A group which supports people with learning disabilities to socialise is among those to benefit from more than £400,000 of mental health funding.
C-change, who operate the project Dates ‘n Mates, is one of the organisations that has received funding via Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise (SVE) and Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSI).
C-Change regional manager Carolyn Dick said: “The funding we received will enable us to develop our project, which operates successfully in Falkirk already, in two new communities, giving more people living with a learning disability the opportunity to choose how they socialise in their communities.
“Everyone should have the opportunity to meet new people and create meaningful connections, friendships and relationships and our work aims to achieve that.
SVE and CTSI, as part of the TSI Scotland Network, have distributed £412,015 to third sector groups locally to provide activities to help tackle the mental health and wellbeing issues that have arisen from the pandemic.
The main bulk of the funds have been provided by Scottish Government in a new £15million fund that has come out directly to the TSI Scotland Network to be distributed through to local grassroots organisations within communities.
In addition, locally the TSIs have also distributed a small ‘test of change’ fund provided by Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership.
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Natalie Masterson, chief officer at SVE, said: “The two TSIs work closely together and were able to move quickly to develop a plan for the distribution.
“One of the key elements of the fund was developing a steering group which we did and our thanks goes to our public sector partners in health and our two respective councils, and also members of our local communities with live experience that represent mental health and carers.
“Scottish Government asked us to ensure that the funding went 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. We offered two levels of grant - up to £5K and up to £10K and received over 100 applications in just a few weeks.”
In total £345,800 of large grants have been given to 29 organisations and a further £66,215 small grants given to 21 smaller organisations, covering a wide range of needs and communities across Stirlingshire and Clackmannanshire.
For more information and support see www.sventerprise.org.uk.
