The Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation (GMCVO) is seeking applications for its Micro Grants programme to support mental wellbeing.

GMCVO is looking for activities that will support adults to maintain or raise their levels of mental wellbeing using the principles of The New Economics Foundation’s “Five Ways to Wellbeing” while maintaining the government’s social distancing guidance and restrictions. The 5 Ways to Wellbeing include five different areas of activity, that evidence shows, people need to be doing to achieve higher levels of mental wellbeing; be active, notice, connect, give and learn.

Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organization (GMCVO) is the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector support and development organization ('infrastructure') covering the Greater Manchester (GM) city region.

Purpose

Grants from £100 - £500 are available for voluntary and community groups and social enterprises to run activities that will support adults from the communities of identity or experience below that may struggle to achieve higher levels of mental wellbeing. 

Funding Information

Amount: Grants from £100 - £500 are available

Fundable activities

They are looking to fund applications that support adults to participate in at least two of the 5 Ways to Wellbeing. 

Funding can be given to adapt an existing activity in response to the current social distancing restrictions or a new activity that can be delivered within the governments social distancing restrictions (at the time the application is submitted).

The grants can be used for a variety of purposes which could include; equipment, online solutions, printing, distribution, staff-time and facilitators. They would expect that applications will reflect good value for money.

Eligibility Criteria

For your organization to be eligible to apply: 

• You must be a constituted Voluntary, Community or Social Enterprise (VCSE) organization operating in Greater Manchester for the benefit of Greater Manchester residents (also includes Glossop).
• You must have a bank account requiring two signatures in the name of your organization.
• Your organization’s income must not have exceeded £50,000 in its most recent full financial year.
• Have a Safeguarding Policy which includes DBS checks if you work with vulnerable adults.
• You must be willing to commit to monitoring the project (guidance will be provided) and tell us about it.

For your project idea to be eligible: 

• The project proposed must benefit one of the following communities:
  • Adults from BAME communities
  • Adults living with long term physical or mental health conditions
  • Disabled adults
  • Socially isolated older people
  • Military veterans
  • People who are unemployed
  • Adults who identify as LGBTQI
  • Adult careers
• Participants of the proposed project must be residents of Greater Manchester (including Glossop).
• The project proposed must either be adapting an existing activity in response to the government’s social distancing restrictions or a new activity that can be delivered within government social distancing restrictions (current at the time the application is submitted).
• The project must be delivered by the end of March 2021.

For more information, visit GMCVO.