Clackmannanshire and Stirling Causes receive ‘lifeline’ funding for Community Mental Health and Wellbeing
Community groups and charities in Clackmannanshire and Stirling have been awarded a share of £465,142 through the Scottish Government Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults. The fund, part of a two-year investment by the Scottish Government across Scotland, is administered locally by Clackmannanshire TSI (CTSI) and Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise (SVE) to projects working across the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership area. Established in 2021, the fund supports preventative and early intervention approaches to mental health and wellbeing. In particular it aims to tackle social isolation and loneliness, support the prevention of suicide, address health inequalities and strengthen grassroots groups by building connections, resilience and mutual support within communities.
Successful projects funded in 2025/26 include:
Forth Valley Sensory Centre – to provide accessible cookery courses focused on health and nutrition in Clackmannanshire
Neils Hugs Foundation – to develop a befriending offer for families affected by bereavement through suicide in Clackmannanshire
Dementia Friendly Doune and Deanston – to expand their Meeting Centre offer providing peer support and meaningful activity for people living with dementia and their families.
Finding Your Feet – providing face to face peer support for people who have experienced amputation.
Awards have been made to a total of 59 organisations in the area. Full details of successful awardees are available here:
The fund is part of the Scottish Government’s Fairer Funding Pilot, which is trialling multi-year funding awards. Of the 59 projects 32 have been awarded funding over two years, with the remaining 27 receiving funding for one year only.
The grants program was open to charities and community groups operating in Clackmannanshire and Stirling. Applications were assessed by a panel made up of representatives from CTSI and SVE, the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership, as well as representatives from charities and community groups in the area.
Anthea Coulter, Chief Officer, CTSI said,
The groups and organisations we have funded in this round know the issues that need to be addressed because they are working with these communities all the time. With our statutory services facing ever more pressure, this fund demonstrates the difference that even small amounts of funding can make to support people before they reach a crisis, and therefore prevent costly interventions at a later stage.
Natalie Masterson, Chief Officer, SVE said,
This fund makes an enormous impact across the Clackmannanshire and Stirling areas, supporting grassroots groups who do vital preventative work in our communities. We received an incredibly high calibre of applications this year, and were oversubscribed by nearly £700,000 showing just how needed this funding is. By backing community-led solutions, we are helping to build resilience, foster inclusion, and create welcoming spaces where individuals can find connection, support, and hope."
A full list of the funded organisations are:
Action in Mind - Clacks
Action in Mind - Stirling
Alliance4growth
Alpha Community Centre Council
Arts Included CIC
Bipolar Scotland
Braehead, Broomridge & District Community Development Trust
Carers Forum Stirling Area t/a Stirling Carers Centre
Central Carers Association (Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre)
Creative Stirling
Dates-n-Mates - Stirling
Dementia Friendly Doune & Deanston
Dollar Community Development Trust
Dunblane Development Trust-Dementia Friendly Dunblane
Enable
Fallin Community Voice
Finding Your Feet
Forth Valley Sensory Centre - Clacks
Forth Valley Sensory Centre - Stirling
Forth Valley Welcome - Clacks
Forth Valley Welcome - Stirling
Green Aspirations Scotland CIC
Home-Start Clackmannanshire
Home-Start Stirling
HSTAR Scotland SCIO - Clacks
HSTAR Scotland SCIO - Stirling
Inspiring Communities
Killearn Community Futures Company - Killearn Village Hall
Kilmadock Community Allotment Group
Làmhan
LGBT Youth Scotland
Neil's Hugs Foundation
Neuro Central
PAMIS
Play Alloa
PLUS (Forth Valley) Limited - Clacks
PLUS (Forth Valley) Limited - Stirling
Positive Changes Scotland CIC
Reachout With Arts In Mind
Recovery Scotland
Recyke-a-bike
Resonate Together
Rise Yoga
Sacro
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs - Stirling
Stirling Community Enterprise
Stirling District Citizens Advice Bureau Ltd - Stirling
Stroke Association
Support for Families
SWAN Autism
The Conservation Volunteers
Town Break Dementia Support Services
Transform Forth Valley - Stirling
Under The Trees
Valley Renewables Group: Development Trust of the Carron Valley and District Community Area
Victim Support Scotland
Volunteering Matters - Clacks
Volunteering Matters - Stirling
Wasp Community Club
