Enterprise aid for mental health sufferers
Thirteen new projects to encourage enterprise among people with mental health conditions will be set up with £1.25 million of DTI funding, Minister for Small Business and Enterprise Nigel Griffiths announced.
The 13 projects, based throughout England, will initially help more than 1,000 people with mental health conditions become self-employed, start a small business or social enterprise through mentoring, training, advice and hands-on support. Some will also help those already in business where illness is putting it at risk.
They will be funded by the Phoenix Fund, the £177 million DTI programme set up to help tackle social exclusion by encouraging entrepreneurship.
This is part of the Government's drive to encourage entrepreneurship in what it perceives to be under-represented groups. Previous aid has been targeted at women, disadvantaged areas and ex-offenders.
Nigel Griffiths is meeting with project representatives at a 'celebratory event' this morning (Monday November 29). He said: "I am delighted to award these grants to 13 projects which aim to stimulate and sustain entrepreneurship among those affected by mental health conditions.
"A high number of people with mental health issues aspire to work, but many fear that employers will have little understanding of their situation. We believe that, for some, setting up their own business would be a viable alternative. It is clear from the sheer volume of interest we received in this programme that those working in the field agree."
Winning bids
The 13 winning bids were chosen by a panel which included representatives from the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, Mental Health Foundation, Sainsbury Family Charitable Trust, the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies and consultants Equalities.
Panel member Dr Bob Grove, the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health's Employment Programme Director, said: "As with the rest of the population, a small but significant number of mental health service users have entrepreneurial skills and prefer self employment because of the control it gives them over their working lives. This Phoenix Fund initiative gives them the opportunity to test out these ambitions with the support of experienced business advisers who understand the particular issues they face.
"The projects selected will not only benefit the people who use them, but will also provide valuable learning for all those organisations involved in combatting the discrimination and social exclusion experienced by those who suffer the stigma of mental illness."