Blog

11.10.2021

Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Third Sector Funding Announced

18 third sector organisations from across Scotland have been awarded funding from the Scottish Government’s Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Small Grants Fund. These organisations provide vital support for new and expectant parents, carers and families at a crucial stage of life.

Building on a recent consultation, the fund supports small to medium sized organisations that provide community-based peer, parenting and counselling support to parents and carers. Organisations also support the mental health of infants by helping parents and carers to establish and maintain warm and attuned relationships with their babies, including families that face a range of challenges and barriers. A full list of funded organisations is included below.

To support the announcement of successful applicants to the fund, Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, is meeting one of the funded organisations, LATNEM (Let’s All Talk North East Mums) to discuss the importance of their work and the strengths and challenges of delivering community-based perinatal support.

LATNEM aims to promote and protect the mental health of women, birthing people and their families by providing a free, comprehensive peer support service in a safe, judgement-free space that supports their mental health when they need it. The organisation offers Scotland-wide online peer support groups, face-to-face peer support groups in Aberdeenshire and in Moray, resources, signposting and a private online group for LATNEM Members.

Today’s announcement is in conjunction with the publication of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Delivery Plan for 2021-2022. The Delivery Plan sets out the areas of focus under this year’s theme ‘Delivering In Partnership’ as part of Scottish Government and the PIMH Programme Board’s commitment to Perinatal and Infant Mental Health services in Scotland.

Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, Kevin Stewart MSP, said:

“My heartfelt congratulations go to the key grass-roots groups who were successful in receiving the funding for what they do every single day to care for and offer the right kind of support to those who need it, at the right time.

I am pleased to launch this year’s delivery plan that is another step forward to achieving our goal of developing and sustaining perinatal and infant mental health services in the most challenging times.

With continued collaborative working, we can offer invaluable support for perinatal and infant mental health services across Scotland, to provide not only the best start in life for infants, but also to provide a lifeline to parents, carers and families when they may need it most.”

Inspiring Scotland is managing the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health fund on behalf of Scottish Government. The Small Grants Fund is offered in addition to a Main Grants Fund that currently supports 16 third sector organisations across Scotland from October 2020 to April 2023.”

Celia Tennant, CEO, Inspiring Scotland said:

“We know that the most important developments – physical, cognitive and emotional – have their foundations set very early in life, specifically in pregnancy and the first few years. We also know that for new parents, while the first few years can be the most joyous, they can also be the most challenging, with perinatal mental ill health affecting up to 20% of new mums and 10% of new dads.

We are delighted to be working with Scottish Government and the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board to deliver this fund. These community-based organisations have been a lifeline to families throughout lockdown, providing critical support to families at this crucial stage of life. We look forward to working with them all over the next 18 months.”

For more information on the fund or any of the funded organisations, please contact Inspiring Scotland at enquiries@inspiringscotland.org.uk.

View the 2021 – 2022 Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Delivery Plan.

Successful Organisations – Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Small Grants Funding: