Scottish Government announces £30m top up for mental health and wellbeing fund

The Scottish Government has announced a £30m investment in community-led mental health and wellbeing projects.

The minister for social care, mental wellbeing, and sport made the announcement on Friday morning during a visit to a black and ethnic minority women-led community organisation in Glasgow.

Maree Todd said the top-up funds would bring stability and sustainability to grassroots projects in communities across Scotland.

“Today we’re announcing the continuation of funding for the communities mental health and wellbeing fund for adults,” she said.

However, this time, the government is offering two-year grants in recognition of the challenges facing third-sector organisations and charities.

“Not all applications will get two years of funding, but it will give stability and security to many applicants,” Todd said.

Within the first three years, the fund has provided around 4,800 grants ranging from £1,500-£10,500 to grassroots organisations and projects aimed at building resilience and tackling social isolation, loneliness and mental health inequalities.

“In the scale of things, these are very small amounts of money, but it’s like sprinkling stardust all over the country,” Todd said.

Todd made the announcement on Friday while visiting the charity Empower Women for Change, which has secured grant awards in all rounds of the fund to date.

This year, the group is using its grant to support lone parents, families with a disabled family member, Minority Ethnic families, and young mothers.

Todd was pleased to meet the staff and service users at Empower Women for Change and hear more about their work firsthand.

“It is inspiring to see first-hand the impact that this funding can have,” Todd said.

Since the fund was established, the Government has invested £66m into projects like Empower Women for Change – reaching a variety of groups supporting people at increased risk of poor mental health and wellbeing.

Todd said: “I look forward to seeing the positive impact that this further £30 million investment will make to the wellbeing of people and communities across Scotland.”

Empower Women for Change CEO and Founder Asma Abdalla said the continuation of funding is “really very important” to community organisations like her own.

“It brings some stability to our work and some sustainability,” she said.

“Through our Inspired Women projects, we have provided vital mental health support, resilience, and community connection, changing lives and strengthening communities. We are looking forward to continuing this work, with support from the Wellbeing Fund.”