Wolverhampton was one of 12 local authorities successful in securing funds from the Big Lottery earlier this year to run a series of pilot HeadStart programmes testing ways of supporting young people aged between 10 and 14 and enabling them to be more resilient.
In doing so, this will improve their mental health and well being and give them the best chance to do well at school and in life.
Over the next 15 months, the council and its partners will be piloting a number of support services and interventions, like peer mentoring, training, online information and therapy portals, community and family support and providing places for young people to go to for help and support.
Pupils aged 10 to 14 will also be given support in the classroom through special resilience lessons in a number of pilot schools.
The council wants to commission a range of partners to support the delivery of 3 strands of its pilot HeadStart programme, and is encouraging organisations to put forward ideas for how they could get involved.
The strands are to work with young people who are "disengaged" in that they are not attending school or community facilities, to raise awareness of resilience and mental health amongst parents and families, and finally to run events and activities for young people to get support and meet inspirational adults and mentors.
Up to £100,000 in funding is available, limited to a maximum of £20,000 per organisation, and the council hopes to use the pilot schemes to discover what works well and not so well to inform future service provision.
Applications will be considered by a Dragon's Den style panel of young people supported by representatives from the Headstart programme in December, with applicants presenting their proposals to panel members.
Councillor Sandra Samuels, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: "This is a great opportunity for community and voluntary organisations to get involved in the HeadStart scheme in Wolverhampton - and help improve the health and well being of our young people.
"We are particularly looking to work with partners who can provide innovative approaches to improve the resilience of our children, young people and their parents, and we are looking for projects that can demonstrate a high level of engagement and good outcomes."
Organisations which are interested in putting forward ideas are invited to take part in 1 of 2 workshops where they can meet the HeadStart team, the first at The Workspace, All Saints Road, Wolverhampton, on Monday (3 November, 2014) from 10am, and the second at the Parkfields Centre on Wolverhampton Road East on Monday 17 November, 2014, starting at 12pm.
The closing date for applications is 12pm on Monday 1 December. For more information, please contact HeadStart Programme Manager Kevin Pace on 01902 556817 or email kevin.pace@wolverhampton.gov.uk.
Wolverhampton was one of a number of authorities in England to receive Big Lottery funding earlier this year to develop pilot projects across the city. If the pilot schemes can demonstrate improved outcomes for young people, Wolverhampton could then benefit from a multi million pound share of funding from the £75 million national HeadStart programme.
The council estimates there are thousands of 10 to 14 year olds who are at risk of poor mental health because of issues including deprivation, unemployment or poverty, bullying, low self esteem and substance misuse.
- released: Monday 3 November, 2014