People In Mind Community Wellbeing Fund

The Fund:

The People In Mind Community Wellbeing Fund forms part of the broader People In Mind programme co-ordinated & managed by Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum (VSF) and funded jointly by Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Public Health.

The programme is aimed at supporting innovation and collaboration within the voluntary, community & social enterprise (VCSE) sector to deliver a trauma-informed and whole-family approach to improving the wellbeing of communities in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

A collaborative core service is being delivered by eight key VCSE sector partner organisations and the Community Wellbeing Fund is intended to provide grants to other voluntary organisations and community groups working with people most at risk of poor mental health or suicide.

The People in Mind Community Wellbeing Fund totals £140,000 in year 1 and is seeking applications for projects and activities that support the reduction of the suicide rate in Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly through one or more of the following key outcomes:

  1. improving mental and emotional wellbeing
  2. increasing social connection
  3. increasing financial security

The fund will prioritise applications where projects are working to support one (or more) of the following target population groups and/or geographical areas:

  • Farming
  • Fishing
  • LGBTQ+
  • Young parents and families
  • Domestic abuse and sexual violence
  • People who’ve been in prison and their families
  • Those experiencing homelessness
  • Those in or leaving care
  • Veterans
  • People using alcohol or substances
  • Black and minority ethnic groups
  • People with LD and/or neurodiversity
  • People experiencing menopause
  • Areas of multiple deprivation (with wards identified but not required for specific focus):
    • Camborne (Pengagon, Town Centre, College Street and the Glebe, North parade, Rosewarne Gardens, Dolcoath and Tuckingmill)
    • Penzance (Treneere, St Clare, Town, Wharfside)
    • Redruth (North, Close Hill, Strawberry Fields, Treleigh)
    • St Austell (Penwinnick, Town Centre, Alexandra Road, East Hill)
    • Bodmin (Kinsman estate, Monument Way, Town Centre, Berryfields)
    • Newquay (Town Centre, Narrowcliff,)
    • Pool and Illogan
    • St Blazey
    • Newlyn (Harbour and Gwavas)
    • Liskeard (St Cleer Road and Bodgara Way)
    • Falmouth (Old Hill)

Grants will ordinarily range from £1,000 to £10,000.

Grants of up to £25,000 will be considered in exceptional circumstances where applications clearly demonstrate a high level of innovation and/or collaboration in line with the overarching aim of the fund. Grants between £10,000 – £25,000 may potentially be made where a grant is awarded across a period of 2 years.

Unless stipulated as a 2-year grant, grants should be spent within 12 months of receipt of funds.

Eligibility to Apply

Applications can be considered from not for profit community groups, organisations or social enterprises operating in Cornwall. You don’t need to be a registered charity, but your activities must be considered charitable, and you must have the following:

  • A recognised governing document e.g. Constitution, Articles which outlines the organisation’s objectives and it must have a Dissolution Clause.
  • A minimum of three unrelated members on your Management Committee or Board of Trustees. If you are a registered charity, your trustees should be registered with the Charity Commission.
  • If you are working with children and/or people at risk, you must have a Safeguarding Policy in place. This should include your Safeguarding Officer’s name/s and contact details and information on the training that staff / volunteers undertake.
  • Up to date annual accounts for your organisation or group.
  • A bank account in the organisation or group’s name which requires two unrelated signatories for all withdrawals.
  • Current, relevant insurance policies.

Sorry, we do not fund*:

  • Commercial, profit making organisations
  • Groups with a significant free reserve balance
  • Statutory/public sector organisations
  • Contributions to an endowment, payment of deficit funding or repayment of loans
  • Grant making organisations or bodies who fundraise or distribute grants on behalf of other organisations
  • Retrospective grants
  • Regional offices of national bodies that do not have their own local accounts and management committee and benefit local people
  • Groups whose beneficiaries are not people
  • Projects intended to influence people’s religious choices or to promote a particular belief system.
  • The promotion of political causes

*This list is not exhaustive.

NB: Core delivery partners of the People in Mind programme are not eligible to apply for a Community Wellbeing Fund grant.

Application Timeline:

The deadline for applications is: 9am, Wednesday 20th September 2023.

The Panel will meet in late October and we will aim to inform applicants of the outcomes by 10th November 2023.

Application Form:

The application form can be accessed here: People in Mind Community Wellbeing Fund.