Father of Amy Winehouse backs ‘joined up’ services for needy

Amy Winehouse’s father has lent his support to an initiative which will see up to £100m invested in helping people struggling with issues such as addiction, homelessness, reoffending, substance misuse and mental health problems.

The funding from Big Lottery Fund (Big) will go towards bringing together different services to help those with multiple needs.

The charity said there are an estimated 60,000 adults in England with multiple problems, many of whom would benefit from one single service to prevent them rotating around various welfare and justice systems which can deepen the problems in their lives.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The project will focus on 15 areas of the country, including West Yorkshire. Organisations tackling such issues will be invited to create partnerships in each area.

Supporting the initiative, Mitch Winehouse, who alongside family members established The Amy Winehouse Foundation last September, said: “Since losing my daughter Amy, I have been dedicated to supporting charities that help young people in need - in particular those struggling with an addiction or health issue.

“So I am extremely pleased to hear that the Big Lottery Fund is investing this money to bring organisations together to offer people of all ages more tailored support to deal with all the different needs that they may have.”

The initiative aims to help people like Jodie, 30, from Manchester, who has been in and out of services relating to her drug and alcohol misuse for years.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She also developed an eating disorder and mental health issues and has described experiencing disjointed services.

She said: “There was one place for alcohol only, one for drugs, one for mental health, one for housing. It’s difficult to get support for every aspect of your life – it’s easy to give up when the system works against you.”

Partnerships which successfully apply for funding will receive between £4m and £10m for between five and eight years. During the investment Big will gather evidence which will shed light on more effective and efficient ways of organising and delivering services for people with multiple needs.

Chairman Nat Sloane said: “This eight-year investment of up to £100m is aimed at improving the stability, confidence and capability of people who are living in the most chaotic circumstances with multiple and complex needs so they lead more fulfilling lives and have better life chances as a result of timely, joined-up and supportive services.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Paul Farmer, chief executive of mental health charity Mind, said: “We welcome this significant long-term investment and hope that it will help create improved services and lead to better outcomes for people with multiple needs and exclusions.”