Mental Health Scale Up Fund, Round 5 - Grants Awards
The CFSurrey Mental Health Scale-Up Fund (MHSU) is a collective Fund supported by public and private donors. It was founded in 2021 to produce step-change improvement to the support available in Surrey for young people’s mental health so that help is available wherever they live. We particularly want to fund projects which demonstrate clear, measurable impact and ability to scale-up to reach more beneficiaries, an additional cohort and/or a wider geographic area.
This Fund is supported by the Sedel Collings Foundation, the Netherby Trust, the Quies Trust, the A&J Smith Fund, Surrey County Council and NHS Surrey Heartlands in addition to individual private donations. Funding decisions are made by a Fund Panel consisting of representatives of each of the donors, 2 Trustees of CFSurrey, and an independent Chair.
We’re delighted to announce the latest funding totalling £696,943 from Round 5 of the Fund, which provides funding of up to £75,000 per year for up to 5 years. Round 5 was specifically targeted at:
Children and young people experiencing multiple disadvantages
Children and young people going through life transitions
Funded Projects
Catalyst Support £321,943 Project to support Mental Health and wellbeing of young adults aged 18-30 who are transitioning from Children’s to adult’s services. Project will provide counselling and group work across 11 boroughs including all 21 key neighbourhoods in Surrey.
Delight £375,000 Rainforest Retreat Programme to improve mental health and wellbeing in children experiencing multiple disadvantages aged 7-10 and facing transition from primary to secondary school. Project will be rolled out in schools across Surrey focussing on those in key neighbourhoods.
Kathryn Mills, Delight CEO and Founder: "We are incredibly grateful to the supporters of the MHSU Fund, Surrey County Council, and NHS Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership for their huge contribution to our work. This 5-year grant will enable us to support the mental health and wellbeing of primary school children who are affected by multiple disadvantages. Rainforest Retreat is a joyful, immersive visual arts programme that positively impacts mental health through arts-based learning and supports family relationships through shared creative activities. By scaling up this work over 5 years we can expand our reach across Surrey to those that need it the most."
Sue Murphy, Catalyst Support CEO: “Five years of funding through the Mental Health Scale-Up Fund is transformative for Catalyst Support. It allows us to move beyond short-term fixes and build a sustainable, county-wide service for young adults aged 18–30 who are navigating the complex transition from children to adult mental health services. With this support, we will more than double our counselling provision, deliver over 1,200 sessions annually across all 21 key neighbourhoods, and create new referral pathways for priority groups including those affected by domestic abuse, substance use, and social exclusion. Crucially, the five-year horizon gives us the stability to invest in skilled counsellors, robust clinical supervision, and outreach partnerships, ensuring that every young person in Surrey can access high-quality, trauma-informed support when they need it most.”
Mark Nuti, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing and Public Health: ‘Surrey County Council is delighted to support these projects, which will provide support to the mental health of children and young people across Surrey at key periods of change and transition in their lives’.
Dr Charlotte Canniff, Joint Chief Medical Officer for Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership: "We know that children and young people who are experiencing multiple disadvantages can be particularly vulnerable when they reach key changes in their life. Surrey Heartlands ICB is really proud to support these programmes as they will make a meaningful difference for young people across Surrey. Crucially both programmes will expand work to reach across the whole county so that children and young people can take part no matter where they live”
Sources of Funding
Surrey County Council and NHS Surrey Heartlands donated £1M from the Mental Health Investment Fund (MHIF) for 2 funding rounds of the Mental Health Scale-Up Fund in 2025 (Rounds 4 and 5). CFSurrey has matched this donation 100% with donations from 4 private foundations as listed above.
Round 4 of the MHSU awarded funding in February and April 2025 for Suicide Prevention work as follows:
£634,000 – consortium of 4 charities – Oakleaf, Hope Hub, Guildford Action, Rentstart.
£375,000 – Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership
Surrey County Council and NHS Surrey Heartlands have donated a further £595,00 which will be used to fund Round 6 of the MHSU Fund. Note: Funding for this round is provided solely by Surrey County Council and Surrey Heartlands from their MHIF and will not be match funded. It will be used to award funding to VCSE organisations who are supporting beneficiaries of any age. This is a one-off arrangement after which the Mental Health Scale-Up Fund will revert to its usual age restrictions. Click HERE for how to apply.