Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund

Twenty-five community organisations across the Scottish Borders are sharing £280,119 to help tackle mental health and wellbeing.

The successful applicants to the second round of the Scottish Government’s Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund were selected through an independent scoring panel.

Round two of the fund aims to help tackle issues on the path to recovery from Covid, such as suicide prevention, social isolation, and loneliness. There was a particular focus on supporting small ‘grassroots’ community groups and organisations.

Smaller grants were available up to £3000 and larger projects able to bid for up to £50,000. A panel of people with lived experience reviewed the larger grant submissions and advised on suitable projects.

The fund in the south of Scotland was administered again by Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway (TSDG).

Norma Austin Hart, TSDG’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to announce the successful projects to be funded by the fund this year. The first-round last year demonstrates how valuable the work of grassroots organisations is when improving the well-being of their own communities.

“This time the fund was almost four times over-subscribed, so we know there is an appetite for this work. Congratulations to the successful projects and thank you to the Scottish Government for the funding to support them.”

Borders Carers Centre receives £10,000 to give a treat to carers through the Me Time project.

Debbie Rutherford, Information and Training Officer, said: “Carers put themselves to the bottom of the pile constantly, as they are so busy looking after other people.  When you are caring 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for someone with an illness, disability or addiction, there is very little time left for ‘you’.  The ‘Me Time’ project allows us to give carers the chance to book themselves a massage, facial, or hair or nail appointment with The Carers Centre picking up the bill.”

An award of £38,895 was given to Quarriers in the Scottish Borders to expand its pilot project Resilience for Wellbeing Service – Community Supports.

Douglas Crawford, a Community Sports Practitioner with the service, said: “It has been great taking conversations about mental health out onto the rugby pitch through our project working with community rugby clubs in the Scottish Borders. Together with the clubs, we are tackling the barriers that often prevent youth rugby players from seeking support for their mental health.”

Duns Senior Citizens Club was one of the smaller grant award winners, with £785 for a Christmas lunch for members.

Madge Cran, club secretary, said: “‘Forty two of our members were bussed to Duns Golf Club and treated to a wonderful Christmas lunch. We had a feast of delicious, traditional festive food, followed by entertainment which rounded off the celebrations. All of this was made possible by the club receiving a grant from the Fund.”

GRANT RECIPIENTS: Organisation-Project-Award

Scottish Borders

Main Grants

STAT SALUS C.I.C. – The Silent Sufferers – £3247

Nature Unlimited CIC – Women for Wellbeing – £22,388

Recovery Coaching Scotland CIC Borders Recover Community – Community Recovery Café Initiative – £35,250

Tweed Togs – Supporting Outdoor Activities and Wellbeing – £9120

Nurture the Borders C.I.C. – Better Together – £26,545

Cheviot Youth – Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Support Service – £33,696

Quarriers – Quarriers Resilience for Wellbeing Service – Community Supports – £38,895

Borders Carers Centre – Me Time – £10,000

Berwickshire Housing Association – BeWell – Tenancy Support and Wellbeing Service – £46,600

Cornerstone Community Care – Friday Lunch Club – £8989.10

Eastgate Theatre – Better Balanced Lives – £12,102.24 (part-funded)

Small Grants

Cheviot Togs – Cheviot togs underwear stock – £2000

Dynamic Community Fusion – Borders Brain Injury Service – £3000

The Tweed Valley Cheyne Gang – Tweed Valley Cheyne Gang singing for joy – £3000

Innerleithen, Traquair & Walkerburn Parish Church of Scotland (ITW) – Chatty crafting – £3000

Whitsome Village Hall – Whitsome winter warmer – £2362

Inspiring Life: Evie Douglas Memorial Fund – Inspiring Life Day – £2500

Leitholm Village Hall – Gentle Exercise Class – £1890

Oor Space Youthy – Oor space parents – £2950

Duns Senior Citizens Club – Christmas lunch celebration – £785

Perfect Harmony – Bringing life through music – £2900

Allanbank Arts – Art for carers of young people with ASN – £2930

Newcastleton and district community trust – Mums support hub – £2774

Bonchester 60+ Club – Christmas – £240

Scottish Borders LGBT Equality Charity – TransGen – £2956