Frequently Asked Questions

You can apply by completing an application which can be found here. Applications must then be submitted to cmhw@vanl.co.uk email address. You will receive confirmation that your application has been received.

Organisations can apply for funding for one or more projects, with a separate application for each project. However, given the high number of applicants to this fund, only one project can be approved for funding per organisation. 

Sign up to ALISS and Care Opinion

Attend 2 out 4 Mental Health and Wellbeing network meetings

Evaluate and report on your project’s progress, successes, challenges and learning through a 3 month check in, mid- point and at the end of the project

All applications are assessed by our panel members. Each member will score their applications and will then meet to discuss and consider all information before making any decisions.

Successful projects must return a signed award letter and invoice to our team.

All payments will be received by funded projects by 31st March.

We have a fantastic evaluation team that will be happy to assist with evaluation work as a standard support we provide for all Community Solutions funded projects.

Please contact rebecca.thomson@vanl.co.uk or iris.henzel@vanl.co.uk if you have any questions.

Community Solutions aims to be transparent with the application processes, panel member details can be found here.

We have never had our panel award a lesser amount than is stated in the application. However, if the applicant is open to discuss receiving part funding, please let us know.

The panel will asses all applications based solely on the conditions outlined in the guidance note provided.

The fund is divided into three pots- one for each application strand. The panel will start by looking at the under represented groups application pot first, as this is usually the most undersubscribed pot. Anything that remains will be divided equally between the other pots. This will then continue with the two remaining pots until the fund total is entirely allocated.

Yes, but under specific conditions. These can vary in a number of ways including but not exclusive to:

• Localities spread e.g. if one project covers Airdrie and Bellshill localities and another covers Coatbridge and Motherwell localities
• If both projects provide unique additionalities justifying both being funded
• There is a clear need for both projects, for example, due to the capacity of both organisations being limited on their own or the scale of the goal their aiming to meet requires more than one organisation

Yes, but the funding applied for must only be used to support residents of North Lanarkshire.

Projects can demonstrate sustainability through previous years through evidence of previous methods of fundraising. Likewise, they can highlight future fundraising activities they aim to hold.

This evidence can be provided in a number of ways, this includes:

• Feedback from members of the beneficiary group looking to be supported
• Feedback from partner organisations and stakeholders who have engaged with beneficiary group looking to be supported
• Statistical data demonstrating the need for support for this beneficiary group- where possible localised data

No, there is not. However, on average we have been able to fund 30 projects each year. This could be more or less this year depending on the total average cost of successful applications.

Yes, as in line with previous phases of the fund, if an organisation wishes to continue a project that has been previously funded, it must be apply through the existing projects (A) application.

If an organisation that has been previously funded wishes to apply for a new separate idea, it should apply through the new project (B) application.

In line with the core guidance of the fund, ASN groups can be supported from the age of 16 onwards.