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Community Wellbeing Mental Health Support Grant Scheme Guidance

In this section
Community Wellbeing Mental Health Support Grant Scheme Guidance

Overview

Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC) is investing £1 million in community wellbeing through the Investing in Our Communities’ Wellbeing Fund.

This guidance relates specifically to the Mental Health Support Grant Scheme (£250,000).

We are inviting local organisations to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for projects that improve mental wellbeing through prevention, early intervention, and community-based support.

Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions or require assistance before submitting your EOI.  

Purpose of the fund

The fund aims to:

  • Improve mental wellbeing across the district
  • Support early intervention and prevention
  • Strengthen community-based support
  • Address wider determinants of mental health (e.g. financial hardship, isolation, housing)

Projects must complement, not duplicate, existing clinical services.

Applicants are encouraged to review and consider how they will contribute to the outcomes as detailed with in the following strategies and plans:

Connecting Communities Strategy 2021-2041

Malvern Hills District Collaborative Wellbeing Plan 2024-2034

Funding available

  • Total fund: £250,000 (funds to be spent between 1 September 2026 and 31 March 2028)
  • Grant size: £5,001 – £50,000

If you are seeking £5,000 or less, alternative funding may be available via:

Public Health community wellbeing grants (up to £3,000 for organisations with income under £100k) Community Wellbeing Grants | Worcestershire County Council

Priority areas

We are particularly interested in projects that support:

  • Young people (e.g. mentoring, early support)
  • Farming and rural communities
  • Financial wellbeing
  • Dementia support

Projects do not need to cover all areas but should clearly align with at least one.

Who can apply

You must be an established, not-for-profit organisation, such as:

  • Registered charity
  • Community Interest Company (CIC)
  • Company limited by guarantee
  • Unincorporated community group

You must:

  • Be based in, or deliver services within, the Malvern Hills district
  • Have a governing document (e.g. constitution)
  • Have a bank account in your organisation’s name

If unsure about eligibility, contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

What we will fund

We will fund revenue-based projects that improve mental wellbeing, including:

  • Staff and sessional worker costs
  • Volunteer training and expenses
  • Delivery of groups, activities, or services
  • Venue hire and outreach costs
  • Small equipment essential to delivery
  • Community engagement and promotion

Projects should:

  • Be accessible and inclusive
  • Demonstrate local need
  • Show clear community benefit

What we will not fund

We will not fund:

  • Activities that have already started (retrospective funding)
  • Clinical or medical treatment services
  • Large capital projects (e.g. buildings, major refurbishments)
  • Activities that duplicate existing provision
  • Political or exclusively religious activities

What we're looking for (assessment criteria)

Your application will be assessed against:

  1. Strategic Fit (20%)
  • Alignment with fund priorities and local strategic objectives
  • Contribution to reducing inequalities and improving local wellbeing
  1. Impact (25%)
  • Clear, measurable outcomes and benefits
  • Strong evidence of need and demand
  • Scale and reach of anticipated impact
  1. Deliverability (15%)
  • Skills, experience, and capacity
  • Realistic and achievable delivery plan
  • Appropriate governance and risk management
  1. Value for Money (10%)
  • Clear, realistic and proportionate budget
  • Cost-effectiveness relative to outcomes delivered
  • Efficient use of public funding, including wider system benefits
  1. Partnership, Integration & Added Value (20%)
  • Collaboration with relevant organisations and services
  • Evidence of integration with wider systems and avoidance of duplication
  • Added value through co-design, leverage, or complimentary provision
  1. Sustainability (10%)
  • Likelihood of benefits continuing beyond the funding period
  • Clear plan for long-term viability, resourcing, or transition
  • Evidence of embedded change, capacity-building, or lasting impact

Key dates

Milestone

Date

EOI opens

24 April 2026

EOI deadline

5 June 2026

Assessment period

8–19 June 2026

Applicant notification

26 June 2026

Project start

1 September 2026 (earliest start date)

 What makes a strong application

Strong applications will:

  • Clearly describe the project and activities
  • Show evidence of local need, using relevant data where possible (e.g. demand, waiting lists, local trends)
  • Identify who will benefit, including priority or underserved groups
  • Demonstrate inclusion and accessibility in both design and delivery (e.g. reducing barriers, reaching diverse communities, ensuring equitable access)
  • Demonstrate experience, capability and capacity to deliver
  • Include realistic and well-justified costs
  • Explain how outcomes will be measured and evidenced

Use data where possible (e.g. numbers supported, waiting lists, local demand, or service pressures) to strengthen the application).

Outcomes and monitoring

You will be expected to report on outcomes such as:

  • Number of people supported
  • Improvements in wellbeing (e.g. recognised tools like SWEMWBS)
  • Reduced isolation / increased connection
  • Access to further support

You may also be asked to provide:

  • Case studies
  • Participant feedback

Partnership working

We encourage collaboration.

This could include:

  • Working with other local organisations
  • Linking with existing services (e.g. wellbeing hubs, employment support)
  • Creating referral pathways

Safeguarding and compliance

You must:

  • Have appropriate safeguarding policies (where relevant)
  • Ensure staff/volunteers are suitably trained
  • Follow relevant legal and regulatory requirements

If your application is unsuccessful

We will:

  • Provide feedback where possible
  • Signpost you to other funding opportunities

Important conditions

  • Do not start your project before approval
  • Costs incurred before approval are at your own risk
  • Funding may be used to extend existing approval projects, subject to prior authorisation.
  • False or misleading information may result in:
    • Withdrawal of funding
    • Recovery of funds

Data protection

MHDC will:

  • Use your information to assess and manage your application
  • Share information with relevant partners (e.g. NHS, Worcestershire County Council)
  • Store data in line with data protection legislation

Support and contact

If you need support or have questions, contact:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Next steps

  1. Read this guidance carefully
  2. Develop your project idea
  3. Complete the Expression of Interest form
  4. Submit by 5 June 2026

Reference request

As part of the assessment process, applicants may be asked to provide one or more referees. Referees will typically be contacted to verify the information provided in the application and to give an informed view of the applicant’s capability to deliver the proposed project, including their relevant experience, reliability, governance, and suitability to manage public funding.