Borders Community Action is welcoming an additional £66,000 for community-led mental health and wellbeing projects in the Scottish Borders, as part of Round 5 of the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults. This uplift will enable more Year 1 projects to be delivered in 2026-27, with successful applications to be confirmed shortly.
The additional allocation forms part of wider national investment in early intervention and community support for mental health, social connection and tackling loneliness. The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund has already channelled tens of millions of pounds into thousands of local, grassroots projects across Scotland since 2021, with a strong focus on rural communities and people most affected by inequality and the cost-of-living crisis.
In the Scottish Borders, Borders Community Action leads the local delivery of the Fund, working with partners to support community-based initiatives that promote good mental health and wellbeing for adults aged 16 and over. Funding prioritises projects that:
The extra £66,000 for Round 5 in the Borders builds on Scottish Government’s decision to continue the Fund with £15 million per year nationally for Years 5 and 6. This increase means more high-quality Year 1 projects can be supported from April 2026, including smaller, grassroots organisations that may otherwise struggle to access longer-term funding.
Borders Community Action CEO, Juliana Amaral, said:
“This additional funding recognises the vital role that community groups across the Borders play in supporting mental health, tackling loneliness and creating places where people feel connected and valued. It will allow us to back even more local ideas that offer early help, kindness and practical support, long before people reach crisis.”
Borders Community Action is now finalising decisions for Round 5 and will publish the list of newly funded projects over the coming weeks. These projects will run from 2026-27, complementing wider Scottish Government work on mental health, wellbeing and tackling social isolation through strategies such as A Connected Scotland and Recovering our Connections.
Groups and residents can find updates and future funding opportunities via the Borders Community Action website and local communications channels and are encouraged to stay engaged as new projects launch in communities across the region.
