Mental health grants scheme funding nearly doubles to £94,000

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 05:58 · Archive

A community grants scheme supporting grassroots mental health projects has nearly doubled its funding to £94,000 across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.

The Mental Health & Wellbeing Partnership BSW Community Grants Fund has nearly doubled its funding to £94,000, up from £50,000 last year. The scheme covers Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire and aims to support small organisations improving mental health and wellbeing across the region.

Last year, the fund supported nine projects. This year, it will offer grants ranging from £2,000 to £7,500, with one £10,000 award available in each locality. The fund is targeted at smaller charities, community groups and grassroots organisations.

Eligible projects include arts and creative activities, physical activity groups, music projects, outdoor wellbeing programmes, bereavement support, cultural activities and safe spaces. Applications supporting marginalised communities are especially encouraged.

Aileen Edwards, chief executive at Second Step, part of the Mental Health & Wellbeing Partnership, said the response to the first Community Grants programme 'showed just how much great work is already happening in local communities'. She added: 'This year's fund is a welcome boost to small organisations doing immense work to improve mental health and wellbeing across the region.'

Changing Suits, a Swindon-based organisation supporting ethnically diverse communities, was among last year's recipients. Bal Kaur, head of strategy at Changing Suits, said the funding 'enabled us to create a welcoming and culturally appropriate space where people from ethnically diverse communities can come together, learn new skills and have open conversations about mental health and wellbeing'.

The scheme is run by the BSW Mental Health and Wellbeing Partnership, a collaboration between Second Step, Alabaré, Missing Link and Nilaari.

How it is being reported

• Mental health grants nearly double to £94,000 for grassroots projectsA community grants scheme to support grassroots mental health projects has nearly doubled its funding to £94,000Wiltshire Times · 27 Oct, 05:00
• Mental health grants nearly double to £94,000 for grassroots projectsA community grants scheme to support grassroots mental health projects has nearly doubled its funding to £94,000Swindon Advertiser · 27 Oct, 05:00
• Mental health grants nearly double to £94,000 for grassroots projectsA community grants scheme to support grassroots mental health projects has nearly doubled its funding to £94,000Gazette & Herald · 27 Oct, 05:00
• Mental health grants nearly double to £94,000 for grassroots projectsA community grants scheme to support grassroots mental health projects has nearly doubled its funding to £94,000This Is Wiltshire · 27 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Mental Health & Wellbeing Partnership · Second Step · Changing Suits · Bath and North East Somerset · Swindon · Wiltshire · Aileen Edwards · Bal Kaur

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