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Daily Record
24-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
West Lothian bids invited as £15m mental health fund set to relaunch
The fund, first launched at the height of the Covid pandemic, has so far delivered £2m to local volunteers who promote better mental health within communities. A £15m programme described as a 'life saving' by West Lothian's Third Sector is set to open the purse strings for its latest round. The fund, first launched at the height of the Covid pandemic, has so far delivered £2m to local volunteers who promote better mental health within communities. Up to 150 grass roots organisations have been supported to help those most in need. And, each year, West Lothian's share of the national pot- around £470,000- could have been spent three times over given the number of applications. Difficult decisions have to be taken. For West Lothian this year, a further £470,000 will be made available. Applications to the Fund will open in September and around 80% of organisations will be considered for two years of funding to support their projects. It is expected that the Scottish Government will make a similar level of funding available for 2026/27. Alan McCloskey, the CEO of Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian (VSGWL) said: 'This funding saves lives.' The head of the local Third Sector umbrella organisation added: 'Over the past four years, £2m from the Scottish Government`s Communities Mental Health and Well-being Fund has been provided to 150 small, grass roots grass roots organisations to support their initiatives. 'We know that the money helps organisations to support vulnerable adults across West Lothian from the impacts of social isolation, loneliness, poverty, and inequality. It is fantastic that we will be able to help projects with much needed additional funding over the coming two years as well.' The fund has been heavily oversubscribed every year, with applications seeking around £1.3million annually. Funding helps organisations with costs such as staffing, equipment, venue hire, training and volunteer expenses. Projects have tackled social isolation, loneliness, mental health inequalities, and supported those most affected by the pandemic. This includes projects supporting a range of at-risk groups, including women, particularly those experiencing gender based violence; people with a long-term health condition or disability and those from a minority ethnic background. Volunteers who work with people affected by psychological trauma have also benefited from the fund since 2021, along with those who have experienced bereavement or with neurological conditions or learning disabilities. West Calder and Harburn's Community Development Trust is one of the organisations which has benefited. Good Connections supports people in the West Calder and Polbeth areas to access activities, services and opportunities that improve their lives. It uses a Social Prescription model whereby a Well-being Link Worker offers 1-2-1 sessions to help identify what a client wants to get out of the service, what is available locally and then supports them to access those opportunities. The project also provides activity groups where they are lacking in the area such as walking, yoga and arts & crafts for well-being. Matt Pearce, the manager of West Calder and Harburn Community Development Trust, said: 'Good Connections has received funding from the Communities Mental Health Fund for three years now and it has enabled us to support so many people during hard times in their lives. The impact has been huge.' 'The project is run by West Calder & Harburn CDT and Polbeth Community Hub offering support across the communities including from our local Community Woods and Garden. It has helped hundreds of people find activities and groups to get involved in to improve their mental health and supported them to access additional services as well.' Adele Prendergast, the manager of Polbeth's Community Hub said : '86% of people who accessed our project over the last two years have seen a meaningful improvement in their mental well-being and 100% of our regular group attendees said that the activities had had a positive effect on their mental health. 'They also all said they would recommend others join our groups. This is the impact funding like this has'.
Edinburgh Reporter
24-07-2025
- Health
- Edinburgh Reporter
Bids invited for West Lothian grass roots mental health fund
A £15m programme described as a 'lifesaving' by West Lothian's Third Sector is set to open the purse strings for its latest round. The fund, first launched at the height of the Covid pandemic, has so far delivered £2m to local volunteers who promote better mental health within communities. Up to 150 grass roots organisations have been supported to help those most in need. And, each year, West Lothian's share of the national pot- around £470,000- could have been spent three times over given the number of applications. Difficult decisions have to be taken. For West Lothian this year, a further £470,000 will be made available. Applications to the Fund will open in September and around 80% of organisations will be considered for two years of funding to support their projects. It is expected that the Scottish Government will make a similar level of funding available for 2026/27. Alan McCloskey, the CEO of Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian (VSGWL) said: 'This funding saves lives.' The head of the local Third Sector umbrella organisation added: 'Over the past four years, £2m from the Scottish Government`s Communities Mental Health and Well-being Fund has been provided to 150 small, grass roots grass roots organisations to support their initiatives. 'We know that the money helps organisations to support vulnerable adults across West Lothian from the impacts of social isolation, loneliness, poverty, and inequality. It is fantastic that we will be able to help projects with much needed additional funding over the coming two years as well.' The fund has been heavily oversubscribed every year, with applications seeking around £1.3million annually. Funding helps organisations with costs such as staffing, equipment, venue hire, training and volunteer expenses. Projects have tackled social isolation, loneliness, mental health inequalities, and supported those most affected by the pandemic. This includes projects supporting a range of at-risk groups, including women, particularly those experiencing gender-based violence; people with a long-term health condition or disability and those from a minority ethnic background. Volunteers who work with people affected by psychological trauma have also benefited from the fund since 2021, along with those who have experienced bereavement or with neurological conditions or learning disabilities. West Calder and Harburn's Community Development Trust is one of the organisations which has benefited. Good Connections supports people in the West Calder and Polbeth areas to access activities, services and opportunities that improve their lives. It uses a Social Prescription model whereby a Well-being Link Worker offers 1-2-1 sessions to help identify what a client wants to get out of the service, what is available locally and then supports them to access those opportunities. The project also provides activity groups where they are lacking in the area such as walking, yoga and arts & crafts for well-being. Matt Pearce, the manager of West Calder and Harburn Community Development Trust, said: 'Good Connections has received funding from the Communities Mental Health Fund for three years now and it has enabled us to support so many people during hard times in their lives. The impact has been huge.' 'The project is run by West Calder & Harburn CDT and Polbeth Community Hub offering support across the communities including from our local Community Woods and Garden. It has helped hundreds of people find activities and groups to get involved in to improve their mental health and supported them to access additional services as well.' Adele Prendergast, the manager of Polbeth's Community Hub said: '86% of people who accessed our project over the last two years have seen a meaningful improvement in their mental well-being and 100% of our regular group attendees said that the activities had had a positive effect on their mental health. 'They also all said they would recommend others join our groups. This is the impact funding like this has'. By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Daily Record
18-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
West Lothian charities need more funding, and say it is an 'investment in communities'
Alan McCloskey, CEO of the Voluntary Sector Gateway (VSG) said that voluntary groups, relied on by the council and by individuals were facing increasing costs. Increased funding for under pressure charities in West Lothian should be seen as 'an investment in communities' as expenditure outstrips income councillors have been told. Alan McCloskey, CEO of the Voluntary Sector Gateway (VSG) said that voluntary groups, relied on by the council and by individuals were facing increasing costs. Third Sector income in West Lothian fell by almost 20% in the last year - down to £84m in 2023/24 from £110m, the year before - while expenditure was down only marginally, from £89.5m to £88.9m. The report presented to the Economy, Community Empowerment and Wealth Building PDSP was designed to give an overview of the work across the Third Sector and the £44.9m in funding which goes into the sector from the council, health and related funding streams. Mr McCloskey told the meeting: 'I think the report rightly touches on funding; it is actually an investment in communities. People are still struggling across the county with the impacts of fuel and food poverty, and the work that the Third Sector does to support communities is still much needed and demand on the services continues.' Mr McCloskey said that the Third Sector had proved 'extremely agile' in supporting people and making a difference to lives. He added: 'We look forward to that support continuing as we move forward.' The majority of the 500 local charities working in West Lothian work in social care, sports and culture and community and economic development. They offer support from among the youngest to the oldest residents in the county. The annual report said: 'The key importance of how the Third Sector is able to draw down funding from external funders is recognised and how that ability helps to deliver key support to our local communities.' Some such as the Food Network put food on the tables of many while others such as the Larder, and West Lothian College also offer skills training and access to employment. Some of those organisations helped such as Whitburn's community Development Trust provide a range of specific services within communities such as a community fridge and community garden. In her report to the PDSP Clare Stewart, Community Wealth Building Manager detailed the collaboration with the Third Sector and the work done alongside funding to help secure external support. She said: 'In 2024/25 the West Lothian 4 Communities, a funding website that supports the Voluntary and Third Sector to search for funding, had 203 registrations users who searched the site 18,251 times. 'The website is accessible for West Lothian based organisations to easily search for funding opportunities across the UK. The site will pull together a list of possible funding sources based on the type of organisation and what activities are being delivered. It significantly reduces the amount of time spent searching for funding.' Councillors across the chamber welcomed the continued partnership between council and Third Sector while acknowledging the funding pressures on voluntary organisations. Councillor Andrew Miller said that money was always tight, but the council relied on the Third Sector 'to do what it does, and so much more, reaching down to people that the council often missed.' 'Money is always tight and it's getting tighter. I wouldn't like to see any of these groups fall by the wayside.' Labour's Craig Meek said: 'I welcome the report on the investment that is put into the Third Sector. It's really important. Congratulations to all that have received funding thanks to council officers and the Gateway staff for all their work.' Councillor Sally Pattle said: 'We know how much we are continuing to rely on the work of Third Sector and how valuable the work is.' Clare Stewart concluded in her report: 'West Lothian Council recognises that the Third Sector plays a hugely important role in complimenting and adding values to the work of West Lothian Council in delivering support within communities. "It is vital that our partnership continues.'
Edinburgh Live
17-06-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
West Lothian charities need more funding, and say it is an 'investment in communities'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Increased funding for under pressure charities in West Lothian should be seen as 'an investment in communities' as expenditure outstrips income councillors have been told. Alan McCloskey, CEO of the Voluntary Sector Gateway (VSG) said that voluntary groups, relied on by the council and by individuals were facing increasing costs. Third Sector income in West Lothian fell by almost 20% in the last year - down to £84m in 2023/24 from £110m, the year before - while expenditure was down only marginally, from £89.5m to £88.9m. The report presented to the Economy, Community Empowerment and Wealth Building PDSP was designed to give an overview of the work across the Third Sector and the £44.9m in funding which goes into the sector from the council, health and related funding streams. Alan McCloskey the CEO of the VSG told the meeting: 'I think the report rightly touches on funding; it is actually an investment in communities. People are still struggling across the county with the impacts of fuel and food poverty, and the work that the Third Sector does to support communities is still much needed and demand on the services continues.' Mr McCloskey said that the Third Sector had proved "extremely agile" in supporting people and making a difference to lives. He added ' We look forward to that support continuing as we move forward.' The majority of the 500 local charities working in West Lothian work in social care, sports and culture and community and economic development. They offer support from among the youngest to the oldest residents in the county. The annual report said: "The key importance of how the Third Sector is able to draw down funding from external funders is recognised and how that ability helps to deliver key support to our local communities." Some such as the Food Network put food on the tables of many while others such as the Larder, and West Lothian College also offer skills training and access to employment. Some of those organisations helped such as Whitburn's community Development Trust provide a range of specific services within communities such as a community fridge and community garden. In her report to the PDSP Clare Stewart, Community Wealth Building Manager detailed the collaboration with the Third Sector and the work done alongside funding to help secure external support. She said: "In 2024/25 the West Lothian 4 Communities, a funding website that supports the Voluntary and Third Sector to search for funding, had 203 registrations users who searched the site 18,251 times. 'The website is accessible for West Lothian based organisations to easily search for funding opportunities across the UK. The site will pull together a list of possible funding sources based on the type of organisation and what activities are being delivered. It significantly reduces the amount of time spent searching for funding.' Councillors across the chamber welcomed the continued partnership between council and Third Sector while acknowledging the funding pressures on voluntary organisations. Councillor Andrew Miller said that money was always tight , but the council relied on the Third Sector "to do what it does, and so much more, reaching down to people that the council often missed." 'Money is always tight and it's getting tighter. I wouldn't like to see any of these groups fall by the wayside.' Labour's Craig Meek said: 'I welcome the report on the investment that is put into the Third Sector. It's really important. Congratulations to all that have received funding thanks to council officers and the Gateway staff for all their work.' Councillor Sally Pattle said: "We know how much we are continuing to rely on the work of Third Sector and how valuable the work is.' Clare Stewart concluded in her report: 'West Lothian Council recognises that the Third Sector plays a hugely important role in complimenting and adding values to the work of West Lothian Council in delivering support within communities. It is vital that our partnership continues.'
