As part of the Scottish Government’s Fairer Funding pilot the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults is included and organisations can now apply for two-year funding. In the Western Isles it is anticipated that Year 5 and 6 of the Fund will open in September 2025.
Further information will appear here.
The overarching aim of this 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 (aged 16 or over), with a particular focus on prevention and early intervention.
Specifically, it aims to:
- Tackle mental health inequalities through supporting a range of ‘at risk groups (as outlined in the Equalities section).
- Address priority issues of social isolation and loneliness, suicide prevention and poverty and inequality with a particular emphasis on responding to the cost-of-living crisis and support to those facing socio-economic disadvantage.
- Support small ‘grass roots’ community groups and organisations to deliver such activities.
- Provide opportunities for people to connect with each other, build trusted relationships and revitalise communities.
The Fund directly contributes to Outcome 4 of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy published in June 2023:
“Better equipped communities to support people’s mental health and wellbeing and provide opportunities to connect with others”
It also clearly supports the three key areas of focus in the Strategy:
Promote positive mental health and wellbeing for the whole population, improving understanding and tackling stigma, inequality and discrimination;
Prevent mental health issues occurring or escalating and tackle underlying causes, adversities and inequalities wherever possible; and
Provide mental health and wellbeing support and care, ensuring people and communities can access the right information, skills, services and opportunities in the right place at the right time, using a person-centred approach.