New round for wellbeing fund

THE Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults is now open for its fifth round of applications in Dumfries and Galloway.

A total of £439,150 has been made available by the Scottish Government to support grassroots groups and organisations across the region in delivering initiatives that enhance mental wellbeing, reduce inequalities and strengthen community resilience.

The overarching aim 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.

Local priorities for Dumfries and Galloway are social isolation and loneliness; suicide prevention; and poverty and inequality, with an emphasis on responding to the cost-of-living crisis and support to those facing socio-economic disadvantages. Eligible applicants include charities, community groups, SCIOs, CICs, cooperatives, community councils, and others.

Grants are available either as one-year or two-year projects:

• Small grants: up to £10,000 per year (one-year) or up to £20,000/year over two years.

• Main grants: between £10,000 and £35,000 per year for one-year projects; or £20,000 to £70,000 per year for two-year projects.

Eligible project costs include one-off events; hall hire for community spaces; staff costs (these should be one-off or fixed term); training costs; transport; utilities/running costs; volunteer expenses; and small capital spend up to £5000.

A key change this round is the option for organisations to apply for two-year projects.

The application deadline is Friday 24 October and decisions will be announced by the end of January 2026. Projects may begin no earlier than 1 April 2026.

Full details are available at www.tsdg.org.uk/cmhwf/.