25 GHP Mental Health Awards 2026 Grove Vale. SACMHF has been on a long journey to achieving financial freedom as an organisation, and the past 12 months has seen the team shedding the limiting weight of the traditional charity financing model. The existing site’s demolition and subsequent replacement was initially costed at £950,000. Months later, that figure rose to £1.1 million. SACMHF contributed finances from its own reserves, and secured funding from the Community Ownership Fund (COF), National Lottery Community Fund, The Clothworkers Foundation, The Wolfson Foundation, Garfield Weston and the Eveson Trust. National membership network Locality was selected to guide the charity through its COF application whilst MP Sarah Coombes liaised with central government, both providing invaluable support during the challenging process. The asset transfer process has made significant work for the SACMHF team and has involved engagement with the local community of the Charlemont and Grove Vale ward, consultation and engagement with service users, lengthy lease negotiations, planning applications, and more. “The team has been rightfully inquisitive about the asset transfer,” said Patricia, “and it is their studious approach to work that has allowed me to consider this large capital project. I thank them for their work ethic; this could not be executed without the support of the team. “There are also key individuals from the Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council who have worked hard to make this process smoother and, frankly, we could not have reached this stage without them. Currently, the build is in progress, and we will soon see the pouring of the concrete to form the foundations. We will be working towards transitioning to the new site from November 2026.” To find out more about the Sandwell African Caribbean Mental Health Foundation and remain up to date with the charity’s upcoming transfer, visit the SACMHF website today. Contact: Patricia Johnson, Chief Executive Officer Email: p.johnson@sacmhf.co.uk Phone: 0121 525 1629 Company: Sandwell African Caribbean Mental Health Foundation Web Address: www.sacmhf.co.uk Instagram: @SACMHF1 X: @KUUMBAF Facebook: @SACMHF perating from the Kuumba centre in West Bromwich, Sandwell African Caribbean Mental Health Foundation (SACMHF) is a charity striving to support people living in and around the metropolitan borough of Sandwell. The charity delivers a range of culturally sensitive and responsive mental health services predominantly, but not exclusively, for Black people recovering from severe and enduring mental illness, as well as their families, carers, and the wider community. SACMHF offers a comprehensive range of services spanning counselling, outreach support, peer support groups, and employment support. It operates a conditions management programme delivered by its student placement cohort, comprising student social workers, student nurses, student psychotherapists, and student occupational therapists from local universities. Across its services, the SACMHF team focuses on delivering bespoke, person-centred, culturally sensitive mental health support. It looks to provide a holistic approach within its assessments; in addition to documented diagnosis, risk history, and crisis planning, the team considers other areas of life that impacts its beneficiaries’ quality of life in the same manner as they would individuals without a mental health diagnosis, such as housing, benefits and welfare, employment and training, family, social networks, physical health, and more. “Our experience tells us that we cannot deliver a one-size-fits-all service,” Patricia explained. “We ensure that we embed consultation within our offerings to safeguard the efficacy of our evidence-based services. The evidence stems from our data capture protocols, including regular completion of feedback and surveys, a mental wellbeing tool that assesses whether we are meeting the individual needs of the people using our services.” Alongside feedback tools, SACMHF also implements a quality framework to ensure that its services are delivered to the highest standards. The charity was awarded with ISO 9001:2015 certification in 2017 for quality management systems. Ever since, it has maintained its certification via annual audits, with a consistent report of no major non-conformities. This is a significant point of pride for the team, as it demonstrates to potential funders and service users alike that its protocols are meticulously assessed and deemed to be of exceptional standards. Over the last two years, SACMHF has also been focused on securing a larger community building from Sandwell Council. It aims to achieve operational sustainability through this transition, in turn facilitating ongoing growth, increased outputs, and boosted revenue that will enable it to better serve the community of Charlemont and Since its inception in 1994, the Sandwell African Caribbean Mental Health Foundation has positively influenced the lives of thousands of Black African, Caribbean, and Black dual heritage adults who are struggling with their mental health. The charity has made significant strides in its mission to support its wider community in the Sandwell borough. As the charity receives recognition in the GHP Mental Health Awards 2026, we heard more from Chief Executive Officer Patricia Johnson. O Mental Health Charity of the Year 2026 – UK SandwellAfricanCaribbean Mental Health Foundation
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