Charities supporting young women’s mental health share almost £1m in funding

The Pilgrim Trust has handed 11 charities across the North of England just under £1m for projects to support young women’s mental health.

The grant maker has handed £980,239 to the charities as part of a five-year commitment from 2021 to 2026 to spend £5m helping charities improve the mental health of young women.

This latest tranche of funding is for three years and sees each recipient handed around £90,000.

This includes funding for youth charities, women’s centres, art and creative projects, mental health organisations and charities supporting refugees.

“All are committed to serving the needs of the young women in their area through tailored, high-quality support, which is co-designed with the young women they work with,” said the Trust.

Among recipients are Refugee Women Connect, which supports female asylum seekers, refugees and trafficking survivors. Their grant of £84,629 is being used to support its Sisterhood Youth Project, to prove one to one mental health support and other wellbeing activities.

Youth Federation has been handed £90,000 to employ a new female member of staff and improve the mental health provision for young women through therapy and group support.

Meanwhile, the sexual abuse and rape survivors’ charity Birchall Trust has been handed £89,936 to run its Empowered to achieve wellbeing service.

“Whilst pressures on young women's mental health increase, recognition of the specific needs of young women continues to be over-looked, and therefore the Pilgirm Trust is pleased to support these charities with their work providing age and gender specific high quality mental health services,” added Pilgrim Trust director Sue Bowers.