Question reference: S5W-34632
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 18 January 2021
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Current status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 25 January 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional funding has been given to mental health charities during the COVID-19 pandemic to help their services respond to any increase in demand.
Answer
The Mental Health Transition and Recovery Plan published in October 2020 outlines the actions we are taking forward in response to the mental health impacts of COVID-19. Over £1.1 million additional funding has been made available directly to third sector mental health organisations during the pandemic to help services respond to increased demand.
More generally, a £350 million emergency communities fund comprising 8 funding pots was announced in March 2020 to ensure local authorities, community groups and the third sector were able to support people and communities affected by COVID-19.
In response to a demand for a move away from resilience to recovery, a £25 million Community and Third Sector Recovery Programme (CTSRP) was announced in the Programme for Government 2020-21, as part of Scottish Government’s £350 million emergency response to coronavirus.
The CTSRP aims to support Third Sector Organisations (TSOs), such as charities, community groups, social enterprises and voluntary organisations that are, in turn, supporting people and communities through the move from lockdown to recovery; bringing clear practical and mental health benefits.
The CTSRP opened for applications on 21 September and can be accessed via the SCVO funding page Community & Third Sector Recovery Programme – SCVO .