The Work and Health Unit (WHU), which is jointly managed by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care, is using a £4.2m Challenge Fund to test new approaches that can help people experiencing mental health and/or musculoskeletal (MSK) issues stay in work.

We are looking to fund around twenty Initiatives which will improve our understanding of what works in one or more of the following areas:

• Helping people stay in work by increasing their ability to self-manage their conditions.


• Helping people access advice and support about what sort of work they might be capable of doing given their wider needs and circumstances.


• Developing new approaches to help employers and individuals develop workplace solutions, or ways of working that facilitate greater participation of people experiencing these conditions.


• Improving systems by joining up services to strengthen communication, liaison or joint action.

We welcome applications from employers, charities, social enterprises, local authorities, health bodies and others from across England, Scotland and Wales.

The Application Process closed in August 2018. Projects are anticipated to run between October 2018 and February 2020.

 You can view a video from the market warming event that was held in London on Friday 27th July here.

This application portal is managed by Rocket Science on behalf of the Work and Health Unit.