In a muive set tae aid local groups aa ower Scotland, e government his annoonced a further £30 million for community-led mental health an weelbein projects ower e neist twa year. E new fundin cycle o the Communities Mental Health an Weelbein Fund for Adults is aimed at biggin strenth an lessenin social isolation amang adults.

E Fund, first set up in 2021, supports sma local groups in rinnin programs aat help fowk bigg resilience an fecht lanelines an mental health gaps. In its first three year, near 4,800 grants gaed tae community projects aat rin peer support activities, rangin fae sport an ootdoor pursuits tae airts events.

Empouer Wimmen for Chynge, a charity aat his secured grants in ilka roond o the Fund, is eesin its award iss year. E group plans tae support lane parents, faimilies wi a disabled memmer, Minority Ethnic faimilies, an young mithers. Visitin their office in Glesga, Mental Weelbein Minister Maree Todd remairked, “I am pleased tae meet staff an service users at Empouer Wimmen for Chynge an hear mair aboot e valuable wark they dee in e community they support. It is inspirin tae see first-haund e impact aat iss fundin can hae.” She added, “Since the fund wis established, we hae invested £66 million, raxin a variety o groups supportin thae at increased risk o peer mental health an weelbein – includin fowk facin socio-economic disadvantage, aalder fowk an ethnic minority communities. I look forrit tae seein e positive impact aat iss further £30 million investment will mak tae the weelbein o fowk an communities ower Scotland.”

Empouer Wimmen for Chynge CEO an Foonder Asma Abdalla said, “We are delichted an honoured tae walcome the Minister Maree Todd tae wir organisation. E Weelbein Fund his played a transformative role in improvin e lives o oor service users o ethnic minority wimmen an quines an oor volunteers, memmers, an staff. Throu oor Inspired Wimmen projects, we hae provided vital mental health support, resilience, an community connection, chyngin lives an strenthenin communities. We are lookin forrit tae continuin iss wark, wi support fae the Weelbein Fund. We walcome iss unique opportunity tae share Inspired Wimmen pairticipants’ testimonies, their vyces pynt oot e urgent need for sustained investment in grassruits weelbein services. Please jyn us in amplifeein their stories an celebratin e pouer o community-led chynge.”

Sheena Arthur, Partnership Manager at Glesga Cooncil for e Voluntary Sector, said, “We are delichted aat e Scottish Government’s Communities Mental Health an Weelbein Fund is continuin. Iss fund delivers sma grants aat mak a positive difference an sae far, his supported ower 900 Third Sector organisations an community groups ower Glesga. In increasinly challengin times, e Third Sector plays a crucial role. Iss fund enables e development o existin projects as weel as emergin ideas fae the community. It helps tae bring fowk thegither- contributin tae better health an weelbein o fowk an faimilies, strenthenin social connections an tacklin inequality an poverty.”

E new fundin is set tae gie for applications iss hairst. Wi a firm focus on e grassruits, e initiative howps tae touch mair lives an spreid a sense o howp far an wide throuoot Scottish communities.