CVS Falkirk & District is delighted to share that further investment from Scottish Government will enable a third year of funding from the Falkirk Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund to be distributed to the third sector across Falkirk District, to support good mental health and wellbeing for those most impacted by the pandemic.

The announcement was made by Michael Matheson, MSP and Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, when he visited Bonnybridge-based social enterprise, Pause and Breathe CIC, based in his Falkirk West constituency. Mr Matheson visited their new premises on Friday 21^st April and was given a tour by director Phil Blackburn, who spoke about their plans for the building, which were recently awarded planning permission.

(Image caption: (right) photo of Phil Blackburn (left) and Michael Matheson (right) in the new Pause and Breathe building; (below) photo of Phil Blackburn (l) and Michael Matheson (r) touring the building.)

The news comes as over 40 projects, throughout the Falkirk District, who were successful with their applications to the second year of the Fund begin offering inclusive, accessible and well-being boosting activities to their communities.

Victoria McRae, CEO of CVS Falkirk, said:

“This further investment is great news for the communities and third sector in Falkirk, who have already benefitted from around £850,000 from this Fund. Unfortunately, the impacts of the pandemic have not gone away, especially for those groups and individuals who have often been most affected, for a variety of reasons. So this continued investment in supporting their wellbeing is very welcome.

“As Falkirk’s Third Sector Interface (TSI), upskilling and enabling local groups to access funding opportunities is a key element of our work – the introduction of our Grant Funding Portal (GFP) in October 2022 made the process of applying to CVS Falkirk & District grant funds simpler and more accessible.

“So far, 78 local projects have made successful applications throughout the life of the Fund, with year 2 alone attracting 62 applications. This demonstrates the third sector’s commitment to supporting their communities through the journey of recovery from the impacts of the pandemic, and developing community-based mental health and wellbeing supports that meet the needs of those who will benefit most.”

Once confirmed, further information on the third year of the Falkirk Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund will be available on the CVS Falkirk website, our e-bulletin, and across our social media channels.

Alternatively, view the Scottish Government news article.

(Image caption: (l-r) participants in Pause and Breathe’s classes, Phil Blackburn, Michael Matheson.)

Participants in Funded Activities

The following are quotes from individuals who have benefited from Pause and Breathe’s activities funded by the Falkirk Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund:

“Coming from a very rural part of Falkirk, they’ve allowed me to access services I couldn’t have otherwise.”
“They do everything for their community – and it’s such a big community thanks to the online classes. There’s people attending from London and Bristol! And they were a godsend during COVID-19 lockdowns. We weren’t just doing mindfulness and yoga, but quizzes and all sorts.”
“Their classes have really helped me, and pushed me to keep going with my own activities.”
“You meet people through the classes, other people who can help you in other ways, and it’s the connections, the new ideas. It’s a real community, and the time to talk after class is just as special as the class itself.”