Community and voluntary groups are being encouraged to apply for “Making Life Better” grants, a short-term funding programme that focuses on improving mental health and emotional wellbeing.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) initiative aims to help address health and wellbeing needs in local communities across Northern Ireland. Groups have until 3pm on Friday 31 July to submit applications.

Dr Denise O’Hagan, Assistant Director for Strategic Public Health at PHA, said:
“Community and voluntary organisations are uniquely placed to understand the challenges facing people in their communities. This short-term funding programme will support them to respond directly to local mental health and emotional wellbeing needs, providing small scale targeted initiatives where they are needed most.

“Last year the PHA invested £1.4 million in this scheme which benefitted over 37,000 people who took part in 447 projects.

“The PHA is keen to invest in mental health promotion and prevention projects involving people that may find it difficult to engage in other programmes.” 

The funded activities may have a particular focus on using one or more of the ‘Take 5’ Steps to Wellbeing. These are five simple evidence-based steps that we can build into our daily lives to maintain and improve our mental wellbeing – Connect, Be active, Keep learning, Give and Take Notice.

Programmes that help address risk factors for poor mental health will also be supported through Making Life Better grants. 

Dr O’Hagan continued: “We are encouraging applicants to work collaboratively to use evidence-informed innovative approaches to help address these issues and most importantly involve local communities in project design.”

The programme provides the community and voluntary sector with the opportunity to access small, non-recurring funding of between £1,000 and £5,000 which can be used to support health improvement in local communities.

The PHA has commissioned the Clear Project, a project of Developing Healthy Communities, to facilitate this process in each Health and Social Care Trust area.

Helen Logan, Secretary of the Causeway Giants Wheelchair Basketball Club said: 

“Without the Making Life Better funding programme, we could not have provided the range of activities that help our members stay active and connected which is key to supporting their emotional wellbeing.” 

Two types of awards are available under the programme:

• Award one: Funding of up to £1,000 for non-constituted and constituted non-profit taking community/ voluntary sector groups.
• Award two: Funding of between £1,001 and a maximum of £5,000 for constituted, non-profit taking community/ voluntary sector groups.

Applications opened on Monday 6 July 2026 and close at 3pm on Friday 31 July 2026.

To apply for the Making Life Better grants visit: https://dhcni.submit.com/

For further details please contact:

The Clear Project
Developing Healthy Communities
Building 83
Ledwidge Avenue
Derry~Londonderry
BT47 6GZ.
Tel: 028 7138 3386
Email: clear@dhcni.com