Community Mental Health Transformation Funding

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The Plan

The Hartlepool Community Mental Health Transformation Fund has been established to support innovative, community-led projects that improve mental health support for adults across Hartlepool.

The fund is part of a broader programme of transformation aligned with the Community Mental Health Framework and local priorities co-produced during the 2025 Visioning Workshop.

This funding opportunity invites VCSE organisations, partnerships, and community groups to propose services or projects that meet local need, close gaps in provision, and contribute to a more inclusive, person-centred and trauma-informed system.

Purpose:
To commission integrated, non-clinical, preventative, and accessible mental health support that complements statutory services and meaningfully involves people with lived experience.

A Vision for a Truly Integrated Mental Health System in Hartlepool

Imagine a system where it doesn’t matter where someone turns for help— whether it’s at a Community Hub, a GP surgery, through a social prescriber, a practice nurse, or a local VCSE organisation. No doors are the wrong doors.

Anyone experiencing emotional distress would be met with timely, compassionate support, and offered access to the most appropriate mix of services available in Hartlepool —not limited by who delivers them, but guided by what they need.

Instead of repeating their story multiple times, the person would only need to go through one, person-centred assessment. With their consent, this would be shared with the services best placed to support them—ensuring a seamless, respectful experience and a joined-up response across all parts of the system.

This isn’t about fitting people into pathways—it’s about shaping support around their lives.

Natalie Frankland - CMHT Coordinator

Let's Work Together

Now entering its fourth year, the Community Mental Health Transformation programme in Hartlepool continues to be shaped by a multi-agency working group comprising representatives from the Integrated Care Board (ICB), Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV), Hartlepool Borough Council, and the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector.

This group meets with a clear, shared agenda to drive forward the principles of community-based mental health transformation.

The PFC Trust acts as the administrator for the Community Transformation funding. Its responsibilities include convening decision-making panels, monitoring delivery partners, reporting directly to the ICB, and managing a small grants budget.

This flexible fund allows for responsive investment in community-based initiatives, including piloting new approaches, addressing specific individual needs (such as communication support), and filling gaps in existing provision

We are inviting applications from VCSE organisations to deliver projects that support the ongoing Community Mental Health Transformation in Hartlepool.

Proposals must demonstrate collaborative working, with clear evidence of partnerships across services and sectors to support individuals in a holistic and person-centred way.

Please refer to the Guidance Documents provided to shape your proposal and ensure alignment with the programme’s priorities.

All proposals must align with one or more of the following strategic objectives for 2025/26:

1. Integration - Develop integration between VCSE, Primary, Secondary and Social Care

2. Access - Improve access to timely, inclusive support.

3. Trauma-Informed Practice - Enhance awareness and navigation of services.

4. Lived Experience - Strengthen lived experience integration into decision-making.

5. Social Determinant - Address root causes of distress.

CMHT Coordinator Guidance

The CMHT Coordinators (Let's Connect - Natalie Frankland & Keith Bayley) have created the the following documents to support the application process:

1. Full Grant guidance document including the Purpose, Objectives, Criteria & reporting requirements - Read the document

2. NHS England’s expected outcomes from Community Transformation – read the document NHS England » The community mental health framework for adults and older adults

3. The Aims and purpose of CMHT -

Criteria:

Projects must:

Be delivered in Hartlepool.
Serve adults (18+) with or at risk of poor mental health.
Be VCSE-led, or demonstrate genuine partnership with community organisations.
Address one or more of the priority populations (see Section 4 of the guidance document).
Be aligned with the values and principles as outlined.
Be co-produced with people with lived experience, including planning, delivery and evaluation.
Offer services out of hours
Avoid duplication of existing provision.

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Application Form

Please ensure you read the entire application form and supporting Guidance Documents, which include important background information and criteria for funding.

If you have any questions or would like support in completing your application, please contact the Hartlepool Community Transformation Co-ordinators:
Natalie Frankland – nataliefrankland@letsconnect-eng.co.uk
Keith Bayley – keithbayley@letsconnect-eng.co.uk
(Let's Connect)

This is a rolling fund, and panel meetings will be scheduled based on the volume of applications received.

For any general queries about the programme, you may also contact:
Natalie Frankland or Keith Bayley.

Organisation Name

Address

Mobile Number

Full Name

Your ROLE in the Project / Event / Organisation

I understand by completing this appication form the requirements of my organisation as detailed in the grant guidance document Required

I have read and undertood the CMHT grant guidance document

Project/Event/Organisational Details

Project/Event Name

Project / Event End Date

Project / Event Start Date

Registered Charity / Company Name (if applicable)

Project / Event Website & Social Media Links

Total cost of Project / Event

Total amount requested from this fund

Please provide a brief overview of your project or event, explaining how it aligns with the Key Service Outcomes outlined in the NHS Community Mental Health Transformation Framework.

Please provide a breakdown of costs to indicate how you will use the requested funding. If funding is for core operational costs or overheads, please include the amount/s and reason

Please give details of any other funding secured or applied for

Please give the names and websites of other organisations that provide the same or similar service/s for which you are requesting funds: This will not prejudice your application.

Explain how your project will contribute to collaborative working to address emotional distress in Hartlepool

Have the views of relevant stakeholders been considered in the development of this proposal?

If you have previously applied for funding from The PFC Trust and/or the Community Mental Health Transformation programme, please provide details of your previous application(s), including the amount awarded, the date, and the purpose of the funding.

Please outline your sustainability or exit strategy once the funding period ends.

Confirmation that your organisation has adequate insurance in place to enable the Project / Event to be carried out in a safe and competent manner (this includes having insurance in place to cover the health and safety of anyone involved in the Project/Event (tick to confirm)

Evaluation and Reporting Requirements

Successful applicants must be able to outline how they will track progress and evidence impact.

You will be asked to:

Identify which outcomes you will contribute to
Set clear indicators and explain your measurement approach
Collect both quantitative and qualitative data
Submit a baseline, mid-point and end-of-project report
Participate in shared learning and reflective practice workshops

You will also be required to:

Attend a grant induction session
Contribute to quarterly partnership updates
Provide anonymised case studies or testimonials where appropriate
Evidence how lived experience has informed your work

Additional support for evaluation will be available on request.

I agree to the Evaluation and Reporting Requirements for this fund

How will you measure the impact of your project?

Which of the grant outcomes will your project contribute to, and how?

Is there any additional information you would like to include to support your application? (if applicable)

Supporting Information Required (please tick boxes of all supporting evidence provided)

Photo ID (Passport or Driving Licence)

Evidence of Safeguarding Practices

For Applications up to £5,000, please provide 1 year of accounts or bank statements:

For applications of more than £5,000, please provide 3 years of accounts (this includes accounts from all joint partners of the project)

Please do not submit this application without the supporting information detailed above, as we cannot accept it.

If you have any problems with providing any of the information, please contact us to discuss before submitting your application.

Agreement

By signing this agreement, you confirm that you have the required authority/permission within your organisation to do so, and that your organisation, agree to all the terms and conditions, principles and application process as detailed in this application and the NHS England Community Mental Health Framework.

Including timely impact reports when requested
Timely reporting of any requested follow-up information
Evidence of spending
Full Terms & Condition Below

Full Name

Signature

Date

You are requested not to share any information contained on this form without consent of The Community Mental Health Transformational Fund.

As part of the Quality Assurance Process, we will share this information with partner agencies. Please provide your consent by ticking the box

Without your consent we cannot progress this application – Thank you

Terms and Conditions

Any funding will be used solely for the purposes as described in the funding application, and agreed by the Community Mental Health Funding Panel.

Funding cannot be used for any activity/purchases made outside the dates in the application form and agreed by the Community Mental Health Funding Panel.

Community Mental Health Transformation Fund / North East and North Cumbria Health Transformation is to be credited / promoted in all media releases in relation to this project.

We shall receive frequent reports and impact reports regarding the project to include the expected outcomes and the evidence outlines in the grant application.

We shall receive frequent images from the project submitted with full usage permissions granted to Community Mental Health Transformation Fund / North East and North Cumbria Health Transformation (where appropriate).

Community Mental Health Transformation Fund / North East and North Cumbria Health Transformation reserves the right to publicise the project on its own social media, website and printed materials as desired.

All grant recipients shall at all times comply in all respects with all relevant legislation in the United Kingdom.

All grant recipients are responsible for all aspects of health & safety, risk assessments, DBS checks and any other documentation or evidence required for the safe delivery of projects /activity including but not limited to ensuring any service provider are suitably trained, qualified, and insured for the activities delivered.

Community Mental Health Transformation Fund / North East and North Cumbria Health Transformation reserve their right to draw back any funding where grant conditions haven’t been met within reasonable timescales, as determined by the Community Mental Health Funding Panel.

Under exceptional circumstance a ‘change of use’ for the funding may be considered. Any ‘change of use’ must be submitted in written format and authorised in writing by the Community Mental Health Funding Panel in advance of any change in use being allowed.

At points throughout the application process, we may need to contact you to clarify detail or to ask further detailed questions, you agree to these calls/emails as part of your application.

Community Mental Health Transformation Fund / North East and North Cumbria Health Transformation / The PFC Trust will, under no circumstances, be liable for any damage, injury, or loss of any kind whatsoever to any property or persons occurring as a result of activities undertaken with this grant award.