New two year funding pilot announced for CMHWB Fund
Supporting Community Mental Health and Wellbeing in Argyll and Bute: Funding Boost for 2025-2027
We’re excited to share some fantastic news for community groups and organisations across Argyll and Bute. The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund has been awarded funding for another two years – marking years five and six of this vital initiative. This fund over the last four years has made over 150 awards totalling over £1.5m for our much valued community organisations.
What does this mean for our communities? Well, Argyll and Bute has been allocated £285,765.57 for each of the next two years to support grassroots initiatives that promote mental health and wellbeing. This funding is all about tackling mental health inequalities and supporting those most at risk.
What’s the fund all about?
The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is designed to make a real difference to people’s lives by supporting community-based projects that:
- Address mental health inequalities – Helping vulnerable groups access mental health support and reducing disparities.
- Tackle social isolation and loneliness – Bringing people together to build connections and foster trusted relationships.
- Prevent suicide and address poverty – Offering support to those facing financial hardship, particularly as the cost-of-living crisis continues to impact our communities.
- Empower grassroots organisations – Funding small, local groups to deliver initiatives that respond to real needs at the community level.
What’s new this year?
For the first time, the Scottish Government is piloting the awarding of two-year grants and this grant round will be evaluated for the impact it has on the ability of organisations to plan for the longer term. This means that 80% of the awards will now cover two years – a move designed to give community groups more financial security to plan and deliver longer-term projects. While funding will still be disbursed annually, successful applicants will receive a funding letter that clearly sets out the full two-year commitment. However, the second year of funding will be subject to Parliamentary approval of the Scottish Budget.
Supporting Fairer Funding
This new approach is part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to Fairer Funding for the third sector. By making longer-term awards, the aim is to provide stability for organisations tackling some of the most pressing social challenges, including mental health inequalities, loneliness, and socio-economic disadvantage.
What’s next?
Throughout late May and June, Argyll and Bute TSI will be hosting workshops for third sector groups to discuss and develop local funding priorities. These sessions will help shape our local fund delivery plan – ensuring that the fund targets the areas where it’s needed most.
We plan to open the fund for applications in mid-late August, with decisions made by September and funds distributed by early October 2025. Most grants will remain under £10,000, maintaining a focus on smaller, grassroots projects that can make a big impact in our local communities. Your four local Third Sector Support Advisers (Caitlin, Caryl, Janis and Petra) will be on hand to advise you about how best to frame your application.
Stay tuned for more information on how to apply via our dedicated funding portal and how you can get involved in the upcoming workshops.
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