Community organisations invited to apply for new community mental health and wellbeing grants

Community and voluntary organisations across West Northamptonshire are being invited to apply for a share of £213,000 in new grant funding to support local mental health and wellbeing projects.

West Northamptonshire Council’s Public Health team has launched the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants Programme for 2026–28, building on learning from a successful pilot scheme that supported community-based mental health initiatives across the area.

The funding is aimed at Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations delivering preventative, community-led mental health and wellbeing support for residents of all ages, particularly those at greater risk of poor mental health or experiencing inequalities.

The new programme has been shaped by feedback from VCFSE organisations at a workshop held in summer 2025 and reflects the Council’s wider strategic approach to improving public mental health across the life course.

To ensure the funding is accessible to a wide range of organisations, the programme will be delivered through two separate funding routes:

• Community Funding Grants Framework (CFGF) – for larger VCFSE organisations with an income of over £100,000
• Community Investment Business Case (CIBC) – for smaller VCFSE organisations with an income of under £100,000

Each route has an allocated budget of £106,500, bringing the total available funding to £213,000 over the period from May 2026 to March 2028.

The CFGF grants will offer a minimum award of £20,000 for projects running over a 23-month period, while the CIBC route will provide smaller grants of between £2,000 and £7,000 to support a community‑led, place‑based approach that builds on existing local strengths and actively involves residents in identifying and addressing priorities to improve mental health and wellbeing.  

Projects funded through the programme will need to address one or more of the following five priority areas:

• Building emotional resilience and positive mental wellbeing
• Improving mental health awareness and reducing stigma
• Supporting active lives and healthy lifestyles
• Reducing loneliness and social isolation
• Suicide prevention for high-risk groups

“Strong, connected communities play a vital role in supporting mental health and wellbeing, and we know that the organisations working on the ground every day are often best placed to reach people who might otherwise fall through the gaps. These grants are not just financial support, they are an investment in the creativity, commitment and compassion that our local groups bring to West Northamptonshire.

“By empowering community organisations of all sizes, we can help build preventative, inclusive and accessible support that truly reflects the needs of our residents. I would strongly encourage groups to come forward, share their ideas, and help us continue building a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”Cllr Laura Couse, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Adult Services at West Northamptonshire Council

The Expression of Interest (EOI) process for both larger organisations applying through the Community Funding Grants Framework and smaller organisations applying via the Community Investment Business Case route will open in February 2026 and close at the end of March 2026. Successful applicants will be announced in April 2026.

To request the application form and guidance, please email [email protected] stating which grant you are interested in. All applications must be submitted by 31 March 2026.