Press release

UK Government funds mental health support to help steelworkers

拢3.27 million to boost mental health provision in the local community and help steelworkers into work.

拢3 million for mental health support to help affected steelworkers secure and stay in employment.

  • 拢3.27 million from the Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board committed to boost聽mental聽health聽provision in the local community
  • Support will help steelworkers affected by the transition to secure and stay in employment
  • Funding to services includes community and schools聽mental聽health聽support.
  • Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board has already announced more than 拢50 million to support workers and businesses.

A fund of more than 拢3 million will be created by the UK Government in partnership with Neath Port Talbot Council to support the聽mental聽health聽and wellbeing of Tata Steel workers and their families in Port Talbot and the wider community.

Chairing the latest meeting of the Tata Steel Port Talbot Transition Board today (27 March) Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens announced 拢3.27 million to fund聽mental聽health聽support services in Neath Port Talbot for those affected by Tata Steel鈥檚 transition to greener steelmaking.

The funding, which is flexible and may be increased depending on demand, is planned to cover services including:

  • hiring more counsellors to work directly with affected steelworkers, and providing extra resources and grants to support existing聽mental聽health聽provision
  • expanding availability of community and peer support such as through Men鈥檚 Sheds, She Sheds and other community groups
  • funding聽mental聽health聽support in schools where children are affected by the Tata Steel transition
  • Providing specialist advice for steelworkers and their families navigating the welfare system or struggling with debt
  • training council and trade union support workers in suicide awareness and prevention

The latest funding comes from the UK Government鈥檚 拢80m Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board fund which, since last July, has announced more than 拢50 million to help individual steelworkers and businesses in Tata Steel鈥檚 supply chain to protect jobs and grow the local economy.

The latest announcement is the first project to support workers鈥櫬爉ental聽health聽and wellbeing. In the coming months, there will be tens of millions more in funding allocated to growth and regeneration projects in Port Talbot, ensuring that secure well-paid jobs are available in the local area. 聽聽聽

Wellbeing is key to securing and staying in good employment. So this funding will contribute to UK Government鈥檚 mission to boost economic growth and raise living standards in Wales, as part of its Plan for Change.

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:聽聽

The past 18 months have been incredibly difficult for the steelworkers of Port Talbot, their families and for the wider community but we said we would聽back them in whatever ways were needed. We are helping people learn new skills but we also need to help protect people鈥檚聽mental聽health, because well-being is crucial to getting back into work and staying in work.聽

By boosting direct support services, we are investing in the people of the area and supporting growth in the local economy.

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Rebecca Evans MS said:

Working alongside our Transition Board partners, we will continue to make sure that the right assistance and support is in place for those impacted by the Tata changes as well as providing opportunities for growth, investment and employment wherever they arise.

Neath Port Talbot Council Leader, Cllr Steve Hunt said:

Neath Port Talbot Council welcomes the announcement of this funding and the commitment to support the wellbeing of our local communities through this difficult time. We know the impact of change at the steelworks is being felt deeply across the area, and particularly within Port Talbot itself, where every household will know many others directly or indirectly affected.

This is a vital addition to the support the council is delivering alongside our Transition Board partners, as we adapt to the future of steelmaking in the town and prepare for the new opportunities offered by future investment and developments such as the Celtic Freeport.

Martyn Wagstaff,聽Mental聽Health聽Advisor said:

It鈥檚 really important that anyone who is struggling with their聽mental聽health聽asks for help.聽There is support available and talking to someone is the best way to get better.

This funding from the Transition Board means that people in Neath Port Talbot will be able to access more help when needed.

ENDS

Updates to this page

Published 28 March 2025