Member Article

Mental health business start-up initiative

An organisation on Tyneside is developing the UK’s first ever guidelines to help people with mental health problems start their own business. Enterprise and economic development agency Project North East (PNE) is working with the Hamlet Trust mental health charity to pioneer the initiative, known as ‘Business Minds’, on Tyneside with a view to it becoming adopted nationally. As the initiative still under development, PNE would like to hear from people with mental health problems who are interested in starting their own business. Chris Fitch, Research Fellow at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which is evaluating the initiative, said: “Many people with mental illness want to work, but find the employment opportunities open to them are often very restricted. By encouraging people to consider the option of starting their own business, the “Business Minds” initiative is filling an important gap in enabling people to return to work. “We are working with PNE and the Hamlet Trust to pioneer a new approach which will ensure business advisers throughout the UK are equipped with the skills and knowledge to support this group.” It is hoped that the testing of the new guidelines and support in the North East will provide a ‘blueprint of best practice’ for business support organisations throughout the UK to improve the service they provide to enterprising people with mental health problems.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .