Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund
The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults will open its fifth round of applications at 10am on Monday 15th September, bringing vital support to grassroots groups and organisations across Dumfries and Galloway.
With a total of £439,150 available for 2025/26, the fund will help community-led initiatives that promote good mental health, reduce inequalities, and strengthen local resilience.
Background
Established in 2021, the Fund has already distributed over £66 million across Scotland, supporting a wide range of community initiatives. In March 2025, the Scottish Government confirmed a further £15 million per year for both the fifth and sixth rounds.
For the first time, organisations can apply for two-year projects, giving them greater stability and the chance to plan longer-term activities under the Fairer Funding pilot.
Fund aims
The fund is designed to:
- Promote positive mental health and wellbeing through prevention and early intervention.
- Address social isolation, loneliness, suicide prevention, poverty and inequality, with an emphasis on tackling the cost-of-living crisis.
- Strengthen community connections and resilience.
- Support smaller, grassroots organisations to deliver activities that make a real difference.
Local priorities
In Dumfries and Galloway, funded projects must contribute to at least one of these priorities:
- Reducing social isolation and loneliness.
- Supporting suicide prevention.
- Tackling poverty and inequality, particularly among those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis.
The fund also encourages applications that focus on at-risk groups, including young people (16–24), women affected by sexual violence, older people (50+), people with disabilities, minority ethnic groups, LGBTI communities, refugees, neurodiverse individuals, and those facing multiple disadvantage.
Funding criteria
Eligible applicants include charities, community groups, SCIOs, CICs, cooperatives, community councils, and more. Parent Councils can also apply if projects benefit those aged 16 or over. Organisations must have an annual income of under £1 million (local branch level if part of a national body).
Projects may be funded for one or two years, with grants ranging from small awards of up to £10,000 per year to larger awards of up to £35,000 per year. Importantly, at least 60% of the fund is ringfenced for smaller-scale community projects, ensuring grassroots initiatives remain at the heart of this programme.
Eligible costs include staffing, hall hire, utilities, training, volunteer expenses, and small capital purchases (up to £5,000). However, statutory activities, political campaigning, and profit-making ventures will not be funded.
Application process
- Applications open: 10.00am, Monday 15 September 2025
- Deadline: 12 noon, Friday 24 October 2025
- Decisions announced: End of January 2026
- Projects start: No earlier than 1 April 2026
Applications will be screened by Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway (TSDG) for eligibility before being assessed by an independent scoring panel.
Monitoring and reporting
Successful applicants will be required to provide interim and final reports, including evidence of spend and impact. Two-year projects will also complete an additional year-one evaluation.
For more information, contact wellbeingfund@tsdg.org.uk
Please read the guidance and view the webinar below before submitting your application.
