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Surrey celebrates the Mental Health Investment Fund and its impact on community wellbeing
On the 15th of January 2025, Surrey came together to celebrate the achievements of the Mental Health Investment Fund (MHIF) at a special event that highlighted the transformative work made possible by this pioneering initiative.
The event not only showcased the projects funded by MHIF but also provided a unique Marketplace opportunity to connect colleagues from the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector and inspire future collaborations.
Hosted by Councillor Mark Nuti, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing, and Public Health at Surrey County Council, and Sue Murphy, CEO of Catalyst and the VCSE Alliance, the celebration brought together a diverse group of attendees.
These included MHIF providers, County Councillors, senior staff from Surrey County Council and NHS Surrey Heartlands, and representatives from public health, commissioning leads, and district and borough councils.
In his opening remarks, Councillor Nuti set an uplifting tone by quoting the beloved words of Albus Dumbledore:
Happiness can be found even in the darkest time if one only remembers to turn on the light.
This sentiment was echoed by Sue Murphy, who urged attendees to pledge their continued support for the future of the innovative projects backed by the MHIF.
The MHIF, a joint initiative by Surrey County Council and Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board, was established in 2022 with a £10.5 million budget to fund community projects aimed at preventing mental ill health and enhancing emotional wellbeing across Surrey.
The fund has supported a wide range of groundbreaking initiatives, with future rounds promising even greater impact. In 2025, £1.2m has been pledged for the Mental Health Scale-Up Fund, with plans for matched funding from the Community Foundation Surrey, to support projects focusing on children and young people up to 30 years old.
The event celebrated the achievements of several providers, offering attendees a glimpse into the difference these projects are making in the lives of Surrey residents. Highlights included:
- Appeer, represented by Jo Dilworth and Sam Emmerson, shared powerful stories of connecting autistic girls and young women, creating spaces where they can “just be themselves.”
- CHIPS holiday playscheme, presented by Helen Monteiro, showcased the transformative impact of their Easter and summer respite provisions, described by parents as “a lifeline.”
- Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) Elmbridge outreach at Fort House GP practice, presented by Fay Curtis-Kay and colleagues, demonstrated how embedding CAB support within GP surgeries has made a real difference, providing immediate assistance to patients in need.
Unity Insights, the organisation commissioned to evaluate the MHIF project, also presented their findings and shared plans to provide training to help projects generate and utilise their own insights. This initiative ensures that funded projects continue to demonstrate their impact, strengthening the case for future investment.
A Q&A session followed, featuring a panel that included Councillor Nuti, Sue Murphy, Dr Charlotte Canniff, Joint Chief Medical Officer and Executive Director of Adult Mental Health, NHS Surrey Heartlands, and Claire Edgar, Executive Director for Adults, Wellbeing, and Health Partnerships, Surrey County Council.
Attendees engaged in discussions about collaboration, sustainability, and how best to tackle emerging mental health challenges.
The event concluded with remarks from Dr Charlotte Canniff and Claire Edgar, who celebrated the incredible impact of MHIF projects. They emphasised the importance of Unity Insights’ data in demonstrating the value of early intervention—not only in terms of mental health and wellbeing but also in long-term cost savings.
Dr Canniff remarked:
To gain support for more funding in the future, we need to show through insights how we can’t afford not to support these projects.
Claire Edgar closed by saying:
This MHIF celebration event has highlighted not just the achievements of the past but also the exciting opportunities ahead. With a renewed focus on scaling up interventions for children, young people, and families, Surrey continues to lead the way in investing in mental health and community wellbeing.
For more information about the Mental Health Investment Fund and its projects, visit Healthy Surrey.