Ember is launching a call for applications from community mental health initiatives working in low- and middle-income countries wishing to join forces with Ember.

Successful initiatives will be offered a 12-month partnership with EmberThis is a customised solution to support and strengthen the sustainability and growth of the organisation according to their needs. Selected organisations will also have the opportunity to be considered for Ember investment after the 12-month partnership.

Why was Ember created?

• Ember is a flagship programme of the SHM Foundation, a forward-looking philanthropic organisation working worldwide to bring about positive social change in the fields of health and well-being, education and livelihoods, and access to the arts.
• The SHM Foundation innovates and implements in the field of health mental for over a decade, having designed and funded projects with vulnerable communities in 19 countries.
• They believe that people working at the community level play a crucial role and offer invaluable information to fill the global gaps in care and education. awareness in mental health. Their own experience has taught them first-hand about the many challenges faced by community projects, particularly when they are starting to develop. A major challenge for these organisations is to find support tailored to their specific contexts, backgrounds and plans.
• At Ember, they understand that each organisation operates in distinct circumstances, faces unique challenges and pursues individual objectives. They know that a one-size-fits-all approach simply won't do.
• That's why they take the time to listen carefully to each partner's experiences and needs. By fully understanding their situation, they can offer their expertise to support their plans, tailoring their approach to their contexts and objectives while co-designing strategies to empower them. Instead of a generic solution, they engage in a collaborative process with each partner, working closely together to understand their specific barriers and opportunities. This means that strategies are tailor-made, taking into account everything from financial health and capacity building to team wellbeing, creative storytelling and impact evaluation.
• Their commitment to this bespoke support means that no two partnerships with Ember are the same. They tailor their methods and resources to ensure the best possible outcomes for each organisation they work with. By offering support that is as unique as the organisations they work with, Ember helps organisations address their immediate challenges while laying a solid foundation for long-term resilience and meaningful progress.

What does a partnership with Ember involve?

• The support provided by Ember is tailored to the organisation and its changing needs, and rooted in an ethos of collaboration, respect and mutual learning.
• Ember provides :
  • Collaborative evaluation : They work with successful candidates to identify strengths, challenges and future visions, co-designing strategies to overcome obstacles and build on strengths.
  • Tailor-made assistance : They tailor their work to meet the specific needs of each initiative. These may include helping organisations develop clearer visions for their future, increasing visibility and stakeholder engagement through improved communication, capturing impact and strengthening financial strategies.
  • Visibility and networking : They provide platforms to showcase your work and build networks through creative publications, events and networking opportunities.
  • Well-being Support for you and your team.
  • Financial allocation : An unrestricted allowance of £6,000 for the year, divided into two instalments.
  • Financial investment after the initial 12-month partnership IF an organisation is selected as one of the investment partners by the Ember working group and the SHM Foundation board.
• They work together to build on strengths and overcome challenges to enable initiatives to progress on their journey, whether that's growing, developing a more sustainable business or operational model, moving from a voluntary to a professional organisation or replicating your work in a new setting.

What does Ember want from its partners?

• Time commitment : They expect organisations to spend around 3 hours a week for 12 months on the partnership. This includes time spent working directly with Ember in online sessions and time spent working as part of an internal team.
• Partnership values : They are looking for partners who are committed to engaging with them openly, honestly and in a spirit of collaboration.

Eligibility criteria

• In order to be eligible to apply to the Ember 2024 call, applicants must:
  • Working in the field of mental health.
  • Be based in a low- or middle-income country.
  • Engaging directly with communities. They look for initiatives that are close to the communities they serve and deeply rooted in their environment, with local leadership. They are less likely to associate themselves with advocacy organisations, political organisations, government departments or think tanks.
  • Be locally led. This means that initiatives must be based in low- and middle-income countries, created and implemented by local management teams and/or with members of the community they serve.
  • Have a team of more than one person. This can include volunteers.
  • At least one English, Spanish or Arabic speaker in the team.
  • Do not discriminate on the basis of religion, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, race or ability. However, faith-based organisations may apply.

For more information, please visit the SHM Foundation.