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Somerset Community Funding

 

Our men’s mental wellbeing project, Stepladder in Somerset, offers funding for groups and activities through our innovation fund.

The Winston Innovation Fund is a pot of grant money administered and delivered by Stepladder Somerset to improve the mental wellbeing of men across Somerset as a part of the Open Mental Health Alliance. It remains open for individuals and organisations to propose visionary projects, events, training programmes, or community activities that support men's wellbeing and mental health in Somerset.

You can apply for a grant ranging from £300 - £1000

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-How the fund works

Anyone that is proposing a project, event, training programme or group that supports men’s wellbeing and mental health in Somerset can apply.

Anyone can apply for grants of between £300 and £1,000 for:

  • Proposals that support men aged 18+ to improve their wellbeing and mental health
  • New projects or for equipment or resources that support new projects
  • Voluntary, community and social enterprise groups supporting men’s wellbeing
  • Local groups or individuals who are not constituted but have appropriate governance in place
  • Proposals that improve the wellbeing of at least five men.

Funding will not be available for:

  • Projects that are outside of Somerset. Including if the project crosses county boundaries.
  • Proposals that do not focus on male wellbeing
  • Proposals that don’t start within one year of grant being delivered

Priority funding

The Innovation Fund is available to support any proposals that aim to improve men’s mental health but there are some priority areas which will be given preference:

  • Proposals that explicitly address suicide prevention of men
  • Projects that address Isolation/Loneliness - Particularly men who don’t live with their children and those that live alone
  • Projects that work in areas of deprivation. Areas of deprivation defined by those in the lowest 20% according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). Of which there are 25 within Somerset. There is information on this here.
  • Projects that work with men that work in construction or production industries.
  • Projects that address the mental health of men that live in rural areas including the farming community

Application Process

Download the Application Form here. The criteria can be found here.

If you have any issues with completing the form or would prefer a paper version please email stepladdersomerset@second-step.co.uk

For all applications we aim to get back to you within 7-10 days of submission if you have been successful or not. For larger amounts this could take longer.

Checks will be made as part of the application process before funding is awarded.