Organisations that specialise in child mental health will share £4.9m from the Department for Education’s Voluntary and Community Sector grants programme for 2015-16.
Funding of around £25m will be shared among 94 projects, with the early years sector receiving £5.3m.
Sector organisations including the National Day Nurseries Association, the Pre-school Learning Alliance, PACEY and 4Children have received funding for various early years projects.
Pen Green has been awarded £461,470 to run peer-to-peer training on working with two-year-olds in the PVI sector, building on its 'Being 2' programme.
The Communication Trust and I CAN have been funded to run accredited online Level 3 qualifications in speech, language and communication for childminders.
Money will also be spread between organisations specialising in adoption (£1.7m), children in care (£1.4m), family advice and support (£1.8m), safeguarding (£3.3m), and special educational needs and disabilities (£5.9m).
The department received a total of 463 bids for VCS funding and applicants were assessed by DfE officials and approved by ministers.
Mind will receive around £400,000 to develop a pilot to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in schools to raise pupils’ awareness of mental health issues and improve their access to information and support.
The Oxford Parent Infant Project (OXPIP) will train early years professionals to understand children's social and emotional development and the importance of attachment with a grant of £127,472.
The NCB has been awarded several grants totalling £1.32m to support children and their families with special educational needs and disabilities, children in care and work on anti-bullying projects in schools.
Barnardo’s has received £735,000 to safeguard children and young people from child sexual exploitation.
Education secretary Nicky Morgan said, ‘I’m delighted to give this injection of support to the voluntary sector, which offers life-changing services to children and their families.
‘This was a highly competitive process and every bid given money today has shown that they will put the funds to great use.
‘This is a significant investment in a tough financial climate which will make a real difference across the country.’
