Background:
HeadFirst was established in 2019 to provide access to high-quality, free mental health and suicide prevention courses for any person living, working, or volunteering within North Yorkshire. It was a collaboration at the time between Public Health and Stronger Communities (now known as ‘Communities’, within the Localities Service at North Yorkshire Council). Since Local Government Reform (LGR), the collaboration continues to work across Public Health and the Communities Team.
The ambition being to improve access to courses that would upskill the local workforce and communities on these topics to:
- Reduce stigma and discrimination
- Develop mentally healthy communities and workplaces
- Reduce suicides
- Increase the wellbeing and emotional resilience of people living and working in North Yorkshire.
Training courses are facilitated by a range of different providers. Each provider is accredited to facilitate a particular course/courses, providing a full coverage of training opportunities throughout the year. By bringing together a number of providers, the aim was to ensure equitable coverage of in-person-training across the county, as well as greater value for money. Each provider works closely with the lead from the Communities Team to book in training courses across each financial year, as well as work through any issues or challenges that might arise.
From 2019 to end 2024, North Yorkshire’s HeadFirst delivered 51 mental health and suicide awareness courses to over 700 people living, working and volunteering in North Yorkshire.
Our outcomes
Development of the HeadFirst website provides a delivery partnership with qualified, experienced trainers in North Yorkshire. The aim:
- Reduce stigma and discrimination
- Develop mentally healthy communities and workplaces
- Reduce loneliness and social and emotional isolation
- Reduce suicides.
The Offer
You are invited to join the Directory of Approved Training Providers.
The offer includes:
- Opportunity to be included on the HeadFirst website, providing learners with the reassurance of quality provision
- Opportunity to widen your reach to new and potential learners
- Access to marketing opportunities.
- Pathway to join other Approved Training Providers delivering courses across North Yorkshire
- Networking and partnership work with like-minded providers.
- Access to continuing professional development activities.
Application Form Guidance
Please complete the application form whilst taking account of the guidance below. Please note the word count for each question.
Section One: Tell us about your organisation
Guidance Note 1:
Please complete the contact details of the organisation that is applying to join the Directory, including an appropriate named contact person who we will liaise with. If you are a sole trader, please complete this section with your personal or business contact details.
Guidance Note 2:
Q5 – Applications are open to a range of organisations including voluntary and community groups, social enterprises, schools & colleges, statutory bodies, faith groups (see note 1) and businesses and sole traders/employers (see note 2).
Note 1: Faith groups are welcome to apply but services which evangelise or proselytise religious beliefs will not be eligible.
Note 2: Commercial organisations are welcome to apply however they must be able to demonstrate that any funded activities do not generate any private profit.
Guidance Note 3:
Q6 – Please note that all providers included in the Directory must record their services on North Yorkshire Connect.
To add your organisation and activity go to the North Yorkshire Connect homepage and click on the ‘Sign up’ button in the top right corner of the page. If you have any problems, or concerns, please email:
stronger.communities@northyorks.gov.uk
Guidance Note 4:
Q7 – We recognise that North Yorkshire is a geographically large and diverse county. Training delivery will be informed by both local demand and relevant data. As such, Approved Training Providers may be asked to deliver training in specific areas of the county, particularly where needs have been identified (e.g. increased risk of suicide in a particular community, or the death of a person by suicide). While training is often based in locations such as Northallerton, Harrogate, and Skipton, flexibility may be required to ensure timely and appropriate delivery in other areas.
Where online training options are available, these may be delivered countywide unless a course is specifically targeted to a particular location or audience.
Section 2 – Current Capacity
Please tell us about the people in your organisation who you would like to be included as accredited trainers in the Directory.
Guidance Note 5:
Q11 – This is where you can tell us about the trainers you would like including in the Directory, why they are suitable, their level of experience and the amount of capacity they have to contribute. You will be required to supply scanned copies of original training certificates and submit them with your application.
Guidance Note 6:
Q13 – Training providers must ensure organisational support is in place to allow flexibility and capacity needed to deliver sessions across North Yorkshire, including in areas identified through local need or data (e.g. suicide risk).
All Approved Training Providers must
- be members of NY Connect
- listed on the HeadFirst website
- actively promote training opportunities/courses
- manage bookings
- ensure courses are appropriately filled
- deliver a minimum of two courses on our behalf in a calendar year.
General Terms & Conditions
Any training delivered which is funded through a direct grant to the provider organisation will be managed through a funding agreement between NYC and the provider.
Monitoring and Evaluation
For all funded delivery, training will be subject to monitoring and verification that is appropriate to the level of the funding to ensure that the training has been delivered as anticipated. Feedback forms must be completed by provider and attendees. NYC retain the right to reclaim grant funding should the applicant fail to meet the terms and conditions of the funding.
How to Apply
All applications must be made on the Directory of Approved Training Providers Application Form. The applications will then be evaluated and determined by a panel comprising representatives from NYC Public Health and NYC Communities Team. Applicants will be notified regarding the outcome of their application within 4 weeks of submission.
If you would like further information about the opportunity or would like to discuss the submission of an application, please contact: stronger.communities@northyorks.gov.uk