Community Wellbeingand Mental Health Fund

Grants of up to £20,000, for an 18 to 24 month grant period are available for groups who have been delivering community activities for two years or more, and need support for established activities (including expansion or adaption to local needs). Requests for smaller amounts are welcome.

Grants of up to £5,000 for a 12 month grant period are available for groups who have been delivering community activities for less than two years, or established groups that are looking to pilot new ways of working or launch new services.

Community based non-clinical services and activities to adults age over 18, focusing on wellbeing and mental health.
Non-clinical means activities that do not provide any type of medical diagnoses, testing or treatment, such as those provided by NHS services, including psychiatry, prescribing medication and professional counselling or therapy.
Applications do not need to be for new services. We can fund the continuation of existing services delivering evidenced outcomes. We can fund the expansion or adaption of these services in line with local needs or increased demand, piloting new ways of working or the launch of new services.
We can support any costs directly needed for the delivery of funded activities, including perishable and non-perishable goods, capital costs and equipment, staff/volunteer costs including training and support, transport and venue hire, administrative costs and reasonable contributions to organisation overheads or core costs.

This funding programme will support community based *non-clinical services and activities to adults aged 18+ focusing on wellbeing and mental health. There is an expectation that groups applying to the fund have an existing relationship with Access Wellbeing in their local area, or a plans in place to develop a relationship, such as meetings or visits with Wellbeing Co-ordinators or other  Hub/Drop-in staff. We want to ensure services are joined up and accessible, so that local people receive the support they need, which may be from multiple services.

Grants will be awarded to support:

• Early intervention services and activities that support people in community based settings to improve their wellbeing and mental health, helping people live well for longer and thereby reducing the need for NHS appointments and clinical intervention.
• Services and activities that empower people to build their resilience and ability to find their own solutions and support strategies, enabling them to lead independent and happy lives. This might include contributing to the communities that support them, taking an active role in supporting others where appropriate, building social networks.
• Services and activities that enable people living with mental health conditions to participate in activities that support their recovery and wellbeing, help them to manage their condition, live well in their community, maintain appropriate self-care, and thereby reduce reliance on NHS services.

*Non-clinical activities are those which do not provide any type of medical diagnoses, testing or treatment such as those provide by NHS services, including psychiatry, prescribing medication, professional counselling/therapy. This fund is not designed to support clinical interventions for those with severe mental illness.

Priority will be given to services and activities that support communities experiencing health inequalities, including people living in areas of high deprivation and those from inclusion health groups. Inclusion health groups are people who are socially excluded and experience multiple risk factors for poor health. You can read more about health inequalities and inclusion  health groups here: NHS England » What are healthcare inequalities?

Examples of activities include but are not restricted to: social/support groups for people experiencing isolation & loneliness, facilitated support groups for people with shared experiences that impact wellbeing, green social prescribing activities, dementia friendly activities, support groups for carers, supported music, crafting or sports activities focussing on wellbeing outcomes, support groups or services for parents experiencing challenging circumstances.

We welcome applications from groups that provide complimentary practical assistance for social issues that contribute to the wider determinants of health such as advice & support with benefits and debt issues, education/employment support, housing support, food or fuel poverty (not an exhaustive list). Or groups that work in partnership with others to provide this additional assistance. Please note: funded services should primarily be targeted at supporting people’s wellbeing and mental health support.

For the past three years, NHS Dorset has been working together with NHS Dorset HealthCare, Community Action Network (CAN) and partners across the system to develop Access Wellbeing – a universal community wellbeing offer across the county. Wellbeing Hubs and drop-ins are available for local people, across Dorset in multiple locations. Wellbeing Co-ordinators provide one-to-one support and warm handovers into appropriate community services and activities that help people to have improved wellbeing and connections.

This funding programme supports some of the local community groups that are delivering these community based activities, which offer an early intervention approach to wellbeing and mental health support. 

We ran this funding programme in 2024, awarding grants to 53 groups. Impact Reports demonstrated the the different ways in which targeted residents experiencing mental health decline, reported enhanced wellbeing and resilience, leading to a reduced likelyhood of needing NHS services. A small selection of these groups were invited to apply for continuation funding via email on June 15. We anticipate at least half of the 2026 funding will be awarded through this process.

The remaining funds will be distributed through this funding round, opening on June 29. The deadline to apply is midday on August 6.

This will be the final round of this fund.

Community Action Network (CAN) is available for one-to-one support and guidance to groups before or at any stage during the application process. We highly recommend you take up this offer to check you are funding ready, receive advice on the strength of your proposal and get guidance on how you intend to monitor outcomes.

It is particularly encouraged for groups who have not previously applied to DCF grant programmes.

Contact CAN: grantsupport@can100.org or call 01202 466130.

You can also watch this recording of an online Information Event, where CAN and DCF give additional clarity on how the fund fits within the overall Access Wellbeing programme and top tips for applying.

• Registered Charities
• Constituted Community and Voluntary Organisations
• Community Interest Companies limited by guarantee
• Companies limited by guarantee that have a clear not-for-profit clause in their governing document and clear charitable or social objectives

With:

• At least three unrelated people responsible for running the organisation (for registered charities these are trustees, for CICs/Social Enterprises these are directors)
• A written constitution or set of rules that sets out the purpose and management of the organisation
• A bank account in the name of the organisation with at least two unrelated signatories required for payments
• An appropriate Safeguarding Policy and EDI policy
  Groups who were unsuccessful in the previous round, may apply again in this round. 

• Clinical interventions for those with severe mental illness
• National charities, including those with distinct services in Dorset
• Schools – but we can fund PTA groups if they meet our eligibility guidelines
• Religious or political causes – faith based organisations should advise whether funded activities are designed to, or include elements that are designed to influence people’s religious choices
• Public bodies in order to carry out their statutory obligations
• Animal welfare organisations
• Anyone asking for retrospective funding for items already purchased or work completed
• Organisations with more than 12 months’ unrestricted reserves. If you hold significant reserves, please make clear why they cannot be used to cover the cost of the activity.

The fund is currently closed. Groups should hear the outcome of their application by the end of September, so the earliest start date for your activities is mid-October. The activities funded must start within two months of the award and groups have up to 12 months to spend the grant.