Charities are being invited by the government to apply for a share of £3.3m in order to develop schemes for babies from deprived areas or BAME backgrounds.
The latest round of the Health and Wellbeing Fund is based on the theme of “starting well”, and is aiming to improve outcomes for babies and their mothers from preconception up to two-and-a-half years of age.
The fund will pay for three-year projects run by voluntary and community social enterprises to help level up deprived communities.
Jo Churchill, public health minister, said: “Everyone deserves to live a long healthy life, and we’re determined to reduce the inequality that some families face.
“We’re committed to start this work from birth, and the voluntary sector have an enormous role to play in its success. This year we have launched the Health and Wellbeing Fund which is centred around Starting Well, to make sure mothers have the help they need to make the right decisions to support their health, and the health of their babies.”
The projects will be fully funded through the scheme throughout their three years.
The fund is open to applications from charity-run projects aimed at improving perinatal mental health, reducing the percentage of babies born with low birthweight, increasing babies being breastfed, obesity prevention and support, reducing smoking or smoke-free homes, improving learning, speech and language development, and improving levels of immunisation and preventable disease.
The Health and Wellbeing Fund as a whole supports children and young people up to the age of 25. It is currently supporting 23 social prescribing schemes and 23 children and young people’s mental health schemes.
Andrea Leadsom: ' I am determined that every baby gets the best start in life'
Andrea Leadsom, chair of the early years healthy development review, said: “I am determined that every baby gets the best start in life, and the review will look at how to achieve world class provision of services for new families.
“The Health and Wellbeing Fund is a fantastic funding opportunity for charities spearheading perinatal mental health, and I encourage them to apply.”
Applicants have until noon on Friday 30 October 2020 to apply, with the successful projects to be announced in December.
The Health and Wellbeing Fund is run by the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance.
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