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Applications for funding have opened today (Tuesday 3 January) and will close on Tuesday 7 February. Money is available for community projects which seek to help health and wellbeing.
The council’s public health team have organised an online ‘Q&A Support’ session to help groups prepare their bids for the funding. The question-and-answer event will be held on Monday 16 January 2023 from 10am to 11.30am, via Microsoft Teams. Anyone who would like to take part can email phgrants@n-somerset.gov.uk to receive an invite.
Cllr Mike Bell, Deputy Leader of North Somerset Council and executive member for health, said: “We’re a council which empowers and cares about people. We want to help people have more years enjoying good health and wellbeing.
“Last year more than £75,000 was awarded to a variety of projects across the area, all of which helped improve the health and wellbeing of the people taking part. There was a really wide range of projects including cookery classes, nature wellbeing sessions and support for older people.
“If you’re part of a community or volunteer group, please look at our website and get in touch for more information. The grant money is there to support our local communities so please get your applications in!”
There are four types of grant funding available:
- Mental health community grant: to fund community programmes which improve overall wellbeing, reduce metal ill health and reduce social isolation and loneliness. A total of £45,000 in funding will be available, to be split between projects for children and adults. Organisations and groups will be able to apply for up to £10,000.
- Social prescribing destination grant: to fund non-clinical projects and activities in North Somerset that address the needs of residents of all ages in holistic, community-centred ways. For services and activities that act as social prescribing destinations and aim to improve mental health and wellbeing and to reduce social isolation and loneliness. A total of £45,000 will be available. People can apply for up to £5,000. If the project has a significant nature-based element, they can apply for up £10,000. Project leads will need to have discussed their application with the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Green Social Prescribing (GSP) Programme by emailing bnssg.mh.greensp@nhs.net.
- Community food projects grant: to support existing and upcoming community food projects in North Somerset that encourage access to nutritious and affordable food, healthy eating, improved food knowledge and skills. Projects should also focus on the social, cultural, and dietary needs in the population that they aim to reach. Projects that have a dual aim of improving physical health and create wider social or climate benefits, such as improving community cohesion and reducing food waste, will also be considered. The total available funding is £30,000. Individual projects can apply for up to £10,000,
- Together Fund – Sport England: Wesport is adding £25,000 to support organisations who have not accessed this funding previously. This fund supports projects that use movement, physical activity, or sport to engage priority audiences who have been impacted by the pandemic and the cost of living crisis. For more information about the Together Fund please email caleb.thomas@wesport.org.uk.
More information is available on the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/phgrants.