Heads On

Charity Number: 1051736

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Income: £468,593 (2023-24)
  • Annual Expenditure: £762,348 (2023-24)
  • Grant Programs: Variable (administers funds on behalf of partners)
  • Recent Grant Distribution: £220,000+ in 2023
  • Geographic Focus: Sussex (East Sussex, West Sussex, Brighton & Hove)
  • Charity Number: 1051736

Contact Details

Email: headsoncharity@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk

Grant Applications: grantsheadson@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk

Phone: 07469 351 456

Website: www.headsoncharity.org

Social Media: @HeadsOnCharity (Twitter), /headsoncharity (Facebook)

Overview

Heads On is the official NHS charity for Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, registered with the Charity Commission on 3 January 1996 (previously known as Sussex Partnership NHS Trust Charities). The charity's mission is to help people living with mental health problems feel supported, stay active, and be more involved in their communities. While Heads On primarily fundraises to support Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's mental health services—funding special projects, patient and family support, pioneering research, and hospital environment improvements—they also administer significant grant programs on behalf of partner organizations. Since 2014, under the leadership of Charity Director Rachael Duke, the charity has operated with a revised strategy to maximize impact for local people using the Trust's services. Heads On does not own or lease property and operates with comprehensive governance policies covering safeguarding, risk management, conflicts of interest, and volunteer management.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Heads On primarily administers grant programs on behalf of partner organizations rather than operating continuous open grant rounds from their own funds:

Sussex Health and Care Mental Health Collaborative VCSE Fund (administered by Heads On)

  • Total fund: £600,000
  • Three funding streams: Innovate, Build, and Grow
  • Projects addressing national Suicide Prevention strategy recommendations
  • Support for transformation of community mental health services for adults in Sussex
  • Application by invitation or time-limited calls

Community Mental Health Grants (2023 distribution)

  • £220,000 awarded in 2023, with further £380,000 allocated throughout the year
  • Grants ranging from £20,000 to £45,000
  • Funded by Sussex Health & Care Partnership

Heads On Hardship Fund

  • For Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust staff, current service users, and carers
  • Emergency support for financial difficulties
  • Over 70 grants awarded (most commonly for emergency car repairs, emergency plumbing, laptops and tablets)
  • Not open to external organizations

NHS Charities Together Grants

  • Heads On distributes grants on behalf of NHS Charities Together
  • Example: £100,000 to seven Sussex hospices (approximately £14,000 each)

Priority Areas

Based on funded projects, Heads On prioritizes:

  • Suicide prevention programs - Training for non-clinical staff working with vulnerable people
  • Community mental health support - Peer-led support, particularly for people with serious mental illness
  • Mental health services for marginalized groups - Refugees, travelling communities, people in deprived areas
  • Specialist therapeutic services - Long-term psychological therapies
  • Arts-based recovery programs - Creative approaches to mental health support
  • Discharge support - Services for people leaving mental health hospital settings
  • Debt and financial advice - Specialist support linked to mental health services

Recent Funded Projects (2023)

  • Grassroots: £45,000 for suicide prevention training for voluntary sector non-clinical staff across Sussex
  • Citizens Advice: £35,000 for specialist financial and debt advice for people discharged from Langley Green mental health hospital
  • Refugee Radio: £25,000 for support services for refugees in Hastings, including support groups and specialized psychological therapies
  • West Sussex Mind: £25,000 for peer-led community support for people with severe mental illness in deprived wards of Littlehampton
  • ONCA: £20,000 for Dresscue, a community sewing space for people accessing specialist mental health services

What They Don't Fund

Based on their focus areas and eligibility criteria:

  • Organizations outside Sussex region
  • Projects not related to mental health support
  • General NHS service provision (they fund enhancements, not core services)
  • Organizations without connection to Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's service users or catchment area
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Governance and Leadership

Charity Director: Rachael Duke (launched the revised charity brand and strategy in Autumn 2014)

Governance: Heads On operates with comprehensive governance policies including:

  • Safeguarding policy
  • Risk management
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Serious incident reporting
  • Complaints handling
  • Volunteer management
  • Bullying and harassment
  • Social media policy
  • Financial reserves policy

The charity is regulated by the Care Quality Commission and recognized by HMRC for Gift Aid. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The charity has approximately 40 volunteers.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important Note: Heads On does not operate continuous open grant rounds. They primarily administer time-limited grant programs on behalf of partner organizations (Sussex Health & Care Partnership, NHS Charities Together).

To inquire about current funding opportunities:

  • Email: grantsheadson@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk
  • Monitor funding news from East Sussex County Council and local CVS organizations for announcements
  • Check the Heads On website for program announcements

When programs are open:

  • Application forms are provided for specific programs
  • Applications submitted via email to grantsheadson@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk
  • Eligibility criteria and guidance notes provided with each program

Application Method

  • Application Type: Time-limited rounds / Fixed deadlines
  • Format: Written application forms specific to each program
  • Contact for queries: Grant team at grantsheadson@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk

Decision Timeline

Timelines vary by program and are not publicly documented. Contact the grants team for specific program timelines.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. However, the competitive nature can be inferred from the fact that programs are time-limited with finite funding pools.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented. Contact the grants team for guidance on unsuccessful applications.

Application Success Factors

Based on funded projects and program guidance:

Strategic Alignment

  • Projects must address Sussex Health and Care Partnership priorities, particularly suicide prevention and community mental health transformation
  • Clear connection to supporting people with serious mental illness
  • Evidence-based approaches to mental health support

Target Beneficiaries

  • Projects serving Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's service users, carers, or catchment area
  • Focus on vulnerable and marginalized groups (refugees, people in deprived areas, those with serious mental illness)
  • People transitioning from hospital to community settings

Collaborative Approach

  • Partnerships between VCSE organizations and Integrated Care Systems (ICS)
  • Working collaboratively with NHS mental health services
  • Building on existing relationships with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Geographic Focus

  • Must serve communities in Sussex (East Sussex, West Sussex, and/or Brighton & Hove)
  • Priority given to projects addressing health inequalities in deprived areas

Practical Delivery

  • Peer-led and community-based approaches are valued
  • Projects offering specialist support (financial advice, therapeutic services, suicide prevention training)
  • Creative and arts-based approaches to mental health recovery

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Not a continuous grant maker: Heads On administers time-limited programs on behalf of partners rather than running ongoing open grant rounds—monitor announcements closely
  • NHS partnership essential: Projects should demonstrate connection to Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's service users or catchment area
  • Mental health focus required: All funded projects relate to mental health support, suicide prevention, or supporting people with serious mental illness
  • Sussex geographic restriction: Only organizations serving communities in Sussex are eligible
  • Build relationships proactively: Given the partnership-based model, establishing connections with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Sussex Health and Care Partnership may help organizations learn about opportunities
  • Email for current opportunities: Contact grantsheadson@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk to inquire about current or upcoming funding programs
  • Collaborative approaches valued: Demonstrate how you'll work with NHS services and other VCSE organizations

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