16th May 2026
Mental Health Awareness Week may take place in May, but the LGA Foundation is supporting projects, people and partnerships helping to strengthen mental health support across the region all year round.
We exist to back community-led initiatives that meet people where they are – in their schools, neighbourhoods and everyday lives, and when it comes to mental health, that has never been more important for our region.
Across the North East, demand for accessible, inclusive mental health support continues to grow. From young people navigating social pressures, to men facing stigma, to new parents adjusting to life-changing experiences, the need is wide-reaching and deeply personal. That’s why the LGA Foundation is keen to support as many of these projects as possible, to make a real, tangible difference to the people who call our region home.
Creating safe spaces for young people
Projects like Eating Distress North East, which delivers workshops in schools and youth settings across the region, are working hard to address the problem.
Their sessions are designed to create safe, supportive environments where young people can explore body image, mental health, self-esteem and the impact of social media. So far in 2025/26, 79 young people have taken part and the feedback speaks volumes:
“I feel like I can open up more.”
“It made me feel safe.”
The LGA Foundation is now supporting the next phase of this work, including a new project focused on men and boys, whose experiences with eating disorders are too often overlooked, alongside training for professionals to better recognise and respond to signs of eating distress, because no one should feel like they have to face things alone.
Supporting connection, confidence and community
Addressing mental health inequalities in the North East is important to us, so we’re funding a range of projects that tackle isolation, build confidence and create opportunities for connection – all key components of positive mental health.
Initiatives like Men’s Pie Club bring men together through shared activity and conversation, helping to break down stigma and create space for honest discussion.
Organisations such as WAG & Company provide companionship through volunteer befriending services, often supported by the calming presence of dogs, offering comfort to those experiencing loneliness.
While projects like FANE focus on building friendships and support networks for people with learning disabilities, helping individuals feel seen, valued and connected.
Each project is different, but the impact is the same: stronger communities, healthier minds, and people who feel less alone.
Supporting families from the very start
Mental health support shouldn’t just begin in adulthood. We also recognise the importance of early intervention and family support, particularly during major life transitions. Through our partnerships with organisations like The Children’s Foundation, initiatives such as their mentoring projects with young people help support our young people to thrive. By providing practical resources and emotional reassurance, these projects help to build confidence, reduce anxiety and support mental health from a young age.
For Lauren Reece, active family supporter of the LGA Foundation, supporting mental health projects is not just a professional priority, it’s deeply personal. Speaking about why supporting these projects matters, she said, “Mental health affects people regardless of circumstance. It doesn’t discriminate, and at some point, it touches all of our lives. I have lived experience of how important the right support can be, and I’m incredibly passionate about making sure others can access that same support when they need it.
“Since becoming a mum, I’m particularly aware of how vital it is to support women through the postpartum experience. Projects that support new parents make such a difference in helping women feel supported, reassured and not alone at a time that can feel overwhelming.
“The North East is full of incredible projects that genuinely touch and change lives and we want to support them to continue their vital work.”
By funding grassroots organisations, championing lived experience, and supporting innovative, community-led solutions, the LGA Foundation is supporting projects to build a North East where mental health support is accessible, inclusive and proactive.
Real change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens one conversation, one connection, and one project at a time.
To find out more about how to access funding for your organisation visit https://lga-foundation.org/apply-now/