Sandwell Council recognised for mental health initiative

5th March 2024

Sandwell Council initiative Sandwell Better Mental Health is nominated for a Local Government Chronicle (LGC) award. There are also three other Sandwell nominees on the shortlist.

Shortlisted in the LGC’s Public Health category, the Sandwell Better Mental Health fund supports a range of community wellbeing projects. These include ‘Changes’, which offers activities and guidance to parents and anti-bullying initiative ‘SHAPE’. It also includes Sandwell libraries and archives, and a wellbeing charter mark for voluntary and community groups. 

Initiatives that support Sandwell’s communities

Sandwell Better Mental Health also supports the ‘Team Talk’ 5-a-side football league, and ‘Tough Enough to Care’, promoting better mental health for men in Sandwell. Another initiative falling under its umbrella is ‘Ideal for All’. This programme strives to make life better for people with disabilities, mental health needs and long term health conditions. 

Organisation i-act uses the fund to deliver a training course in mental health literacy to community organisations. SCVO offers community mental health grants of up to £5K for activities related to positive mental health.

Better mental health is one of the key priorities for Sandwell Business Ambassadors. For information and links to further resources, visit our resources page.

Find out more about Healthy Sandwell.

Three other Sandwell nominations

Sandwell’s Healthy Ageing App project is also shortlisted for an award in the Public Health category. The app offers self-care content and local support links. It has helped make healthcare in Sandwell more inclusive, accessible, and culturally sensitive.

Two individuals are also in the running for LGC awards. Liann Brookes-Smith, interim director of public health at Sandwell Council, is shortlisted for an Outstanding Individual Contribution award. On the shortlist for the Rising Star award is Emily Jayne Morgan, a member of Sandwell’s School Improvement and Public Health team.

Councillor Syeda Khatun MBE, cabinet member for public health and communities, said: “I am absolutely thrilled Sandwell Council and its staff have been shortlisted for the LGC Awards. To receive one mention in the shortlist is excellent, but it’s a real testament to our team and their hard work to be in line for up to four awards.”

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in London on Wednesday 12 June. You can find out more, and book your table, on the awards website.

In the meantime, the Sandwell Business Ambassadors wish all the nominees huge congratulations on the work they do to make Sandwell a safe and supportive place to live.