Evaluating the Impact, Implementation and Sustainability of the Suicide Prevention Grant Fund: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Short-term funding initiatives are often used to stimulate innovation and improve service delivery. They are a main source of funding for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations. However, reliance on these short-term grants can limit their funded activities and sustainability. In 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) set up the Suicide Prevention Grant Fund (SPGF). This was awarded to VCSEs for a single year to deliver diverse, innovative interventions aimed at preventing suicide. This study aimed to explore service managers perceptions of the SPGFs impact. Specifically, we sought to identify key factors that contributed to a successful delivery of the projects, any challenges in the implementation process and the services capacity to carry on beyond the funding period. Methods: We conducted semi-structured online interviews with managers from 20 SPGF-funded services across England. Representatives from an additional 31 services completed a short survey to complement the interview data. Data were analysed using a framework analysis, with a combination of inductive and deductive coding. The analytic framework was developed and refined in collaboration with our expert working group, including our team of Lived Experience Researchers. Results: Data were categorised into three overarching themes, shaped by our objectives (impact, implementation, and sustainability), with 16 sub-themes identified across these themes. Funding had a clear impact in expanding service provision. Managers identified the importance of the funded projects, which often filled gaps in service provision, targeting underserved groups. Many reported improved well-being, coping, and a reduction in distress. Implementation facilitators included co-designed interventions, skilled staffing, and productive partnerships with external agencies. However, short timescales, administrative burden, and a retrospective payment model particularly strained smaller charities. Sustainability outlooks were mixed. A minority (notably digital or embedded services) expected full continuation; most anticipated partial continuation or closure without further funding. Conclusions: Short-term grants can catalyse impactful, targeted suicide prevention, but sustainability is jeopardised by brief funding windows, reimbursement models, and administrative load, especially for smaller VCSEs. Many services indicated perceived benefits of their interventions, but further evaluation of the impact of novel initiatives in reducing suicide rates is desirable, where possible.

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