Producing frameworks to help build and support community resilience

·        Development of a reflective space for practitioners

·        Providing mindfulness activities for residents

 

It is anticipated that delivery of the work will begin from April 2025 and be completed within 12 months. Following project delivery, grant holders will be expected to provide a reflective report highlighting the success and challenges of the work, as well as evidence of impact which may include case studies or participant testimonies.

FUND INFORMATION

  • How much can I apply for?

    You can apply for up to £5,000 for your trauma responsive and trauma informed project. 


    There is a total of £15,000 available. 

  • What application support is available?

    Our Neighbourhood Health Fund offers more than project funding. 


    As well as supporting your application from start to finish, our team can provide useful connections, development support, regular check-ins and promotion for your activities. 


    We encourage all applicants to have a conversation with us before submitting.


    Together with Manchester Local Care Organisation and Public Health, Step Up MCR can support you to: 

    • Structure your proposal and project budget
    • Include the relevant health information
    • Set out your monitoring & evaluation plans
    • Involve local partners in your activities. 

    Please contact the team on hello@stepupmcr.org to arrange a conversation. 


    We can meet you at your location or a nearby community venue, arrange a video call, or you can come along to our space. 

  • How do I submit my application?

    The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 21st March.


    If you'd prefer to submit your application in another format, please contact the team in advance.


    Email hello@stepupmcr.org for any questions or to submit your application in an alternative format.

  • What can't I apply for?

    • Projects out of our neighbourhood wards (Ancoats &Beswick and Clayton & Openshaw) except where you can demonstrate people from these wards are the main beneficiaries.

    • Projects which are for individual benefit or targeting a specific demographic. Where your project does work with one group, we’d like you to let us know how the project will promote community cohesion.

    • Projects promoting politics or religion. Churches or religious bodies may apply as long as the project benefits the wider community. 

    • Companies that can pay profits to directors, shareholders or members.

    • Schools and health bodies may apply but we will not fund statutory activities.

FUND PRIORITIES

The priorities of the Trauma Informed Communities fund are set out by Manchester Local Care Organisation and Manchester City Council's Public Health team.


This fund is part of a Manchester city-wide ambition to become an ACE-aware, trauma informed and trauma responsive city.


Successful grant holders will work with residents to prevent or mitigate the consequences of trauma; helping children, families, and communities to build resilience; and improve outcomes for residents by working in a trauma responsive way.

Adverse Childhood Experiences


Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) describe a wide range of stressful or traumatic experiences that can occur from conception to the age of 18. They include abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction.


ACEs refer to some of the most intensive and frequently occurring sources of stress that children may suffer early in life. When children are exposed to adverse and stressful experiences, it can have a long-lasting impact on their ability to think, interact with others and on their learning. It has been shown that considerable and prolonged stress in childhood has life-long consequences for a person’s health and well-being, with negative behaviours often being used unconsciously as protective solutions to unrecognised problems dating back to childhood.


It is important to sit this alongside societal issues, so we refer to a pair of ACEs to include Adverse Community Environments like poverty, discrimination, poor housing, lack of economic opportunity and social connectedness.


Working in a Trauma Informed Way


Taking a 'trauma-informed approach' means working with individuals, families and communities to develop relationships, build resilience and provide the tools that lessen the impact of trauma.

There are six key principles to working in a trauma informed way:


1. Safety

  • Prioritising people's physical, psychological and emotional safety, for example by providing a welcoming environment.


2. Trustworthiness

  • Building trust among people in the community by being open and transparent.


3. Choice

  • Offering choice and goal setting to boost autonomy and confidence.


4. Collaboration

  • Being led by the community you support to overcome challenges and improve systems.


5. Empowerment

  • Giving people a strong voice in decision-making at both an individual and organisational level.


6. Cultural consideration

  • Moving past cultural stereotypes and biases based on, for example, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, geography, race or ethnicity.


Read more about the six principles here.


For more information on trauma informed and trauma responsive communities, head to Trauma Responsive Greater Manchester.

APPLICATION PROCESS

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Applications open Friday 28th February and close at 5pm on Friday 21st March.


We recommend arranging a conversation with the team before submitting.


Please contact hello@stepupmcr.org for any questions or to submit your application in an alternative format.

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