New Fund Launched to Tackle Mental Health Inequalities

Initiative aims to support Black men in Leeds

A new funding opportunity has opened to support Black-led community initiatives addressing mental health inequalities among Black men in Leeds. The fund, a partnership between Leeds Community Foundation and Synergi Leeds, seeks to reduce the rate at which Black men are detained under the Mental Health Act in the city.

Key details of the funding scheme

• The fund is open for applications until 28 April 2026, with decisions expected in June 2026.
• Grants range from £2,500 to £10,000 and support projects lasting up to one year.
• Eligible activities must be Black-led, involving Black men as co-designers, peer researchers, or staff members.
• Projects should focus on holistic interventions addressing the whole person, beyond clinical symptoms.
• Applicants must demonstrate plans to build relationships and pathways into crisis and inpatient mental health services.
• Outcome measurement strategies must be outlined from the start of the activity.
• Activities should address one or more of the following areas:
  • Upstream interventions
  • Reducing stigma and increasing trust with services and pathways
  • Supporting recovery within communities

Examples of potential activities

While applicants are encouraged to tailor their proposals to the needs of their communities, suggested activities include:

• Creative approaches and safe, trusted spaces for engagement
• Helping individuals access and maintain engagement with appropriate services
• Capacity-building such as staff and volunteer training, funding mental health professionals’ time, evaluation, use of new technologies, and building relationships with statutory services
• Providing flexible individual support combined with peer support where appropriate

The fund is specifically targeted at supporting Black men aged 18 and over living in Leeds. Interested organisations are advised to read the full additional information before applying.

Further details and the application process can be found on the Doing Good Leeds website.

Read more and apply here

Source: Doing Good Leeds