Round four in Dumfries and Galloway
Successful applicants in the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund round four:
A Listening Ear: Expanding ALE Befriending Services to Reduce Loneliness and Isolation – £8,900
This funding supports A Listening Ear (ALE) to deliver its befriending service by adding in-person initiatives to reduce loneliness and improve well-being in Dumfries and Galloway. New offerings include one-to-ones, home visits, group meet-ups, care home visits, hospital befriending, and a ‘No-One Dies Alone’ service. These expanded services address the diverse needs of the community, significantly enhancing the support ALE provides to those facing loneliness and isolation.
Animals Supporting People at FRED CIC: Animal Therapy for Health and Wellbeing £9,127
The ‘Animal Therapy for Health and Wellbeing’ project offers animal-assisted activity sessions to combat social isolation and loneliness, especially for marginalised groups in rural areas. It delivers group and individual sessions and ensures accessibility for participants with disabilities. The aim is to encourage friendships and social interaction through activities such as interacting with animals, gardening and crafts.
Annandale Community Transport Services: Transport Overcoming Isolation – £10,000
This grant part funds Annandale Community Transport Services (ACTS) ongoing support of the residents of Annandale, by providing minibus hires for community groups, individual hires, and hospital journeys. ACTS are also able to offer Travel Club days out and driver training. Membership is open to all in the area, both individuals and groups, with services tailored to various groups, including the elderly and disabled.
Apex Scotland: TimeToChat – £9,999
‘Time To Chat’ offers a safe space for individuals to talk with a Personal Development Mentor (PDM) without the need for formal service enrolment. This trauma-informed project provides low-level mental health support and the ‘soft touch’ approach serves as an entry point to more structured services. ‘Time to Chat’ aims to build resilience, trust, and emotional well-being while addressing immediate needs and reducing financial hardship.
Bipolar Scotland: Bipolar Scotland Self-Management (Peer Support Group and Self Management Training) – £10,000
This project supports individuals with bipolar and their loved ones through peer support and self-management training. It comprises a 2day Self-Management Training course to empower 14 individuals to take back control of their lives and a monthly peer-support groups supporting 15 people living with bipolar. The project brings together people from the Bipolar community to build strong connections and aims to improve knowledge, confidence, social networks. This, in turn, improves mental health and reduces hospital admissions.
Buittle Quest: Music and Memories (2025) – £2,868
This funding allows the continuation of the ‘Music and Memories’ project, following a very successful pilot in 2024. The pilot scheme created a safe space for members of the community to meet, share experiences and build confidence through conversations and song. In 2025 the new project includes sessions for participants to become more confident in playing musical instruments.
Castle Douglas Community Information Technology Centre: Digital Art – £6,573.60
This grant allows Castle Douglas Community Information Technology Centre to continue their digital art classes for small groups, teaching iPad art in six blocks of six weeks per group. These informal, supportive sessions explore various art styles, improve digital ability and allow for social interaction. The project helps adults, especially the elderly, alleviate loneliness and isolation and improve mental health.
Castle Douglas Men’s Shed: Securing the Future – £6,000
They aim to create a social area for members and groups, support organisations like Andy’s Man Club, and offer a warm space for those in need. This project enhances members’ mental health and self-worth as well as benefiting other groups.
Chariots of Fire Equestrian Centre CIC: People and Pony Connection Programme – £9,000
The ‘People and Pony Connection Programme’ offers 20 small group driving sessions for people aged 16 and over with additional needs. Participants benefit from therapeutic pony interactions, outdoor activities, and social connections. Sessions include 30 minutes of pony driving tuition, tailored to individual abilities. Adapted equipment ensures inclusivity for those with physical disabilities. The programme supports physical, emotional, and social well-being.
D&G LGBT Plus: The Potting Shed – £8,654
D&G LGBT Plus’s ‘Potting Shed’ project is a community initiative in Stranraer and Dumfries promoting holistic wellbeing through diverse activities like art, crafts, health, and nature. It aims to reduce isolation, build social networks and improve mental and physical health. Activities include mindfulness, yoga, gardening, and more, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility. The project fosters community resilience, supports mental health, and addresses poverty and inequality by providing free, accessible activities and skill development opportunities.
Dumfries and Galloway Advocacy Service: Dumfries and Galloway Advocacy Service – £20,515
This funding enables Dumfries and Galloway Advocacy Service (DAGAS) to employ a part-time Independent Advocate to support people with their mental health and well-being. Recent changes to the remit of DAGAS means they are restricted in the work they can do with clients who have Autism or ADHD or are experiencing depression, anxiety or other mental health issues. The advocate works with the beneficiaries to reduce distress, loneliness and provide access to necessary services thus empowering clients and ensuring they are heard and supported in decision-making processes.
Families Outside: Support for families affected by imprisonment in Dumfries and Galloway – £5,000
This project supports families affected by the imprisonment of a loved one, addressing social, emotional, financial, and educational challenges. It offers a multi-platform, a support and information helpline’ and direct 1:1 community-based support. Services include practical assistance, emotional support and advocacy, helping families stabilise housing and access mental health services. The project ultimately aims to empower families to overcome disadvantages and engage with their communities.
Galloway Action Team: Partnership Working in Action – £9,616
This funding secures and increases the hours of 2 part time posts in the Galloway Action Team (GAT) and provides them with additional training in First Aid for Mental Health. These employees strengthen partnerships with local services and increase the capacity of GAT. Integral to their role is supporting volunteers, some of whom may be in crisis, as well as facilitating volunteer training in a range of life skills.
Home-Start Wigtownshire: Mums in Mind – £9,439
The ‘Mums in Mind’ group meets weekly for 90 minutes, with parents and carers getting together in a safe, supported space. This is a peer support group for those whose children have started nursery or finished home-visiting support. Facilitated by staff and volunteers, the group aims to improve mental health, reduce loneliness, and build confidence by delivering a range of activities, such as yoga, mindfulness, and cooking.
Horses4Help CIC: 16+ Equi Learning Course – £9,603.17
The ‘16+ Equi Learning programme’, which is now accredited by ASDAN (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network), supports personal growth, education, and employability for young adults. It offers mindfulness and nature-based activities for older adults as well as helping families dealing with mental health issues, addiction, and bereavement. Activities include grooming, nature walks, and therapeutic horsemanship. The programme builds confidence and community engagement through structured, participant-driven sessions.
Independent Living Support: It’s All About You – £29,644
ILS’s peer-to-peer programme has positively impacted around 60 people, with 60 more set to join in 2025. The programme supports mental health recovery through 12-week courses and plans to expand with one-to-one support for six months post-programme. This additional support aims to help clients transition smoothly and improve life skills, ultimately enhancing community engagement and reducing reliance on statutory services.
Isle Futures: Isle Be There – £9,989
‘Isle Be There’ aims to support those facing social isolation and mental health issues in Isle of Whithorn. The project expands on ‘Isle Buddies’, offering transport for community meetups, arts and crafts, workshops, and a men’s social group. It also enhances the ‘Guid Grief Café’ for bereavement support and provides a monthly lunch club for older and disabled residents.
Kate’s Kitchen: Kate’s Kitchen Community Cafe Pilot – £19,500
This funding enables Kate’s Kitchen to open a community café in central Annan, operating Monday to Friday. The café offers food which affordable to all, in a warm, welcoming environment; meals are free to those in particular need. The facility enhances the activities already delivered by Kate’s Kitchen, as well as providing volunteer opportunities, supporting mental health, and giving out information on local services.
Kirkcudbright Development Trust: Yoga for Wellbeing – £4000
This nine-week ‘Yoga for Wellbeing’ course offers holistic yoga for ‘at-risk’ groups, focusing on mobility, strength, flexibility, breathwork, and relaxation. The emphasis is on making all elements of the practice safe, comfortable and accessible. Led by an experienced local teacher, who has 8 years teaching experience with people aged 0-80+, it aims to improve social connection, confidence and resilience in participants.
Kirkmabreck Community Council: Creetown Action For Food (CAFF) – £1,000
This funding ensures the sustainability of CAFF, a community fridge and larder based in the Creetown area. CAFF collects surplus items from local supermarkets and bakeries, which is then repackaged, frozen, if necessary, and placed in the local community fridge/larder. This food can then be collected anonymously by anyone in the community who needs it. Serving rural communities such as Creetown and Carsluith, it supports low-income families, provides easily accessible provisions and reduces food waste.
KPT Development Trust: Community Yoga and Creativity for Connection and Care (Year 2) – £10,000
‘KPT Development Trust’ continues to deliver its successful Community Yoga, Chair Yoga, Acupressure/Shiatsu, and Creative/Arts-based sessions in Keir, Penpont, and Tynron, whilst expanding its activities to include led walks, e-bike hire, craft sessions and create a wellbeing garden. The project promotes these activities to various community groups and agencies, co-ordinated by a community development officer. The goal is to create a comprehensive health and wellbeing programme for the community.
LGBT Youth Scotland: LGBT Youth Scotland D&G – £9,999
This project supports LGBTQ+ youth (16-25) in Dumfries and Galloway by providing specialised services to improve mental and emotional well-being and reduce isolation. It includes weekly youth groups, 1: 1 coaching, and workshops on mental health topics. The project builds resilience and provides practical and emotional support. Funding ensures consistent delivery and increases access to local mental health services and community connections.
Lothlorien Rokpa Trust: Lothlorien Nature Connection – £9,985
This project employs Lothlorien’s 30 years of experience in nature-based therapy and organic gardening to benefit the wider community. It focuses on sustainable food production, promoting active lifestyles, and raising awareness of the link between a healthy environment and a person’s health. Activities include workshops and a green social prescribing scheme, aiming to improve mental and physical well-being, provide social opportunities, and support self-development through contact with nature.
Machars Churches Basics Food Bank: Project Airfryer – £5,962
Project Airfryer will buy air fryers for those in need and provide sessions to the recipients to learn how to use them effectively. This project promotes healthy eating, safer cooking and reduced heating bills; addressing food insecurity and fuel poverty. Small group sessions also combat social isolation.
Make 2nds Count: Dumfries Tea and Chat – £2,178
The volunteer led ‘Tea and Chat’ group meets monthly in Dumfries to support the mental health and wellbeing of patients with incurable secondary breast cancer. Key features include peer-led support, regular meetings, informal discussions and access to information, aiming to improve psychological well-being, quality of life, empowerment and symptom management.
Massive Outpouring of Love: The Hub – £10,000
MOOL aims to extend the use of ‘The Hub,’, a safe social space, to offer more services and activities for New Scots, refugees, and asylum seekers. This safe space promotes social connections, language skills and mental well-being through various activities and support services. By encouraging the development of community integration and providing expert advice, they tackle social isolation and inequality, benefiting both newcomers and volunteers.
Men’s Shed Dumfries: Men’s Shed Wellbeing Activities – £9,169.99
‘Men’s Shed Dumfries Activities’ project offers wellbeing activities to promote health, tackle isolation, and combat poverty. Activities include digital connectivity sessions, music sessions, gardening, warm hub café sessions, and a healthy eating initiative. These efforts aim to reduce isolation, increase social connections, combat food/energy poverty, improve mental health, and boost activity levels.
Mossburn Community Farm: Young Adults Project – £7,784
This project offers weekly five-hour sessions for young adults, over the course of a year, which focus on physical and mental wellbeing, life skills, and employability. Activities include animal-assisted learning, nature walks, gardening, and workshops with guest speakers. The project supports individuals with mental health and neurodiverse conditions, building resilience, self-awareness, and social interaction. A youth mentor guides participants, enhancing their skills and job prospects through animal interaction and collaborative learning.
Newton Stewart Initiative: Happy Daze 2025 – £4,726
‘Happy Daze’ is a reminiscence group for over-60s in Newton Stewart. It offers monthly sessions at Vibe 75 and outreach in local care homes. Activities include historical talks, old-fashioned games and intergenerational projects with local students, all with a warm meal included. The project aims to reduce loneliness, boost self-esteem, and build community connections. It also provides volunteering opportunities for young people, enhancing their skills and CVs.
Plant Listening CIC: Nourishing Landscapes – Rural Wellbeing for Asylum-Seekers – £9,900
This project offers 13 day-long events for refugees and asylum seekers in Dumfries to visit farms, gardens, and community projects across Dumfries and Galloway. It aims to help them understand the rural landscape, build relationships, and create volunteer opportunities that could lead to paid employment. Activities include learning about local plants, mindful walking, and shared meals. The project enhances well-being, boosts self-esteem and builds community integration.
Propagate (Scotland) C.I.C: Dumfries and Galloway Community Food Network – £9,950
The ‘Dumfries and Galloway Community Food Network’ supports local food projects, including community gardening, emergency food provision, and food education. Coordinators deliver the organisation’s goals through site visits, workshops and events, promoting projects via newsletters and networking. The network aims to enhance skills, share resources, and improve access to healthy, locally grown food. It addresses food insecurity, social isolation, and promotes mental and physical well-being, benefiting individuals and communities.
Scottish Huntington’s Association: Scottish Huntington’s Association Core Services to assist Mental Health and Wellbeing for people living and dealing with Huntington’s disease in Dumfries and Galloway – £9,311
This funding supports the core services of Scottish Huntington’s Association (SHA) in Dumfries and Galloway including HD Specialists, Youth Service, and Financial Wellbeing Service. These services provide vital mental health support, financial advice and personalised care for individuals and families affected by Huntington’s disease. SHA aims to reduce isolation, support carers, and improve overall well-being through tailored interventions, peer support groups, and financial stability, ensuring long-term support for those impacted by the disease.
Solway Disability Support CIC: Sports – £7,917
The ‘Sports’ project provides opportunities for people with learning disabilities to attend disability sports clubs in and around Dumfries. Improving physical health, through activities such as football, boccia, badminton and multi-sports, leads to improvements in the beneficiaries’ mental health and wellbeing. Other opportunities such as carriage driving also reduce anxiety in people with challenging behaviours. Overall, this project supports clients’ health, reduces medical interventions, and provides respite for families and carers.
Stewartry Youth Work Steering Group: Mental Health Support in Communities – £9,425
Stewartry Youth Work Steering Group delivers a youth work programme focusing on mental health for young adults aged 16-25. A qualified youth worker facilitates group sessions to improve mental health management, recruit and train Peer Mentors, and provide signposting to support services. Targeting Dalbeattie, Castle Douglas, and Kirkcudbright, the project aims to raise awareness and reduce demand on clinical services through early intervention.
The First Base Agency: The ‘Kettle Parcel’ Project – £7,500
Following a surge in applications for accommodation for the homeless post-COVID-19, there was a significant increase in the number of clients placed in B&B accommodation, most of which lacked cooking facilities. The First Base Agency responded by creating ‘Kettle Parcels’, food packages that only require boiling water to prepare a hot meal. This funding allows ‘The First Base Agency’ to distribute around 100 parcels monthly. As well as providing immediate relief from hunger these parcels also contain a leaflet which gives clear ‘signposting’ information to those experiencing depression and anxiety.
The Food Train Ltd: Older People’s Meals Project – £35,000
This lunch project for older people in Dumfries offers nutritious meals through home deliveries, weekly pop-up café sessions and group lunches at residential facilities. The funding allows Food Train to continue offering this service with more meal options, increase café availability and support more residential facilities. The aim is to address isolation, loneliness, and undernutrition, improving physical and mental well-being through social contact and healthy eating. Feedback from the current project has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting its success.
The Stove Network: Open Hoose: Our Story – £21,060
‘Open Hoose: Our Story’ (OH: OS) supports New Scots, the LGBTQ+ community, and those affected by the cost-of-living crisis. The project uses workshops to help participants share their stories through printed materials, fostering community resilience and understanding. It includes trauma-informed training, recruitment events, and ongoing support. The project aims to improve mental well-being, social networks, and employability, while enhancing community cohesion and reducing isolation.
Thornhill and District Community Transport: MiDAS Training – £1,540
This project funds Midas Training for the volunteer drivers of Thornhill and District Community Transport. This enables them to provide the best service possible to their passengers and ensure they can offer a Gold Standard Service in transporting adults with accessibility needs and those using wheelchairs.
UNACCI Upper Nithsdale Arts and Crafts Community Initiative, also known as A’ the Airts.: A’ the Airts Intergenerational Project – £14,500
‘A’ the Airts Intergenerational Project’ brings together young adults and older residents to explore social history through technology. Senior pupils from Sanquhar Academy collaborate with older community members to document the town’s history, focusing on work, food, and knitting heritage. The project includes weekly meetings, IT training, and culminates in a film and exhibition.
Volunteering Matters: Supported Volunteering Dumfries and Galloway – £35,211
The ‘Supported Volunteering Dumfries and Galloway’ project helps people facing barriers to participation by offering very local volunteering opportunities. The project includes initial assessments, barrier removal and tailored volunteer placements with third sector partners. It aims to enhance resilience, skills, wellbeing and inclusion, resulting in, amongst other things, improved employability.
Wigtownshire and Stewartry Partnership: Thursday and Friday Groups – £9,612
This funding means the ‘Thursday and Friday Groups’ run by Wigtownshire and Stewartry Partnership (WASP) are able to take on needed staff and pay for hall hire. The groups, which first started in 2018, support individuals with additional support needs (ASN), their support staff and community members and rely on a mix of volunteer and paid facilitators. Activities include arts and crafts, games, and cooking, all led by individuals with ASN. Their aim is to have a positive impact on members’ social skills, confidence, and life skills.