A mental health organisation in West Lothian expects to receive a huge demand for its grants.
West Lothian Voluntary Sector Gateway will receive £470,000 from Holywood to fund community work and well-being projects.
Previously the organisation has seen enormous demand, receiving 68 applications seeking over £1.4m from last year’s £470,000 award.
Alan McCloskey the CEO of the Gateway told councillors this week: “We expect the fund to be heavily oversubscribed, as it has in the past.”
A report to the council’s economy, eommunity empowerment and wealth building policy development and scrutiny panel said applications for the latest funding round would be open from 30 September to 31 Oct.
Mr McCloskey added: “Charities, social enterprises, community and voluntary groups, parent councils, and other third sector organisations will be eligible to apply for activity covering 1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026. As in previous years, an independent funding assessment panel will meet to consider applications.”
“The panel will meet in late Autumn to consider applications with decisions advised to all applicants in December.”
Two officers from the council’s Mental Health Directorate had recently visited the Gateway and two projects receiving support, he added.
Demand for mental health service has soared since the pandemic the national fund has remained static, year to year, awarding £15m to volunteers across Scotland.
Stuart Sommerville Local Democracy Reporter
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
