Enable accessibility tools

Community Mental Health Transformation Grant Programme 2: For York’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector

Sep 3, 2025 | Active Grants & Funding, Active York CVS Grants, York CVS Grant News

https://www.canva.com/folder/FAFudMP7xAw

The Community Mental Health Transformation Grant Programme 2 is now open for applications!

The York Mental Health Partnership, alongside the Connecting Our City Partnership, is delivering the NHS Community Mental Health Transformation (CMHT) programme and investing in York’s VCSE sector to help connect people with activities and support in their local communities.

York CVS, on behalf of the York Mental Health Partnership, will manage and distribute these grants to strengthen the VCSE sector’s role in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of York residents.

This round builds on the 2023–2025 programme, taking on board what we’ve learned, responding to the changing needs of our communities and working together with people who have lived experience and professionals across York.

The deadline to apply is Wednesday 22 October 2025, 12pm.

Who can apply?

York-based VCSE organisations, including community groups, social enterprises and charities. 

Eligibility Criteria 

  • A Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisation
  • Ready to apply, with appropriate governance, policies and procedures in place
  • Delivering support to people living within the City of York Council area
  • Primarily supporting adults aged 18 and over. However, projects that support younger adults aged 16 and over – particularly those in transition to adulthood – will also be considered.
  • The project will be delivered over a two-year period

Further details can be found in the Guidance Document.

Grant Core Criteria Aims

Projects MUST align with ALL the following aims:

  • Projects that are rooted in communities and shaped by the needs of individuals, drawing on preventative, recovery-focused, and trauma-informed approaches as appropriate.
    We     recognise that no single model fits all and encourage work that is flexible, person-centred, and responsive to diverse experiences. 
  • To deliver transformational and innovative approaches that enhance support for individuals and communities.
    We welcome applications for projects that bring transformational and innovative change, even when building on existing work. The key is to meet the criteria in a way that strengthens, not compromises, the sustainability of what you already do.     
  • To ensure accessibility for people with Serious Mental Illness (SMI), promoting inclusion and equity in service delivery.
     
  • To align with and contribute to the Connecting our City Hubs, Approach, and Principles, strengthening integration with the wider programme.

Grant Desirable Criteria Aims

Project activity MUST specifically address at least one of the following areas: 

  • Supporting underserved communities – including work that specifically focuses on addressing health inequalities and supports minority or marginalised groups. 
  • Overcoming travel and geographical barriers – such as initiatives in rural areas, outreach efforts, or solutions to transport challenges. 
  • Providing out-of-hours support – including services available during evenings, weekends, or outside traditional operating times. 

How to apply?

Once you’re ready to apply please download and complete an application form and return it to grants@yorkcvs.org.uk by Wednesday 22 October at 12pm.

Talk to us!

Ask us questions – please get in touch if you have any questions about the fund or your application.

 

Tel: 01904 621 133 (extension 1006)

Email: grants@yorkcvs.org.uk

Click to download

Download guidance document
Download application form
Download how we will assess applications

What size grants are available?

The Community Mental Health Transformation Grant Programme 2 is a two-year programme of £250,000 total funding (£125,000 per year).  

We are seeking applications from projects where funding is needed for two years up to a maximum of £40,000.

Further funding details:
Funding will be awarded in two installments: December 2025 and December 2026. Second-year funding will be awarded subject to a review process.

Further details can be found in the Guidance Document.

Application timeline

Year One

Launch

Wednesday 3 September 2025

Online information & support drop-in sessions

Tuesday 16 September – 11:30am to 12:15pm

Thursday 2 October – 1:00pm to 1:45pm

Monday 13 October – 11:00am to 11:45am

Book your place on Eventbrite

Closing date for applications

Monday 22 October 2025 (12pm)

Panel decisions shared with applicants

Early December 2025

Funds paid to successful applicants

By 31 December 2025

Project delivery starts

1 January 2026

Year Two

Second year funding review

October / November 2026

Second payment to successful applicants (first payment)

By 31 December 2026

Year two project starts

1 January 2027

Frequently asked questions

When is the closing date for applications?
Wednesday 22 October 12pm
What is the maximum we can apply for?
£40,000 over two years (max £20,000 each year)

Your budget should reflect the true costs of your project and be as realistic and precise as possible. Costs may vary each year, and Year 2 may include any necessary cost increments.

Can we submit our application in a different format?
Yes, please get in touch to discuss further.
Can current projects/organisations already receiving funding from Connecting our City apply for this funding?
This would be reviewed as part of the panel decision stage and looked at on a case-by-case basis.
Do applications have to be for new projects?
No. We are happy to consider applications for funding that allows existing work to continue – however, one of the main aims is for your project/work to be transformational and innovative – please look carefully at the criteria in the application and guidance document. We do not want people to create something new simply for the sake of applying; or to start adding in new elements that will make existing work unsustainable.
What is the definition of Serious Mental Illness (SMI)?
Serious Mental Illness (SMI) is defined as someone over the age of 18 who has (or had within the past year) a diagnosable mental, behavioural, or emotional disorder that causes serious functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.
How will you assess applications?
Please refer to the document titled ‘How we will assess applications’. It outlines how your application will be evaluated, including which specific questions will be scored.

To strengthen your submission, make sure to also follow the guidance provided within each question in the application form.

You can find more answers to frequently asked questions in the Guidance Document.

Need help?

Our Grants Team is on hand to support your application, just click below to email the team. Alternatively, you can call 01904 621 133 (extension 1006) – leave a message and we’ll get back to you!

As well as contacting us, we will be running online drop-in sessions (dates to be confirmed).

Request support

‘Connecting our City’ background

Nationally, the NHS has invested funding in community mental health transformation until 2026. The York Mental Health Partnership, in collaboration with the ‘Connecting our City’ Partnership, is delivering the Community Mental Health Transformation (CMHT) programme in the city. 

‘Connecting Our City’ is a partnership vision for improving mental health and wellbeing in York. It began in 2021 when a group of representatives from across health, social care, the voluntary and community sector, as well as people with lived experience of mental health services, families and carers, came together.

The ‘Connecting our City’ vision for York is that we are a city where:

  • We all feel valued by our community, connected to it, and can help shape it.
  • We are enabled to help ourselves and others, build on our strengths, and can access support with confidence
  • We are proud to have a Mental Health Service that is built around our lives, listens to us, is flexible and responds to all our needs.

This partnership meets regularly and has developed different projects and workstreams aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing support in the City. These include:

  • A pathway to recovery project at Foss Park Hospital, that looks to better support people in the community when they are discharged from hospital
  • Employing a co-production worker to work alongside the project and ensure that the voice of lived experience is central to all our planning discussions
  • A working group around autism and mental health, and
  • A community conversations project. This provides local shop staff and community champions with mental health awareness and suicide prevention training so that they feel more confident talking to residents who may be struggling with their mental health and so they will know where to direct them for more support.
Watch the ‘Connecting our City’ vision video
Useful Links
 
About Connecting our City:
 
Community Mental Health Transformation Grant Programme 1 funded projects:
Health Inequalities:
Watch the NHS Community Mental Health Transformation video
Image shows the York CVS logo and Connecting our City logo