Do you have an idea or solution which could address anxiety in Children and Young People’s Mental Health across the South West?

** Our 2022 Health Equity Innovation Challenge is now closed. Please check back at the end of September for details of the successful applicants.**

Overview

We’re calling for applications for our second Health Equity Innovation Challenge which, for 2022, will focus on identifying and spreading innovative practice to help close health equity gaps for Children and Young People’s Mental Health in access to care, quality of care, opportunities for a healthy life and agency in managing individual health. The theme of this year’s challenge is anxiety.

The Challenge will offer up to three ambitious innovators grants of up to £25K, over a 6-month period, to fund their proposed solution and provides real-world evaluation support to help innovators to generate the evidence needed to bring their innovation to market.

We are particularly keen to hear from partners who share our ambition to:

• Address mental health inequity in anxiety, for children and young people
• Increase the opportunities for support that exist outside of current services
• Support targeted health equity initiatives in the prevention and early intervention of anxiety
• Support efforts that reduce inequalities in pathways into and throughout care.

Why anxiety?

Anxiety disorders in children and young people bring significant personal and societal costs and living with anxiety reduces life chances for children and young people.

These challenges associated with anxiety are disproportionately experienced by children living in poverty, children who have complex needs and children who face other risks of exclusion, alienation, and marginalisation.

Health Equity Innovation at the South West AHSN

The Health Equity Innovation Challenge has been developed as part of our second Regional Health Equity Programme, which identified mental health services for young people as being a key priority for the South West. 

It is delivered by the South West AHSN’s Innovation Exchange, which is designed to help innovators implement solutions to meet the challenges faced by the health and care system in South West England. 

The Challenge supports the South West AHSN’s purpose to transform lives through the adoption and spread of innovation in health and care, to improve population health and generate economic growth as part of the national AHSN Network.

How can I apply?

We’re inviting innovators to apply for this exciting funding opportunity from 7 June 2022. Applications will be open for six weeks, with a closing deadline of Wednesday 20 July 2022 at 1pm. Applicants will be notified of the outcome in September 2022.

To apply for the Health Equity Innovation Challenge, applicants will need to:

• complete and submit the online application form
• provide required supporting information, including completing a budget form, which must be sent via email to innovation@swahsn.com
• Please refer to our ‘Information for Applicants’ guide for more details.

A sample of the online form can be downloaded in word format from the website, for reference, to support with drafting an application. Please note that this resource is for reference only and the online form must be completed.

Incomplete or unsubmitted online applications will not be assessed. Completed applications must be submitted online and the supporting information sent by email to innovation@swahsn.com no later than 1pm on Wednesday 20 July 2022. Applications submitted after this time will not be considered.