Local groups with great ideas to make their communities an even better place to live are now invited to apply for funding.

People’s Health Trust has just opened Active Communities – a funding programme for local people wanting to create fairer places to grow, live, work and age.

We are now open for funding in parts of the following areas:

  • Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Falkirk, Inverclyde, Moray, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, North Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and Shetland.

Applications will close on 3 May at 1pm.

Using money raised by Health Lottery Scotland, People’s Health Trust is looking to invest in projects that support people living in neighbourhoods or communities which are currently experiencing the highest levels of disadvantage.

We are particularly interested to hear how your project will respond to the cost of living crisis and rising mental health needs. The Trust may prioritise projects that include cost of living considerations and/or support mental health.

Active Communities is a funding programme for not-for-profit groups with an income of less than £350,000 a year, or an average of £350,000 over two years, seeking investment of between £5,000 and £40,000 for projects lasting up to two years.

People’s Health Trust is looking to fund projects which tackle the social determinants of health. This could be through building social connections between people, helping people connect with their surroundings and projects which bring people together to have community power.

We’re looking for small and local projects which have been designed and are run by local people. We’re also looking for great ideas from communities of interest who have something in common and wish to come together to address an issue important to them. These ideas could be based in one neighbourhood, or cover a wider area, but they must live close enough to each other to meet up regularly.

John Hume, Chief Executive, People’s Health Trust, says:

“We’re looking to support ideas designed and run by local people which help create even stronger links and ties within communities. Whether it’s a women’s volunteering group run by and for Bengali women, a computer skills support group run for and by older people, support for local people to become community organisers or young people living with mental ill-health wishing to address access to work issues or discrimination, we’re interested to hear about it.

“Applying couldn’t be easier - it’s about local people telling us what would make their local community an even better place to grow, live, work and age.”

The closing date for applications is 1pm on Wednesday 3rd May 2023. Apply for funding at www.peopleshealthtrust.org.uk/apply-for-funding

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Media enquiries:

For media enquiries about People’s Health Trust and Active Communities, please contact Bradford Watson – press@peopleshealthtrust.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

People's Health Trust is an independent charity investing in local communities to help create a society without health inequalities. It works closely with 6 Community Interest Companies raising money through The Health Lottery and distributing grants. www.peopleshealthtrust.org.uk

Active Communities is a funding programme for local people with great ideas about how to help create fairer places to grow, live, work and age well.

The Health Lottery operates on behalf of 6 Community Interest Companies (CICs), managing 6 society lotteries, that operate in 12 geographical regions across Great Britain. Each society lottery is licensed by the Gambling Commission and will raise money for health-related good causes within their respective areas.

Over £127 million has been raised so far. Every £1 ticket bought helps raise even more.