5 days ago
Thousands of Birmingham people to benefit from projects aimed at tackling health issues
Millions of pounds will fund a number of new projects across Birmingham to help boost healthcare for thousands of people across the city.
A total of £4.51 million has been allocated to fund nine projects, with grants of up to £500,000 each being handed to charities, community and health organisations.
It is part of the NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System's (BSol ICS) innovative Fairer Futures Fund.
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The aim is for the projects to support the delivery Government's 10-year Health Plan and more than 27,000 people are expected to benefit.
Projects will focus on areas including supporting healthy ageing, reducing levels of mental and cardiovascular ill-health and improve the lives of children and young people. Those receiving funding are:
Forward Carers CIC – Mental health support programme for unpaid carers with a focus on engaging over 5,000 carers from under served communities that experience health inequalities.
Midland Mencap – Working with primary care and local communities to improve uptake and quality of annual health checks for citizens with learning disabilities.
FND Change CIC – Increasing local capacity to provide testing for blood borne viruses and provide a recovery pathway for individuals facing significant mental and physical health challenges linked to addiction, and blood-borne viruses, particularly Hepatitis C.
BID Services – Recruiting 'Deaf Health Champions' to tackle health inequalities experienced by deaf and hard of hearing citizens.
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust – Developing a more culturally sensitive and effective approach to dementia diagnosis with a focus on under served communities.
Midlands Medical Partnership – Delivering campaigns and developing health champions to work in communities to tackle health inequalities experienced by men of a Black Caribbean and African heritage.
Murray Hall Community Trust – Developing and utilising community assets to improve mental health and wellbeing for South Asian communities.
Sense, the National Deafblind and Rubella Association – Addressing the need for timely, accessible and holistic support for families of children and young people on the neurodevelopmental pathway.
Witton Lodge Community Association – Delivering behavioural change interventions for citizens from under served communities with type 2 diabetes to support them through weight management and lifestyle change.
The nine projects are due to launch in September 2025 and conclude in March 2028.
Paul Athey, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer of NHS Birmingham and Solihull, said: 'Our Fairer Futures Fund provides a key opportunity for us to support the implementation of the 10-Year Health Plan and these new projects will provide access to services at a neighbourhood level, which will enhance the day-to-day lives of our communities, helping them to live healthier, happier lives.'
Coun Mariam Khan, Birmingham City Council 's Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care said: 'These projects demonstrate the power of collaboration between local government, the NHS, and the voluntary and community sector.
'We are proud to support initiatives that are rooted in the communities they serve, and which tackle the health challenges people face.'
