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Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund Year 2 Now Open in the UK

Deadline: 28-Nov-22

The East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action (EDVA) is pleased to announce Year 2 of the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is Now Open.

This funding opportunity is being made available from the local implementation of the Scottish Government’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. The fund recognises the hugely important role that communities can play in strengthening the wellbeing of adults within East Dunbartonshire.

The grant fund has been specifically designed to offer significant financial support to local community projects which improve the mental health and wellbeing of local people aged 16+. With grants of up to £20,000 being made available, the Fund is especially interested in hearing from groups who provide community connections and practical support for those who have experienced disadvantage, distress, isolation, or whose mental health has been negatively impacted as a result of the pandemic.

Aims

The focus of the Fund is on the adult population and on projects which help whole communities and/or community groups, in turn making a difference to the lives of individuals. The adult population in Scotland is those 16 and over. The objective of the Fund is to develop a culture of mental wellbeing and prevention within local communities and across Scotland with improved awareness of how they can all stay well and help ourselves and others. The Fund seeks to contribute to the four key areas of focus from the Mental Health Transition and Recovery Plan:

  • Promoting and supporting the conditions for good mental health and wellbeing.
  • Providing accessible signposting to help, advice and support.
  • Providing a rapid and easily accessible response to those in distress.
  • Ensuring safe, effective treatment and care of people living with mental ill health.
Funding Information

There will, therefore, be three levels of grant funding:

  • Small-scale Grants of up to £2,000 aimed at smaller groups and unconstituted organisations who, are normally are excluded from such funds.
  • To ensure a broad reach across small community organisations, it is envisaged that the majority of grants will be up to the value of £10,000.
  • Larger grants will be available for a smaller proportion of bids up to the value of £20,000. However to access this larger amount of funding they would encourage partnership working between organisations in East Dunbartonshire.

There is no minimum grant size but organisations intending on asking for less than £1,000 may want to consider how they might expand or extend their activity. All funds must be spent by the 31st of March 2024 and funded activities completed by this date.

Fund Priorities

The overarching aim of the Fund is to support community-based initiatives that promote and develop good mental health and wellbeing and/or mitigate and protect against the impact of distress and mental ill health within the adult population, with a particular focus on:

  • Tackling priority issues within the Transition and Recovery Plan such as suicide prevention, social isolation and loneliness, prevention and early intervention.
  • Addressing the mental health inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic and the needs of a range of ‘at risk’ groups locally.
  • Supporting small ‘grass roots’ community groups and organisations to deliver such activities.
  • Providing opportunities for people to connect with each other, build trusted relationships and revitalise communities 5. Supporting recovery and creativity locally by building on what is already there, what was achieved through the pandemic, and by investing in creative solutions.
What can be funded:
  • Equipment, materials and capital costs.
  • One-off events.
  • Hall and room hire, including appropriate refreshments.
  • Participation costs.
  • Staffing costs.
  • Training costs.
  • Transport.
  • Utilities and running costs.
  • Volunteer expenses.
  • Safety equipment and PPE.
Eligibility Criteria
  • The East Dunbartonshire Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is designed to support community-based projects that bring people together to connect with and support each other. Small and medium sized organisations which can demonstrate a strong community focus for their wellbeing work or proposed project are encouraged to apply; especially those who provide support for those who are often excluded or disadvantaged, or are experiencing isolation, distress, or anxiety.
  • The Fund can support both existing and new projects. Projects funded through Year 1 of the Fund are eligible to apply again but must clearly show how they will develop in Year two (for example, increasing accessibility and reach to different groups) and where possible, they should demonstrate early impacts from Year 1.
  • It is expected that the majority of applications will come from groups which are already operating to some extent, who have some infrastructure in place, or who can demonstrate the benefits of developing a new project. The main criteria are that each application must clearly demonstrate how its proposed project will benefit local people’s mental health and wellbeing.
  • Applications can be accepted from a range of voluntary ‘not for profit’ organisations, associations, groups and clubs or consortiums/partnerships which have a strong community focus for their activities. The range of organisations that can apply are:
    • Unincorporated Associations.
    • Registered Charities.
    • Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations (SCIO).
    • Not-for-profit company or asset locked company or Community Interest Companies (CIC).
    • Companies Limited by Guarantee.
    • Trusts.
    • Cooperative and Community Benefit Societies.
    • Community councils.
    • Parent Councils.
    • Un-constituted Groups.
  • Please Note:
    • Parent Councils- can apply subject to the following conditions:
      • The funded activities must meet the aims of the Fund and specifically must focus on supporting adults rather than their children.
      • Any Parent Council applying to this fund must have a statutory duty to keep proper accounts, for which there may already be legal and regulatory requirements for them to do so depending on the status of the Parent Council, for example, some parent councils are registered with OSCR as a charity.
  • Un-constituted Groups- can apply for small scale grants of up to £2,000 for wellbeing support and capacity building purposes. EDVA as grant giver would require to be satisfied with arrangements in terms of assurance around monitoring and accountability of spend; this may include a constituted entity (that meets criteria above) holding a grant for un-constituted groups as well as supporting groups to become constituted.
  • National organisations undertaking initiatives in the local area are not excluded but are not the main focus of the Fund. The majority of grants will go to small and medium sized groups and organisations – with incomes ranging from under £25,000 per annum up to £1 million per annum. Organisations with an income of over £1 million can apply however they must demonstrate how they can provide specific community-based activity in East Dunbartonshire.

For more information, visit https://edva.org/funding