Posted on: Thursday 24 February 2022
Torfaen Council is allocating £25,000 to train and support six people from local community groups and the voluntary sector to become Mental Health First Aiders.
This is one of nine projects funded from the council's £1.2 million Covid-recovery fund to help Torfaen communities recover from the impacts of the pandemic.
The Mental Health First Aid project will see the council working with Blaenavon-based Mental Health First Aid Wales and Torfaen Voluntary Alliance to deliver the mental health training to the community.
The project is initially seeking to train 6 people from community groups and the voluntary sector who will then commit to continue providing mental health first aid training.
Of the six successful applicants, three will be trained in adult mental health first aid and three trained in youth mental health first aid.
To receive the free training, each Mental Health First Aid Trainer must commit to training a further 22 local people who work or volunteer in mental health first aid.
Torfaen's Executive Member for Adult Services, Cllr David Daniels, said: "'As someone who has a particular passion for mental health, I'm very pleased to see this investment in creating more mental health first aiders.
"At a time when our wellbeing has taken a battering, the importance of being able to support one another is greater than ever before.
"Mental health first aid helps equip trainees with the necessary skills and techniques to be able to support adults and young people who are struggling with their mental health.
"Once they've delivered the free training, the community group or third sector organisation can then charge to provide the mental health first aid course and provide training within their own organisations which will expand the number of people locally with the expertise to help."
Torfaen's lead officer Mark Sharwood said: "The five days to train the trainers is delivered online and the community training will initially be delivered online as well.
"Once they've delivered two online training sessions, they can undertake additional training to offer the sessions face-to-face.
"That way we can build a sustainable mental health first aid programme to support people in Torfaen."
The Leader of Torfaen Council, Cllr Anthony Hunt, added: "Our Covid recovery fund is aimed at supporting communities affected by two years of turmoil from a global pandemic and a key area to address is the impact on people's mental health."
For more details and to express your interest, please email director@mhfawales.org
For more information on the courses please visit Mental Health First Aid Training | MHFA Wales website. The deadline for applications is 18 March 2022.
All applicants must be able to answer YES to the following questions:
- Do you work or volunteer for a third or community sector group or organisation?
- Are you at least 18 years old?
- Does your organisation work in Torfaen?
- Can you commit to five consecutive days training from the 25 – 29 April?
- Will your organisation release you for the five day training?
- Once qualified, can you commit to initially train 22 people free of charge?
- Does your organisation have insurance cover for delivering this training?