About Dementia Launches New Funding for Grassroots Dementia Projects
About Dementia, Age Scotland’s forum dedicated to enhancing the lives of those affected by dementia, is delighted to announce a new round of funding for grassroots dementia projects for 2025.
The Encouraging and Supporting Grassroots Activity (ESGA) fund will provide £310,000 in funding, available to groups across Scotland. Eligible projects will run for a 12-month period starting by 1st April 2025, with individual awards ranging from £5,000 to £20,000.
This funding is provided by the Scottish Government.
This year, About Dementia is particularly focused on supporting projects in rural communities. These areas are often among the most isolated and face significant challenges in accessing dementia-related services and support. By targeting funding toward these communities, the ESGA fund aims to address the unique barriers faced by people living with dementia and their unpaid carers in rural settings.
Applications for funding are open now, and interested groups are invited to submit their proposals by 5pm Friday 13th September 2024.
Mental Health Minister Maree Todd said:
“I am very pleased that communities across Scotland will soon be able to apply for this Scottish Government funding.
“There are many grassroots projects across Scotland that are helping to provide greater, person-centred support for people living with dementia in their communities.
“This year’s funding will help to sustain and grow these local support networks, with a particular focus on rural-based grassroot projects, and it will further advance the ambitions of our Dementia Strategy for Scotland.”
Adam Huntley, Grants and Learning Manager at Age Scotland, said:
“We are excited to launch this new round of ESGA funding for summer 2025. The projects we’ve funded in the past have had a tremendous impact on their communities. This new fund will continue to support vital grassroots activities that make a significant difference in the lives of people living with dementia and their unpaid carers.
“We are particularly interested in applications from rural communities, which are often some of the most isolated and face the greatest challenges in accessing support.
“Our goal is to empower communities across Scotland to create supportive, inclusive environments where people living with dementia and their carers can thrive”
For more information about the application process, visit the Age Scotland website.
