GRANTS are on offer for Wee County organisations who are aiming to improve mental health and wellbeing issues that arose during the pandemic.

Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSI) and Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise (SVE) have once again launched the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund.

The initiative saw £412,015 distributed to third sector groups last year with the main bulk of the funds again provided by the Scottish Government in a £15million package directly to the TSI Scotland Network.

In addition, the third sector interfaces in the Forth Valley will also distribute a small “test of change” fund provided by the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership.

Anthea Coulter, chief operating officer at CTSI, said: “This fund has a huge impact over the last year with new groups and activities kick-started after a terrible two years of the pandemic – 68 groups benefitted from the fund helping veterans, people with learning disabilities, parents struggling with mental health and lots of activities for older adults.

“I know the steering group are really keen to see the same range of work come forward and to see activities that will directly help people cope this year with cost of living increases.”

The steering panel overseeing the fund's distribution is made up representatives from the two third sector interfaces, both councils, the health and social care partnership but also people with lived experience of mental health issues, disabilities and caring responsibilities.

This year they are keen to seen activities that support people with addictions, social isolation and loneliness, but also consideration will go to activities that will specifically help people cope with the impact of cost of living.

Anthea added: “The “Scottish Government has again asked us to ensure that the funding goes to specific groups that have been hardest hit by the pandemic, but we were also able to add to that list with our own identified priority groups locally.

“Last year we added dementia, gypsy traveller community and carers and we are delighted to see them be added to the national list this year too.”

Applications to the fund opened this Monday, September 26, and will close on October 21.

Assessments are do to be completed by November 14 with the aim that groups will start receiving funds by the week after.

Visit ctsi.org.uk for more details.