Welsh Government would like to invite you to help shape their future strategies for mental health and well-being, and suicide and self-harm prevention in Wales. It has been 10 years since their Mental Health Strategy and Suicide & Self Harm Prevention Strategy was published and they have committed to consult on new strategies towards the end of this year. 

They have already undertaken significant engagement work and reviews to understand those areas that are important to people. They have also commissioned and published an independent evaluation. They want to build on this work with further, pre-consultation engagement.

Welsh Government would like to ask you to take some time to watch the short video they have produced which explains the visions and principles that they have drawn from what they have been told so far and to complete a questionnaire.

The questionnaire and video are available at https://www.gov.wales/mental-health-strategy. Large print, Braille and alternative language versions of this document are available on request.

The questionnaire will remain open until 14 July 2023.

 Merthyr Tydfil a place to be proud of. 

Shared Prosperity Fund grants are now LIVE !

The UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) supports the government’s wider commitment to level up all parts of the UK and provides funding for local investment between 2022 and 2025.

The primary aim of the UKSPF is to build pride in place and increase life chances across the UK. Underpinning this aim are three investment priorities:

• Communities and Place - to enable places to invest to restore their community spaces and relationships and create the foundations for economic development at the neighbourhood-level
• Supporting Local Business - to enable places to fund interventions that support local businesses to thrive, innovate and grow
• People and Skills - to help reduce the barriers some people face to employment and support them to move towards employment and education.

Under the Supporting Local Business theme, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council has developed a range of grant schemes aimed at Private Sector Businesses, Social & Community Enterprises and Sports Clubs.  Applicants should refer to the particular grant scheme guidance before applying.

The closing date for applications will be 5pm on the 7^th July 2023

For more information and the online application process click on the link below.

 Shared Prosperity Fund | Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

If you would like to complete a hard copy application form, please contact economic.development@merthyr.gov.uk

We have some spaces left on our next Sensory Walks training course on Tuesday 27^th June 10-12.

This is a virtual course that looks at how to set up an accessible walk, how to map routes and sensory highlights and how to lead a sensory walk for people with complex needs. It’s an ideal course for walk leaders, nature based practitioners and health & social staff that are keen to embed more inclusive walks into their programmes.  

More information and the booking link can be found here: Sensory Walks: Training Workshop - Sense

We would like to offer a FREE training opportunity with Ara - Recovery4all Gambling Service.

The training:

The ‘Bet You Can Help’ (BYCH) training programme aims to educate learners, using an accredited, uniform, and consistent set of messaging regarding Gambling Related Harms (GRH) and the associated issues, through an ethos that emphasises a Public Health Approach.

A fundamental aspect of the programme utilises a first aid methodology that supports learners to competently implement an early brief intervention with anyone at risk of, or experiencing, gambling harms, and how to signpost to specialist service providers.

The programme seeks to prevent a worsening or escalation of the individual’s gambling harms situation. This is done through a developed understanding of the issue, developing confidence in supporting individuals and ultimately by guiding and signposting people in accessing appropriate specialist services.

When:

Thursday 20^th July - 14:00 - 17:00.

Where:

Voluntary Action Centre. 89-90 High Street, Pontmorlais, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8UH.

The training is limited to 20 places. If you would like to book a place, please get in touch with Faye - Mental Health Development Officer faye.johnson@vamt.net