City Bridge Foundation Grant
West Central London Mind and Local Citizens Advice Collaboration awarded £1 million+ grant to tackle mental health challenges and suicide prevention
We are thrilled to announce that City Bridge Foundation has awarded our partnership between West Central London Mind and Local Citizen’s Advice over £1 million in funding to support mental health initiatives and suicide prevention over the next seven years. This funding will support the work and transformative partnership between West Central London Mind and Citizens Advice in Brent, Kensington & Chelsea, Wandsworth, and Westminster to address the growing mental health challenges faced by communities across the four boroughs.
The cost-of-living crisis has intensified financial and emotional struggles for many Londoners. Recognising this urgent need, City Bridge Foundation is providing essential funding to help us address the critical link between financial instability and mental health.
A Partnership to Drive Change
In collaboration with Local Citizens Advice in Brent, Kensington & Chelsea, Wandsworth and Westminster, this funding will allow us to deliver:
- Bespoke mental health interventions: Counselling and targeted support for individuals facing mental health challenges.
- Suicide prevention training: Equipping local citizens advice staff and other local VCS organisations with the skills to provide life-saving interventions.
- Practical uncomplicated support: Ensuring those most affected by financial hardship have access to both the mental health and financial advice they need under one roof through a simple referral process between the partners.
In the first four years, a mental health advisor and qualified counsellor will be based at Local Citizens Advice offices in the four boroughs, ensuring that individuals experiencing mental health issues can easily access timely support for their wellbeing, alongside financial advice. In the following three years, the project will focus on sharing insights and learning with mental health organisations, Citizens Advice, and other partners. Over the seven years of funding, training programmes will be delivered to upskill Local Citizen Advice staff and other local voluntary and community sector organisations, to create a legacy of sustainable mental health support.
This vital funding will enable West Central London Mind to extend our reach into underserved communities, providing life-changing support to those most in need. By tackling the intersection of financial insecurity and mental health, we aim to empower individuals and build stronger, healthier and more resilient communities.
Simon Thompson, CEO West Central London Mind said:
It is well evidenced that financial difficulty can seriously impact people’s mental health, so I am both delighted and extremely thankful that we have managed to secure funding from City Bridge Foundation which will enable us to provide mental health support directly within our four partner Local Citizens Advice offices and hubs (LCAS’s). This holistic approach should ensure that people get the mental health support that they need before their symptoms escalate, and without having to navigate additional systems. We will also support staff in LCA’s and provide helpful, meaningful and tailored training to build capacity for the future. This programme demonstrates streamlined, joined up working at a local level and I hope that the impact and learning gleaned from this innovation can be replicated elsewhere, for the benefit of many more.
Raj Kapoor, CEO Brent LCA added:
Citizens Advice services in Brent, Kensington and Chelsea, Wandsworth and Westminster are proud to partner with West Central London Mind to provide essential mental health support for clients at risk of suicide and the advisors supporting them. This collaboration ensures that those in crisis receive the guidance they need while also equipping our dedicated team to offer the best possible support. Together, we are reinforcing our commitment to wellbeing and resilience within the community.
We are deeply grateful to City Bridge Foundation for their belief in our mission. Together, we are creating a future where every individual has access to the timely mental health support they need.
The service is predicted to launch in July 2025. Stay tuned for updates as we work to bring this transformative initiative to life.
For more information, please contact [email protected].
Posted on: 6th March 2025