Working with VCFSEs

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

The North London Forensic Collaborative 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 is to address inequalities in access, experience, and outcomes for the people who use forensic services.  The North London Forensic Collaborative acknowledges the valuable contribution that small voluntary, community and faith groups already make in response to health inequalities across the three Integrated Care Systems  in North East London, North West London and North Central London.  

The North London Forensic Collaborative 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 Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise organisation based in North London that currently operates within one of the Integrated Care System regions (North East London, North West London, North Central London) 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 nlft.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 North London Forensic Collaborative Small Grant Programme Monitoring and Evaluation form: NLFC Small Grants Monitoring and Evalaution Form Outputs and Impact Provider [xlsx] 76KB
and return within two weeks of project end date.

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 Integrated Care System 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 Integrated Care System areas, either to repeat the project in the same area or to deliver it in another Integrated Care System 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 North London Forensic Collaborative Grant Programmes, which includes the Learning Disability and Autism Meaningful Activity Grant is £9,999.00. You will not be able to reapply for funding via the North London Forensic Collaborative 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, Partnerships Manager Email: Serena.mccabe@nhs.net 

The North London Forensic Collaborative has awarded grants to a diverse range of organisations including the following:

Active Within	Fitness sessions delivered to 8–10 participants, two sessions per week over a 20 week programme.
Bags of Taste	Delivery of the Bags of Taste programme for 50 participants with ingredient bags to cook three healthy meals at home, supported by volunteer mentors via WhatsApp/phone.
Bounce Back Foundation	Construction skills pathway: City & Guilds Level 1 Painting & Decorating, Level 1 Health & Safety leading to CSCS, plus Employment Support Coaching.
Bread and Butter	An 8×2‑hour healthy cooking sessions focused on budgeting and communal meals and 6‑week programme with 2‑hour cookery class and shared meal (second programme).
Circle Collective	In‑store retail work‑based training — 8‑week programme with 8 hours coaching and 8 hours work placement per week.
Core Arts	A 13 or 26 week meaningful activity placement for participants to engage with creative educational courses and membership. For Learning Disability and Autism - 6 creative placements across arts, music, horticulture, multimedia and sport.
Core Circular	Cultural Education Walks and Quests focused on Black history, open to service users across NLFC services in central London.
Cultural Connections	‘Steps to Success’ Employability Support Programme to enhance employability skills, build confidence, set goals and gain work‑based experience (10 places).
Enfield Vineyard Gym	Exclusive gym use for participants for up to two hours per week and purchase of additional cardio equipment.
Forest Farm Peace Garden	Ecotherapy programme offering up to two sessions per week for 12 months — gardening, crafting, cooking and socialising at a 2‑acre garden in Hainault.
Freightliners Farm	Farm animal therapy and participation in city farm life, including close contact with animals and farm activities.
Key Changes	12 week music production for six participants —1:1 studio sessions, online artist development with mentors, music wellbeing sessions; plus open‑mic events for 25 participants.
Lampton Leisure Centre	Swimming lesson sessions across 36 weeks.
Mind Brent, Wandsworth and Westminster	Additional equipment purchased to expand the ‘Music in Mind’ project for 15 participants —a safe space for music production and appreciation sessions.
Organic Lea	A 4 x 12 month morning of forestry and horticulture training, communal lunch, and afternoon volunteering opportunities.
Pop Arts	A 6 week programme with 1:1 sessions with a DBS‑checked music producer for 18–26‑year‑olds to improve mental health, wellbeing and music skills.
Stuart Low Centre	Fortnightly Friday social event for forensic service users for one year—varied programme of social activities, music, drama and wellbeing talks.
Studio 306 Collective Community Interest Company	An 8‑week workshops for participants to design and make ceramics, jewellery and crafts. For Learning Disability and Autism - 6 placements for 8×3‑hour ceramic workshops.
Volunteer Centre Hackney	Structured group volunteering cohorts (4 hours/week for 3–5 weeks).  For Learning Disability and Autism ‘Step‑Up’—1:1 progression coaching, monthly social/taster sessions, weekly Job Club, wellbeing and employability workshops.
Wellspace Hackney Community Interest Company	Additional leisure activities for service users attending the Bridge Club — fortnightly social group in East London.
Work Care Thrive	Online programme for families and carers to enhance wellbeing, foster resilience and improve work–life balance.
Pinhole Photography	A 10 x 3‑hour pinhole photography workshops for up to 10 participants per workshop — DIY pinhole cameras and pop‑up darkroom.
Unity Works	Work‑based placements for two participants with Individual Learning Plans and 1:1 support to gain employment.
Whale Song Music Therapy Community Interest Company	Group music therapy (two 8‑week cohorts) for up to 6 participants and 32 individual sessions for two participants.