Sir Norman Lamb Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund
Safe spaces and trusted faces close to home.
There continues to be enormous challenges to children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing, with 1 in 4 teenagers reporting a mental health difficulty. Early intervention is key to prevent deterioration in a young person’s mental wellbeing – with community groups possessing a unique ability to respond flexibly and responsively to emerging challenges, ensuring timely and relevant support for young people.
Young people tell us they want support in a safe place, from people they can trust, close to home. By helping young people manage their mental health proactively in their community, we can ensure they receive the help they deserve when they need it. This approach not only benefits individuals but also reduces the pressure on overwhelmed local mental health services.
Alongside funding innovative projects, we focus on maintaining and enhancing existing services to ensure continuous support for young people, preventing the deterioration of their mental health and creating environments where they can thrive. We’ve developed an innovative and impactful network – the Sir Norman Coalition for Young People – by combining direct funding, training, and community collaboration to address immediate needs and promote long-term wellbeing for young people.
We need your help to take action and fund these local projects helping to catch young people before they fall and lift them up to improve their mental wellbeing.
Discover the impact of our work to empower young people
Spotlight: The Sir Norman Lamb Coalition for Young People
The Sir Norman Lamb Coalition for Young People is open to voluntary, community or social enterprise organisations providing services in Norfolk to children and young people in the 0-25 years age range and who actively contribute to their wellbeing.
Being part of the Coalition provides an opportunity to develop a groups existing offer, recognising the value of the vital support they provide to young people, with an ambition to show how Norfolk can lead the way by coming together to make a real difference. By providing access to shared resources and opportunities including funding and training, sharing good practice, raising the profile of the work groups do, and linking up with larger countywide and national networks, the Coalition enables groups to have a seat at the table and grow as an organisation.
Since being established in November 2020, over 50 community organisations supporting more than 10,000 young people across Norfolk have joined, accessing over £1,000,000 worth of support.
“Coming to the centre helped me build my confidence. I went from a shy, insecure, awkward, depressed boy to a confident, happy, funny lad.”
“As a small charity, belonging to the Coalition means we have a level of support that would otherwise not exist for us. We’ve been able to access training opportunities, funding, linking with other organisations that just would otherwise have not been possible. I cannot recommend the Coalition enough, it has been and continues to be transformational.”
“Our aim is to support the amazing youth groups in Norfolk in their vital work, which is needed now more than ever. If we can all give a bit then we can help children, teenagers and young adults in Norfolk thrive in the months and years ahead. Let’s build a brighter future for all our young people, and something for our county for which we can all be proud.”
Help us keep young people safe and well
Across Norfolk, our charities, community organisations and social enterprises are already responding to the mental health crisis by catching young people before they fall and end up requiring clinical intervention, but they need your help to make a lasting impact.
You can help make a difference today by donating to the Sir Norman Lamb Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund.
Donations can be made by completing the donation form on the page, by calling 01603 623958 to make a card payment over the phone or by sending a cheque made payable to Norfolk Community Foundation (referencing ‘Sir Norman Lamb Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund’ on the reverse) to Norfolk Community Foundation, First Floor, Carmelite House, 2 St James Court, Norwich, NR3 1SL.