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

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

Empouer Wimmen for Chynge, a charity dat his secured grants in ivery roond o da Fund, is uisin its award dis year. Da group plans tae support lane parents, faimilies wi a disabled memmer, Minority Ethnic faimilies, an young midders. Visitin deir 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 da valuable wark dey dae in da community dey support. It is inspirin tae see first-hand da impact dat dis fundin can hae.” She added, “Since da fund wis established, we hae invested £66 million, raxin a variety o groups supportin dose at increased risk o poor mental health an weelbein – includin fowk facin socio-economic disadvantage, aalder fowk an ethnic minority communities. I look forrit tae seein da positive impact dat dis furder £30 million investment will mak tae da weelbein o fowk an communities ower Scotland.”

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

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

Da new fundin is set tae appen for applications dis autumn. Wi a firm focus on da grassroots, da initiative howps tae touch mair lives an spreid a sense o howp far an wide throuoot Scottish communities.