Aid for entrepreneurs with mental health conditions
Bids are being sought from organisations for a share of £1 million of Government funding to help people with mental health conditions become self-employed, start a small business or social enterprise.
Health and enterprise organisations in England have until 10 September to become one of the eight to ten organisations to benefit from this latest tranche of Phoenix Fund money, designed to help encourage entrepreneurship as a means of tackling social exclusion.
The Government has previously targeted specific help at groups of people who it felt were under-represented in running their own business such as those living in inner city areas and women.
DTI's Minister for Small Business Nigel Griffiths said: "A high number of people with mental health conditions aspire to work, but often feel that employers have little awareness and understanding of their situation. For some, an alternative to trying to compete directly in the job market is to become self-employed.
"This programme aims to stimulate new and innovate approaches to encourage and help sustain entrepreneurial behaviour among those affected by mental health issues."
Research shows that at any one time, around one in six people of working age suffer from poor mental health with between two and four per cent having a severe mental illness. A significant number will have had professional careers interrupted or aborted by the onset of their condition.
Recent research commissioned by the DTI's Small Business Service has emphasised the relevance of self-employment for some people with mental health conditions but also found few current examples of support focused on helping individuals pursue such opportunities.
Dr Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive at The Mental Health Foundation, said: "People with mental health problems need support to get the jobs they want. We very much welcome this new DTI initiative to help more people get back into work and would encourage those working in the field of mental health to look at putting together bids for this Phoenix funding."
Funding will be used to support schemes that offer:
- innovative approaches to encourage people to actively explore ideas for start-ups;
- practical ways of helping to take forward business ideas and develop them into business plans, including helping people access funding;
- encouragement to individuals to learn business skills
- on-going support to start-ups; and/or
- support to people already in business in circumstances where illness puts the business at risk.
The Phoenix Fund
The Phoenix Fund was established by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in 1999 to help promote enterprise in disadvantaged areas and groups under-represented in terms of business ownership. Some £145 million of Government funding will be paid out through the fund by 2006.