Supporting adults with complex mental health needs in our communities: what have we learnt?
On 27 March 2025 Forum Central held a learning event to celebrate two years of the Transforming Mental Health Grants, launch the Gold Dust Report consolidating what we’ve learnt so far, and announcing the portfolio of the grants in year 3. Community Mental Health Transformation is a national mandate from NHS England to improve services for people with complex mental health needs. As part of what this looks like in Leeds, Forum Central has worked with partners to integrate the third sector / community offer. A large part of this has been through the Transforming Mental Health Grants, delivered in partnership between Volition, Forum Central, Leeds Community Foundation and Leeds Integrated Care Board (Leeds ICB).
Since 2023, 25 community organisations have received funding to deliver a variety of services to support people with complex mental health needs within our communities. These organisations have considerable expertise in different approaches, building trust within communities experiencing the starkest health inequalities, and centring relationships. . These varied approaches allowed people to access mental health support in ways more tailored to their needs. Many of the participants fed back that these interventions had a significant positive impact on their mental health.
Speakers at the event outlined how significant a role these services play in improving confidence and self-worth, when combined with ongoing activities and wraparound support – many service users become peer supporters, volunteers and even paid staff.
The ‘Gold Dust’ Report
Read the full Gold Dust Report – Learning from the Transforming Mental Health Grants March 25.
The report is intended to inform colleagues, partners, commissioners and delivery organisations about the successes and challenges which came up as part of developing and running these community mental health services. The hope is that this enables us to collectively keep moving forwards, in terms of our knowledge and understanding of people with lived experience of complex mental health needs and how services can best support and empower them at each different parts of their journey.
This learning report is packed with powerful examples of the innovative and impactful approaches which were developed to help reach some of the most underserved in our society.
The 11 Summary Recommendations, found on page 5 to 7, give important advice to anyone involved in health service transformation and service design work.
Please share this resource to help the learning spread far and wide.
Please utilise the examples and practical guidance which have been generously shared by participants and volunteer and staff teams.
The short link which goes directly to the report for ease of sharing is https://bit.ly/golddustreport and there is a QR code:
Printed and bound copies of the report have been produced. If you’d like a professionally printed copy to be based at your physical office, library or community location, please get in touch with us at [email protected].
Thanks to all Grantholder organisations, past and present
We would like to extend huge thanks and appreciation to the incredible achievements, hard work, and expertise of the 25 Gratholder organisations in being part of this innovative and ambitious programme. Their ability to show up and stay present for people experiencing distress, staying adaptable and responsive – while remaining true to their service and being person centred every step of the way. Volition and the funders have given them a lot in return in the form of guidance and support, as well as trust and freedom to develop the service they believe in, and time and space to process and reflect. By working together, we have been able to create real and tangible steps towards transformation which can be built on further.
The Grantholders from April 2023 to March 2025 were:
Advonet, The Apple Box Company, Battle Scars, Barca, Black Health Initiative, Calm & Centred and Feel Good Factor, Caring Together in Woodhouse and Little London, Complete Woman CIC, The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), Hamara, Humans Being, Leeds Action to Create Homes (LATCH), Leeds Mind, Leeds Mindfulness Cooperative, Living Potential Care Farm CIC, LS14 Trust, GIPSIL and Barca in partnership, Mafwa Theatre, Oblong, Season Well, Shore Up CIC, Shine Bright CIC, Sporting Memories Foundation, Trust Leeds.
The event
Around 60 people attended the Celebration and learning event which began with the sharing of food and conversation. This was followed by a presentation of the work and key learning by Sarah Wilson, who leads on the third sector involvement in the Community Mental Health Transformation and who authored the report in collaboration with grantholders. As well as sharing the 11 recommendations, she distilled four key principles which shone out from the 2 years:
- Community led
- Trust based and flexible
- High support to small – medium organisations
- Reflective
Leeds Community Foundation thanked everyone involved and reiterated the integral value of trust which was applied throughout the grants process. The main part of the event was a panel discussion in which 13 of the delivery organisations contributed their insight and reflections from the development and delivery of their service.
Here’s what people shared about the event, (including some more photos!): Nicola Swale’s post on LinkedIn, Francesca Woods post on LinkedIn. Check out our Forum Central Instagram stories for a few video highlights.
What’s next
Ten organisations are funded from April 2025 to April 2026:
- Apple Box
- Battle Scars
- Caring Together
- Complete Woman CIC
- Humans Being
- Leeds Action To Create Homes (LATCH)
- Oblong
- Shine Bright CIC
- Shore Up CIC
- The Conservation Volunteers (TCV)
The Transforming Mental Health Grants 25-26 Referral criteria and information is here: bit.ly/TMHGLeeds
( https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SUTqnzsDLXfz8PgvqxPPBQqjNiWyZX86MNWOQTfGOjo/edit?usp=sharing )
There will be a film to accompany the report which is in production.
To follow the 11 Summary Recommendations, an action plan is being developed against each of the priorities which we’re excited to share in due course.
