Working with VCFSEs

The North London Forensic Collaborative (NLFC) has launched a new small grant programme for Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) groups based in North London.

The NLFC is the largest specialist forensic mental health provider collaborative in England that commissions and delivers adult secure inpatient and community services for the population of North London.  The collaborative is formed of five NHS Trusts and one Independent Sector Provider. North London NHS Foundation Trust is the Lead Provider.

Forensic services are mental health services which specialise in providing assessment, treatment and risk management of people with complex mental health conditions which are linked to offending or seriously harmful behaviour.

A key priority for the NLFC is to address inequalities in access, experience, and outcomes for the people who use forensic services.  NLFC acknowledges the valuable contribution that small voluntary, community and faith groups already make in response to health inequalities across the three Integrated Care Systems (ICS) in North East London (NEL), North West London (NWL) and North Central London (NCL).  

The NLFC is seeking to invest in voluntary sector, community, and grassroot organisations, to build relationships and work together to tackle inequalities and improve quality outcomes for the people who use forensic services.

Grant amount

Grants range from £500 to £4,999.  For projects supporting employment pathways—including work-based placements or training leading to jobs—larger grants of up to £9,999 are available.

The maximum funding an organisation can receive within a rolling year across NLFC Grant Programmes is £9,999, after which reapplication is only possible following a 12-month gap.

Who can apply

a) Any VCFSE organisation based in North London that currently operates within one of the ICS regions (NEL/NWL/NCL) in the following boroughs.

Barking & Dagenham	Hammersmith & Fulham	Kensington & Chelsea
Barnet	Harrow	Newham
Brent	Haringey	Redbridge
Camden	Havering	Tower Hamlets
City & Hackney	Hillingdon	Waltham Forest
Ealing	Hounslow	Westminster
Enfield	Islington
Hackney

b)  Organisations currently working with people using NHS inpatient or community forensic mental health services and would benefit from additional investment to scale up the existing offer, or to further develop projects for this patient group. This can include organisations working in other neighbouring boroughs to those listed in the table above, who would like to extend service provision to North London boroughs.

c)  Organisations currently delivering a project or a service in the local community, that with additional investment, could extend this offer to people using NHS inpatient or community forensic mental health services. This can include organisations working in other neighbouring boroughs to those listed in the table above who would like to extend service provision to North London boroughs.

Organisations must provide evidence that they have appropriate safeguarding and governance structures in place as part of the application process, along with supporting documents upon grant award.

Grants usage

Grants can be used for any project that will improve health and wellbeing, promote recovery and inclusion, and enhance quality of life for people who use inpatient and community mental health forensic services. We particularly encourage applications for projects that provide meaningful activities, such as:

• Improving health and wellbeing
• Activities that promote better physical health
• Learning and developing new skills
• Training or work-based placements, that will lead to employment
• Building social connections and reducing social isolation
• Supporting people to feel better integrated into the communities they live in

The service users who would be accessing these projects are under the care of a multi-disciplinary team of mental health professionals; therefore, we are seeking to fund projects which will complement rather than duplicate what is provided by the existing teams.

We can only fund projects targeted at people currently using forensic mental health inpatient and community services.

Application time frame

Applications for the small grant programme opened on the 31 July 2023 and will be offered on a rolling basis until March 2026, or until all funds are spent. 

All funding grants must be spent within 12 months of being awarded.

How to apply

To apply for the grant please complete the  application form and a new suppliers form. Return your completed forms to beh-tr.nlfc@nhs.net

Once your application has been received, it will be reviewed by our panel, which includes people with lived experience. Our grant award panel meets once per month.  If your application is successful, you will be notified by email and invited to meet with us to agree the terms and conditions of the grant. 

Project monitoring and evaluation  

Project monitoring to share the progress, outcomes and impact of the project is required at two intervals - midpoint and on completion of the project.

All funded organisations will be asked to monitor and report on their funded activities by completing the NLFC Small Grant Programme Monitoring and Evaluation template here (add link).  This will need to be returned within two weeks of project end date.

 NLFC Small Grants Monitoring and Evalaution Form Outputs and Impact Provider [xlsx] 76KB

Application Limitations

Organisations can apply for a grant to the value of £4,999 per annum to deliver a project or a service in one of the ICS areas, which can be in the form of a single grant application or multiple grant applications.

• Applications will be considered from organisations that have successfully implemented a project in one of the ICS areas, either to repeat the project in the same area or to deliver it in another ICS area.
• Organisations who are seeking to deliver a project that is focused on supporting people directly into employment, through work-based placements, or a training qualification that will lead to employment can apply for a larger grant to the value of £9,999. 
• Maximum funding that can be received within a rolling year as part of the NLFC Grant Programmes, which includes the LDA Meaningful Activity Grant is £9,999.00. You will not be able to reapply for funding via the NLFC Grant Programme until 12 months have lapsed.
• If your application is unsuccessful, following feedback from the panel you will have one more opportunity to resubmit your application. 

We wish you every success in your application.

If you have any queries, or would like support to complete your application, please contact: 

Serena McCabe, email: Serena.mccabe@nhs.net 

• Wellspace Hackney Community Interest Company are using their grant to purchase materials to assist in the running of 8 different social activities for 10 to 16 service users.
• Mind Brent, Wandsworth and Westminster are using their grant to purchase IT equipment and software to deliver a music project for 15 service users.
• Enfield Vineyard Gym are using their grant to purchase additional cardio equipment and deliver a weekly gym session for one year for 10 service users.
• Studio 306 Collective Community Interest Company are using their grant to deliver two courses of 8-week workshops in jewellery, sewing or ceramic making for 8 to 10 service users.
• Bread and Butter are using their grant to deliver an 8-week cookery workshop course for 10 service users.