Launch of £278,832.73 East Lothian Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund

VCEL is delighted to launch a new £278,832.73 Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund aimed at supporting and encouraging initiatives that promote and benefit the mental health and wellbeing of people at a small scale, grassroots, community level.

About the Fund
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 across East Lothian. The fund is part of a wider £15m funding package announced by the Scottish Government. The Fund is underpinned by a partnership co-ordinated approach comprised of representatives from VCEL, (Fund Lead), Health and Social Care Partnership and Community Planning Partnership.

Applications will be accepted from a range of voluntary, ‘not for profit’ community organisations: charities, constituted voluntary groups, social enterprises with asset lock and community councils. These do not have to have mental health and wellbeing as their main focus, but their application does have to clearly benefit the mental wellbeing of people in their community and demonstrate a focus of early intervention / prevention.

Fund Timeline
Closing date for applications – Friday 21 January 2022

Monies will be allocated by VCEL no later than 31 March 2022. Successful organisations should spend their award by the end of March 2023.

Application form & Fund Guidance

Further information
For more detailed information, please see attached funding pack that contains Guidance and FAQs, along with links to the two grant application forms. If you have any additional questions about the Fund, please email businesssupport@volunteereastlothian.org.uk

Maureen Allan
Chief Officer
Volunteer Centre East Lothian