Funding is available to voluntary and community groups in Northern Ireland to support the delivery of projects with a focus on improving mental health and emotional wellbeing within local communities.

The Making Life Better Through Short Term Funding programme is a Public Health Agency initiative administered by Developing Healthy Communities Northern Ireland through the Clear Project.

The funding is intended to support strategic themes such as 'Making Life Better,' the Suicide Prevention Strategy, and the Mental Health Strategy. Projects will promote positive mental health, address health determinants, reduce health inequalities, enhance community capacity to prevent suicide, build resilient communities, and encourage innovative mental health interventions.

The following levels of funding are available:

Award One: grants of up to £1,000 for non-constituted and constituted non-profit taking community/voluntary sector groups.
Award Two: grants of between £1,001 and £5,000 for constituted, non-profit taking community/voluntary sector groups.

Applications will be accepted from constituted and non-constituted voluntary and community groups located in the Western, Belfast, Northern, South-eastern, and Southern Health and Social Care Trust areas of Northern Ireland.

Organisations can apply for either Award One or Award Two, but not both. Only one application per organisation for delivery within the area (per Trust area) stated on the application will be accepted.

All projects must be completed by 27 February 2026.

The deadline for applications is 16 May 2025 (15:00). For more information please visit Developing Healthy Communities