Deadline: 26-Nov-2025
The Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) has launched the latest round of Happiness Hub Grants, funded by the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB), to support voluntary and community organisations in creating safe and supportive spaces that promote mental health and wellbeing.
The funding aims to provide a ‘Safe Haven’ for people and their carers where they can connect and talk with others, often whilst undertaking activities to promote wellbeing or resilience. The aim is for Happiness Hubs to be able to provide ongoing activities and support and therefore staff or volunteers must commit to undertaking mental health awareness training and also encourage peer support through engaging with people who have lived experience. Key evaluation criteria for all projects must be that 75% of participants report increased confidence, self-esteem or wellbeing, and 70% of participants report improved mental health.
Applicants can apply for grants ranging between £500 and £10,000, with a total of £95,000 available in this round. All applicants must be able to demonstrate compliance with the Real Living Wage to ensure fair and sustainable employment practices.
Funding can be spent on revenue costs only, including staffing, volunteer expenses, mental health-related training, room hire, refreshments, meals, activity resources, small equipment, and management or administration fees. However, the fund strictly excludes expenditure on capital costs, utilities, transport, retrospective costs, repeat projects, or events. Projects must also begin within six months of the grant offer date to remain eligible.
The Happiness Hubs Fund forms part of the broader Community and Crisis Mental Health Transformation Fund, designed to help local voluntary and community organisations enhance mental health support within their communities. This round of funding is exclusively open to organisations that have not previously received a Happiness Hub Grant. The grants aim to empower groups to either launch new wellbeing-focused activities or extend their existing opening hours, providing more opportunities for people to access compassionate, community-based mental health support.
For more information, visit Pioneering Care Partnership.