Along with other Third Sector Interface’s throughout Scotland, Voluntary Action Shetland distributed a third year of the Scottish Government Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults to support community activity until March 2025.
Shetland’s allocation totalled £71,810.80
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, the Fund aims to:
1. Tackle mental health inequalities through supporting a range of ‘at risk’ groups
2. 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.
3. Support small ‘grass roots’ community groups and organisations to deliver such activities.
4. Provide opportunities for people to connect with each other, build trusted relationships and revitalise communities.
The Fund also seeks to contribute to the following national outcomes from the National Performance Framework:
- We are healthy and active
- We will live in communities that are inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe
- We tackle poverty by sharing opportunities, wealth and power more equally
18 Community Groups/Organisations Received Funding to Support Initiatives
No | Name of Organisation | Activity | Amount Awarded |
1 | Ability Shetland | To support delivery and development of North Mainland Adult social club and transport costs | £5000 |
2 | Shetland Bereavement Support Service | To cover the costs of the printing of a locally developed Grief Booklet and development of Group Support | £4245 |
3 | Mossbank Hall | To support with weekly coffee mornings, providing a warm friendly place for people to meet | £4300 |
4 | South End Menopause | To cover costs to develop a peer support group for women affected by Menopause in new local areas | £5000 |
5 | Shetland Care Attendant Scheme | To cover costs of providing support to more unpaid carers to provide them with a well-earned break – short breaks/overnight respite | £5000 |
6 | Bressay Development Ltd | To develop “Wellbeing Wednesdays” for people in the local community to attend | £4442 |
7 | Shetland Community Connections | To develop “Cuppa Connections” and provide social opportunities for clients to take part in a regular group and participate in activities | £5000 |
8 | Mind Your Head | To support delivery of their low-level support programme to new clients - Wellness programme | £5000 |
9 | Shetland Foodbank | To develop “Take Time Out” - The project will offer a warm, safe space for residents of the local area to meet, share a light lunch and participate in a range of social activities. | £750 |
10 | Bigton Collective | To develop Under the Surface – the Unseen Work of Parents. This project will offer peer support & an expressive outlet for parents of neurodivergent &/or disabled children | £4770 |
11 | Trondra Hall | To develop Community Wellbeing Support Activities – Social and Physical activities | £5000 |
12 | Bressay Running Club | To cover costs of volunteer expenses in supporting park run in Bressay and increasing participation | £400 |
13 | Space 2 Face | To cover the costs of a regular peer support group to support women in contact with the justice system, or who are in recovery, to overcome mental ill health & personal difficulties related to self-harm, substance/alcohol misuse, offending & poverty. | £4978 |
14 | Shetland Womens Aid | To cover costs of wellbeing interventions for new clients to support recovery | £5000 |
15 | Burra Baptist Church | To deliver “Revive” a drop in type weekly group, offering tea/coffee friendship and support for anyone who would like to come from the community | £1627.80 |
16 | Sporting Memories | To cover costs to run & develop two community clubs &providing additional wider community activities around the 2024 Paris Olympics & Paralympics | £4125 |
17 | Kadampa Meditation Centre | To cover the cost to deliver a series of meditation classes and workshops across Shetland. | £4528 |
18 | Westsandwick Hall | To cover the cost of a new sound system for wider inclusivity | £2645 |
