Voluntary Action Shetland (VAS) is delighted to launch the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults once more on behalf of the Scottish Government on Friday 18th September 2026.
The fund was established in October 2021 to support community initiatives supporting mental health and wellbeing across Scotland through Third Sector Interfaces.
The Fund continues to have a strong focus on prevention and early intervention and aims to support grass roots community groups in tackling mental health inequalities and address priority issues of:
- Social isolation and loneliness
- Suicide prevention
- Tackling poverty and inequality
There will be a continued emphasis in Year 6 on responding to the ongoing cost of living crisis and on those facing socio economic disadvantage, with a particular focus on supporting the six priority family groups identified under Best Start Bright Futures: Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan.
The Fund will continue to be delivered through a locally focused and co-ordinated approach via local partnership groups (building upon existing partnerships and with VAS as lead partner), working together to ensure that support to community based organisations is directed appropriately and in a coherent way. This collaborative approach is more important than ever, giving increasing budget and capacity constraints within individual sectors.
A maximum of £5,000 can be applied for to support activities that will occur up to 31st March 2028.
The overarching aim of the Fund 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 (aged 16 or over), with a particular focus on prevention and early intervention.
Specifically, it aims to:
- Tackle mental health inequalities through supporting a range of ‘at risk’ groups
- Address priority issues of social isolation and loneliness, suicide prevention and poverty and inequality with a particular emphasis on responding to the cost of living crisis and support to those facing socio-economic disadvantage.
- Support small ‘grass roots’ community groups and organisations to deliver such activities.
- Provide opportunities for people to connect with each other, build trusted relationships and revitalise communities.
Closing Date for applications is Fri 13th November 2026– 12noon
For an application pack and for any initial enquiries please:
- E-mail: [email protected]
