Cost of Living and Mental Health Support Programme

Procurement reference

WWU1584

Procurement description

This collaborative programme will deliver integrated financial, mental health and energy-related support across England and Wales through national and local service delivery.

At a national level, Mind will deliver a Welfare Benefits Helpline supporting 8,230 individuals over a 21-month period. The helpline provides expert advice to individuals experiencing mental health problems, supporting them to navigate the benefits system, improve financial wellbeing, and access additional support where required. Advisors will also be upskilled to provide awareness of the Priority Services Register and signpost individuals to relevant energy support services.

At a local level, the programme will deliver community-based support through 24 local Mind organisations, supporting 6,000 individuals over one year. Each local Mind will support 250 people, including 100 individuals receiving in-depth one-to-one support and 150 individuals receiving lighter touch support such as group sessions, drop-ins and workshops.

These services will provide tailored, flexible support, including financial guidance, welfare benefits support, energy advice, wellbeing support and access to practical assistance such as hardship grants or vouchers.

Individuals will also be supported to access schemes such as Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payments and Priority Services Register registration.

The overall objectives are to:

improve mental health and financial wellbeing outcomes

support vulnerable households to manage energy costs

increase access to energy safeguarding services, including PSR

provide integrated, accessible support across national and local pathways improve awareness of carbon monoxide safety and energy protection.

Wales & West Utilities Limited

CADENT GAS LIMITED

SCOTIA GAS NETWORKS LIMITED

NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED

MIND (THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH)

Procedure type

Direct award

Description of how these justifications apply

This contract is proposed for direct award to Mind on the basis of technical capability and unique service delivery. Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales, with an established national infrastructure and a federated network of local Mind organisations delivering community-based support at scale.

Mind is uniquely positioned to provide integrated mental health, financial wellbeing, and energy-related support through a combination of a national Welfare Benefits Line and locally embedded services. This dual delivery model enables both nationwide reach and tailored, place-based support, addressing the complex and interrelated challenges of mental health, poverty, and fuel poverty.

The organisation's specialist expertise in supporting individuals experiencing mental health problems-particularly those facing barriers such as stigma, low confidence and difficulty engaging with services-ensures effective engagement with vulnerable households who are unlikely to access mainstream energy advice or support independently.

Mind's established partnerships, national helpline infrastructure, and extensive local delivery network mean that no alternative provider is able to deliver this integrated, mental health-led model at the required scale and depth across all participating GDN regions.

On this basis, Mind represents the only provider capable of delivering the required outcomes, ensuring consistent, accessible, and effective support for vulnerable customers while maximising impact across the network.

Direct award justification

Single suppliers technical reasons

Is this procurement under a special regime?

Light touch

Sustainability

Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)