In February 2021, the Scottish Government announced an additional £120 million for a Recovery and Renewal Fund to ensure the delivery of the commitments set out in the Mental Health Covid 19 Transition and Recovery Plan. As part of this, £15 million was used to initiate the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for adults (the Fund) for 2021/22. This significant investment into community support for adults built upon the children and young people’s community wellbeing supports that were also being rolled out across Scotland.
The £15 million Fund was launched on 15 October 2021 by the Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care.
Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs), who administered the fund in partnership with local planning partners and people with lived experience, made good progress with distributing funding to grassroots community organisations. The aim was to tackle social isolation and loneliness and address the mental health inequalities made worse by the pandemic.
In the light of the overwhelming response to the Fund, Scottish Ministers provided an additional £6 million, bringing the total funding to £21 million in 2021-22. This was announced in a Scottish Government press release on 25 February 2022 https://www.gov.scot/news/additional-funding-for-community-mental-healt
The following project information on the awards made was provided by TSIs in April 2022. Information on awards made in Year 2 of the Fund (2022/23) will be provided in due course.
West Lothian
| Local Authority Area | Name of Organisation | Name of Project being funded | * Amount of funding awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Lothian | 1st Step Development Ventures | Walking, yoga and activity classes in Linlithgow and Bridgend | £8,040.00 |
| West Lothian | Artlink Edinburgh and the Lothians | creative arts programmes and food development initiatives | £12,500.00 |
| West Lothian | Beechbrae SCIO | woodland outdoor activity classes | £37,000.00 |
| West Lothian | Blackburn Family Centre | yoga and relaxation classes for single mums in Blackburn | £9,640.00 |
| West Lothian | Braid Health and Wellbeing | Access to digital services and support provision to older people and unpaid carers | £33,050.00 |
| West Lothian | Carers of West Lothian | Carers health and wellbeing project | £48,193.00 |
| West Lothian | Craigsfarm Community Development Project Limited | Yoga and activity support to unpaid carers in Craigshill area of Livingston | £9,550.00 |
| West Lothian | Fair Justice System for Scotland Group | Wellbeing and support project to BAME community | £49,000.00 |
| West Lothian | Fauldhouse and Breich Valley Community Development Trust | Physical health and wellbeing initiatives to local people in Fauldhouse | £48,676.00 |
| West Lothian | Generation Arts | music therapy for MH patients at St John`s hospital | £10,000.00 |
| West Lothian | Home-Start West Lothian | group work activities for families and care experienced adults | £14,460.00 |
| West Lothian | Howden Park Centre (West Lothian Leisure) | Music, dance and arts activities in Livingston | £8,910.00 |
| West Lothian | Kidz-Eco CIC | Perinatal café for new mums experiencing MH issues | £10,000.00 |
| West Lothian | Kirknewton Community Development Trust | Sewing, singing and dance classes for individuals on shielding list and individuals experiencing loneliness | £30,000.00 |
| West Lothian | Linlithgow Community Development Trust | Weekly walking and activity classes for older people in Linlithgow | £5,102.20 |
| West Lothian | Livingston United Parish Church | Bereavement classes to individuals impacted by grief and loss | £1,500.00 |
| West Lothian | Neil’s Hugs Foundation | Suicide prevention activities for people bereaved through suicide | £50,336.00 |
| West Lothian | Open Door Accommodation Project | Activity classes and fitness classes for individuals experiencing homelessness | £7,000.00 |
| West Lothian | Reconnect SCIO | Dance, drama, creativity workshops for older people and unpaid carers | £10,000.00 |
| West Lothian | Rock Trust | Services to support individuals at risk of homelessness | £34,136.00 |
| West Lothian | St. John’s Church | Suicide prevention group activities for care experienced adults | £3,000.00 |
| West Lothian | Singerie | Music and singing classes for older people and unpaid carers | £3,700.00 |
| West Lothian | Stoneyburn and Bents Future Vision Group SCIO | Young at Heart support initiative for older people in Stoneyburn village | £2,821.80 |
| West Lothian | The Bridge Community Project | Introductory practical and emotional interventions for individuals on the cusp of requiring counselling | £9,950.00 |
| West Lothian | The Food Train Ltd | Befriending service for older people | £10,000.00 |
| West Lothian | The Larder West Lothian | Health First Hub development in Blackburn | £31,504.00 |
| West Lothian | The Rosebery Centre | companion café and activities for unpaid carers and individuals experiencing dementia | £4,560.00 |
| West Lothian | The Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland | weekly sporting memory sessions for older people in Bathgate and Broxburn | £8,266.00 |
| West Lothian | West Calder & Harburn Community Development Trust Ltd | Community Wellbeing and social prescribing project in West Calder, Polbeth, Harburn and SW Livingston | £32,595.00 |
| West Lothian | West Lothian 50+ Network | Weekly Healthy lifestyle and activity classes for over 50s | £10,000.00 |
| West Lothian | West Lothian Diabetes Scotland Group | weekly activity sessions for individuals affected by diabetes | £6,500.00 |
| West Lothian | West Lothian Youth Foundation / West Lothian Community Foundation (Currently changing our name from the word Youth to Community) | weekly walk and talk, walking football and MH kickabouts for over 18s and over 50s at risk of suicide | £10,000.00 |
