Tag: CMHW

£249K Fund Announced for Mental Health & Wellbeing in Midlothian

Ellis on 3 September, 2025

We are excited to announce that Years 5 & 6 of the Midlothian Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults will open on Friday 19 September 2025.

Fund Focus & Objectives

This highly valued fund supports people’s mental health and wellbeing while offering opportunities for community connection. It focuses on early intervention and prevention, helping communities create the conditions for good mental health at a population level.

Midlothian Community Action (MCA) has been appointed by the Scottish Government to distribute the funding locally. The fund is designed to be accessible and supportive of grassroots organisations, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, inclusion, and impact.

All grants are aimed at grassroots community organisations to promote mental health and wellbeing and/or protect against the impact of distress and mental ill health within the adult population in Midlothian.

Grant Streams in 2025/26

In Midlothian there will be a total of £249,914.16 available in Year 5. Funding will be distributed across three grant streams:

  • Micro Grants – up to £2,500
  • Small Grants – up to £10,000
  • Large Grants – up to £30,000

To compliment the small and large grant steams, up to an additional £5000 per organisation will also be available for capital spend.

This year, the fund is part of the Scottish Government’s Fairer Funding Pilot, offering multi-year support to help local organisations plan for the long term and deliver sustainable impact.

Year 6 of the fund is not guaranteed and is subject to Scottish Government budget approval, as the grant offer letter states: “The value of the grant payable in year 2 is an indicative confirmation and cannot be taken as a guarantee. All indicative funding commitments are subject to the outcome of any spending review by the Scottish Government and approval of the annual Budget Bills by the Scottish Parliament during this period.”

MCA will welcome applications from both one and two yearlong projects. 

Key Dates

Applications open: Friday 19 September 2025

Applications close: Friday 31 October 2025.

To support applicants, MCA will host 1:1 online appointments on Monday 22 September. Email magdalena.clark@MCA.scot to book a slot.

We’re also hosting two lunchtime information sessions all about the fund, on Wednesday 24 September and Monday 06 October.

Fund Information
Contact Us

Online Fund Surgery – Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund

Ellis on 3 September, 2025

We are holding an online fund surgery on Monday 22 September, to discuss any fund or application queries. To book your 1:1 slot, email magdalena.clark@MCA.scot

The Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund for Adults offers three grant streams to support initiatives in Midlothian that improve adult mental health & wellbeing. Deadline for applications: Friday 31 October, 12PM.

Can’t make the 1:1? Don’t worry, we’re also hosting two online fund information sessions:

Wed 24 September, 12pm-1pm – Book here.

Mon 06 October, 12pm-1pm – Book here.

Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund Showcase

Ellis on 7 May, 2025

A large field of yellow sunflowers stand tall beneath a clear blue sky.

Last week, we hosted a ‘Meet the Funder’ event for recipients of the Midlothian Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund (CMHWF) Year 3.

It was a wonderful chance to highlight the impact of the fund on a variety of projects across Midlothian. Thank you to everyone who joined us and took part in celebrating these incredible projects. Presentations from the day are available to download below.

Edinburgh Community Yoga

Edinburgh Community Yoga is a not-for-profit social enterprise working to make yoga and its many potential physical, mental, and social benefits more accessible to those who may benefit the most. ECY aim to minimise the financial, attitudinal and accessibility barriers that may prevent someone from attending a public yoga class by prioritising inclusivity. 

ECY received a small grant for their programme of yoga on social prescription, where they partner with GP practices and local agencies to offer (by referral) onsite trauma-informed yoga in areas of social and economic deprivation.

Edinburgh Community Yoga PresentationDownload

Youth 2000 Project – Thriving Transitions

Mayfield & Easthouses Youth 2000 Project (Y2K) was set up by the local community to provide universal youth work services using an informal, service-user led approach.

Y2K received a large grant for their Thriving Transitions project to support young adults during their transition to adulthood and greater independence.

Y2K PresentationDownload

Dalkeith Petanque Club

Dalkeith Petanque Club received a micro-grant for necessary equipment for their Piste in Dalkeith. Their story highlights the brilliant partnership working in Midlothian and how community groups can make a huge impact with a little support.

Dalkeith Petanque Case StudyDownload

Home Link Family Support & Sure Start

Home Link received a large grant, working in partnership with Midlothian Sure Start to run a weekly wellbeing support group for parents with children who have additional support needs.

HomeLink PresentationDownload

Women’s Aid East & Midlothian – Prescribe Nature

Women”s Aid East and Midlothian received a continuation of their Year 2 large grant, plus capital. This went towards implement Green Recovery of Women (GROW), a social green prescribing method, into their service delivery.

WAEM PresentationDownload

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Meet the Funder event without the funder. We were thankful to be joined by the Wellbeing & Prevention Unit Communities Team from the Scottish Government Mental Health Directorate, who provided more details about the CMHW Fund provision so far, and an overview of what’s to come.

Scot Gov CMHWF PresentationDownload

See more photos from the projects in our slideshow video below:

END

In-Person Fund Surgery – Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund

Ellis on 2 September, 2024

Join us for an open information session on the Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund. This is your chance to ask questions and perfect your application.

  • Wednesday 25 September, 10:00 – 16:00 (no registration necessary).

We’re also holding online fund surgeries on Monday 24 September & Tuesday 25 September, which you can register for here.

The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults aims 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 (aged 16 or over), with a particular focus on prevention and early intervention. This fund has a strong emphasis on collaboration, partnerships, capacity building and the development of creative projects that can work at a very grassroots level, together with local people.

See more details, application guidance and forms here.

Online Fund Surgery – Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund

Ellis on 2 September, 2024

Join us for an open information session on the CMHW Fund. This is your chance to ask questions and perfect your application.

Register on Eventbrite:

We are also holding an in-person drop-in on Wednesday 25 September, 10:00 – 16:00 in our office (no registration necessary).

The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults aims 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 (aged 16 or over), with a particular focus on prevention and early intervention. This fund has a strong emphasis on collaboration, partnerships, capacity building and the development of creative projects that can work at a very grassroots level, together with local people.

See more details, application guidance and forms here.

Applications open for CMHWB Micro Grant

Ellis on 30 January, 2024

Are you a community group looking for funding?

Year 3 of Midlothian Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults launched in the end of September 2023 distributing over £246 thousand to third organisations and community groups. It has already seen many successful applications for larger projects. There is a small fund of £7800 to support micro grant applications, to be distributed by the end of March 2024. The Fund aims to support people’s good mental health and wellbeing and to provide opportunities to connect with others in local community.

Local groups are invited to apply for funding from £200 up to £2500.

Known as “the Sunflower Fund” the funding has a strong emphasis on collaboration, partnerships, capacity building and the development of creative projects that can work at a grassroots level, together with local people. All these to ensure outcomes are inclusive and have maximum impact on a local level. In Midlothian the fund had been overseen by a team of staff and volunteers from the TSI, Midlothian Council, Health in Mind, and Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership. The Lived Experience Working Group from Health in Mind will be assessing the funding applications. 

Fund enquiries should be directed to Magda Clark ku.gr1757293816o.nai1757293816htold1757293816imree1757293816tnulo1757293816v@adg1757293816am1757293816 by 26 February 2024.

Read more about the Midlothian Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund here.

Midlothian Third Sector Interface