The Fund will continue to support community-based initiatives that promote and improve mental health and wellbeing by addressing social isolation, loneliness, suicide prevention and tackling poverty and inequality.
ACVO will again distribute the Fund on behalf of the Scottish Government for Aberdeen City. Prevention and early intervention lie at the heart of the Fund; enabling small ‘grass roots’ community groups to provide opportunities that support people’s mental health and wellbeing by connecting with others.
The Scottish Government has also selected the Fund as a pilot project within its Fairer Funding commitment. This allows for 60% of the Fund to be allocated to support projects for two years. This approach will enable organisations to focus on longer-term planning and impact, improve financial sustainability and reduce administrative burden and stress. For more information about this opportunity, visit acvo.org.uk/cmhwfund.
Last year ACVO received significantly more eligible applications than could be funded. It is anticipated that the demand for funding will be further increased.
ACVO recognises the amount of resource that needs to be dedicated to applying at a time when resources are scarce. Therefore, an Expression of Interest (EOI) stage is being added to the application process for Level 2 awards (£3001-£15000). Opening on Monday 18th August 2025, this pre-qualification step is deliberately short to minimise the time and effort you need to complete this stage. Your Expression of Interest will be assessed by the Partnership Panel and successful EOI applicants will be invited to submit a Level 2 application on Monday 6th October 2025.
The Fund will open to Level 1 (up to £3000) applications on Monday 1st September 2025. There will not be an EOI stage for this opportunity and the award will be for one year.
There will be a further funding round available in the New Year (2026) that will directly involve people with lived experience in the whole grant-making process. The Lived Experience Panel will identify need, co-create the assessment criteria, and the power of the decision-making will shift from the Partnership Group to the Lived Experience Panel.
Funding guidance and related forms will go ‘live’ on the launch date of each funding opportunity. Fund updates and reminders will be posted on ACVO’s social media channels and on the website. As ACVO’s Funding Officer, I will also be running workshops and producing a ‘Guide to applying’ video too – more information coming soon.
