Two organisations providing vital mental health support for women have been awarded grants in our summer funding round, through our health and disability programme. Via Community has received £120,000 towards The Elms, the UK’s first women-only residential detox unit for alcohol and substance misuse. Bede House Association has received £70,000 to improve and expand its therapeutic services for survivors of domestic abuse in south London.
Together, these projects will create safe, specialist environments where women can access the support they need to recover.
Funding the UK’s first women-only detox facility
Women face significant barriers to accessing treatment for drug and alcohol dependency, including stigma, trauma and caring responsibilities.
Yet female deaths linked to both drug and alcohol use have risen significantly over recent years, while evidence shows that for some women long-term recovery is more likely in women-only settings compared with mixed gender ones.
Via’s new 16-bed residential facility will help address this gap. Designed specifically for women by women, The Elms will provide a supportive environment that enables meaningful engagement with treatment and creates the foundations for long-term recovery.
Via 3 Edge Design Workshop®
Supporting survivors of abuse
Bede House Association provides therapeutic support for survivors of violence against women and girls. Its Bermondsey premises have served the local community for decades, offering a trusted, discreet space for women seeking help.
Our funding will support essential restoration works, allowing the charity to expand its mental health provision and create a more accessible, welcoming environment for survivors.
Bede House Association, consultation room 2. Credit: All The Wiser Interior Design, KLC School of Design
Over £300,000 invested in mental health support projects
We have awarded a total of £330,000 to mental health projects in this funding round, supporting specialist organisations rooted in their communities to ensure more people – men, women and young people – can access the care and support they need.
Find out more about our funding to mental health here.
Top image: Credit Bede House Association.
