News about Think Ahead’s future funding

We’re sad to share news that the Department of Health and Social Care has decided not to continue funding the Think Ahead programme for the 2026 Cohort and beyond.

Our 2025 Cohort – due to start this summer – will go ahead as planned.

We are extremely disappointed with this decision. The Think Ahead programme has been running since 2016, and in that time we have recruited and trained over 1,100 mental health social workers, who have made a huge difference to people with mental health needs across the country.

We are proud that we have brought people into mental health social work from a huge range of professional backgrounds – and that our cohorts are as diverse as the communities they serve, with 30% from black, Asian and ethnically diverse backgrounds, and 50% in the first generation of their family to go to university.

Mental health social workers are absolutely vital for supporting people with mental health needs. They make a transformational difference to people’s lives, supporting with social issues that matter most to all of us – things like poor housing, poverty, unemployment, discrimination and unstable relationships.

Although we’re saddened by this news, our belief in the importance of our work is as strong as ever. Everyone living with mental health needs should be supported to live the life they want and deserve.

To achieve this, we need a thriving mental health workforce that is able to truly support people with the social factors that shape their lives – and we remain firmly committed to building that future.