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Anniversary Mental Health Fund

Purpose and Scope

  • The Anniversary Mental Health Fund is intended to mark a milestone for Heathrow Community Trust by supporting projects that promote, protect or improve mental health and emotional wellbeing for individuals and communities within the Trust’s panel areas.

  • The Anniversary Mental Health Fund will support community‑based projects across the Communities Together, Environment & Sustainability, Young People and Heathrow Active People panels where improving mental health and emotional wellbeing is a clear and intentional outcome.

  • The fund will prioritise preventative and early‑intervention activity that builds resilience, connection and wellbeing, complements statutory provision and delivers meaningful mental health impact.

    • Have a clear and intentional mental health outcome

    • Demonstrate how mental wellbeing benefits will be delivered through the proposed activity

    • Align clearly to one primary Heathrow Community Trust panel

What We Mean by Mental Health Impact

Projects supported through this fund should deliver mental health and emotional wellbeing outcomes through one or more of the following approaches:

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  • Prevention – reducing risk factors for poor mental health (e.g. isolation, stress, low resilience)

  • Early intervention – supporting people at times of heightened vulnerability before issues escalate

  • Recovery and resilience – improving coping skills, confidence, social connection or emotional wellbeing

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Mental health impact must be explicit and intentional. Projects where mental health benefit is incidental or assumed, rather than actively designed, would not normally qualify.

Types of Activity That May Qualify (Cross‑Cutting)

Projects may include, but are not limited to, the following types of activity:

    • Peer support groups

    • Community‑based group activity with a mental well-being focus

    • Intergenerational or culturally specific connection programs

    • Confidence‑building, emotional resilience or self‑management programs

    • Targeted support during life transitions (e.g. unemployment, caring responsibilities, bereavement)

    • Trauma‑informed, community‑based support

    • Early emotional support and coping skills development

    • Programs promoting self‑esteem, belonging and confidence

    • Safe spaces and trusted‑adult support outside school settings

    • Arts, music or creative expression programs

    • Physical activity projects with explicit mental wellbeing outcomes

    • Nature‑based or outdoor interventions designed to improve emotional wellbeing

    • Mental health awareness and stigma‑reduction initiatives

    • Training for volunteers or community leaders to support mental wellbeing

    • Peer‑led or community‑embedded support models

Alignment to Heathrow Community Trust Panels

Communities Together

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Panel focus

Building connected, inclusive and resilient communities.

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How mental health fits

Projects that reduce isolation, strengthen relationships and help communities support emotional wellbeing.

    • Community‑based peer support or befriending schemes

    • Initiatives tackling loneliness with clear mental wellbeing outcomes

    • Support for carers, older people or marginalised communities experiencing stress or anxiety

    • Culturally specific or community‑led mental wellbeing programmes

    • Safe community spaces providing emotional support and connection

    • Reduced loneliness and isolation

    • Improved emotional wellbeing and sense of belonging

    • ​Stronger community support networks

Environment & Sustainability

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Panel focus

Environmental improvement and sustainable communities.

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How mental health fits

Projects that use the natural or built environment as a deliberate mechanism to improve mental health and emotional wellbeing.

    • Nature‑based mental wellbeing initiatives (e.g. gardening, green spaces, outdoor activity)

    • Environmental or sustainability projects designed to reduce stress and improve wellbeing

    • Community food growing or green volunteering with a wellbeing focus

    • Reduced stress and anxiety

    • Improved mood, resilience and emotional wellbeing

    • Increased connection to nature and place

Young People

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Panel focus

Supporting children and young people to thrive.

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How mental health fits

Early intervention and preventative activity that supports emotional wellbeing, resilience and positive mental health.

    • Emotional resilience, confidence or coping skills programmes

    • Wellbeing‑focused youth activities or safe spaces

    • Peer support, mentoring or trusted‑adult initiatives with a mental health focus

    • Support for young people experiencing anxiety, low confidence or key life transitions

    • Early support to reduce escalation into crisis or statutory services

    • Improved emotional resilience and self‑esteem

    • Reduced anxiety and stress

    • Stronger support networks and positive relationships

Heathrow Active People

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Panel focus

Encouraging Heathrow colleagues to be actively involved in supporting their local communities through volunteering and community‑led activity that improves health, wellbeing and quality of life.

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How mental health fits

Projects where the active involvement of Heathrow colleagues, alongside community‑based activity, is intentionally used to improve mental health and emotional wellbeing. This may include physical, social, creative or community activity, where mental wellbeing outcomes are clearly identified and delivered, particularly for people facing barriers to participation or at risk of poor mental health.

    • Community projects led or supported by Heathrow colleagues that promote mental wellbeing through active participation

    • Physical, social or group‑based activities designed to reduce stress, anxiety or isolation

    • Initiatives that help people connect with others, build confidence or feel part of their community

    • Inclusive activities that improve access to wellbeing‑enhancing opportunities for under‑represented or marginalised groups

    • Projects that improve quality of life through new or enhanced community activity, equipment or services with explicit mental health outcomes

    • Opportunities that encourage other Heathrow colleagues to get involved in community activity that supports wellbeing

    • Improved mental wellbeing, mood or emotional resilience

    • Reduced stress, anxiety or social isolation

    • Increased confidence, connection and sense of belonging

    • Stronger relationships between Heathrow colleagues and their local communities

What Would Not Normally Qualify

To maintain focus and impact, the anniversary fund would not normally support:

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  • Core NHS or statutory mental health service delivery

  • Projects focused solely on physical health or general wellbeing without a clear mental health outcome

  • One‑off events

  • Capital‑only projects, unless directly linked to a mental health intervention

  • Activity where mental health benefit is incidental rather than intentional

Evidencing Impact (Light‑Touch Expectations)

Applicants should be able to explain:

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  • Who the project supports and why there is a mental health or wellbeing need

  • How the proposed activity will improve mental health or emotional wellbeing

  • What difference the project will make, using qualitative and/or simple quantitative measures

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Clinical measurement will not be required; however, mental health impact must be clearly articulated and evidenced.

Summary

The Anniversary Mental Health Fund will support community‑based projects across our Communities Together, Environment & Sustainability, Young People and Heathrow Active People panels where improving mental health and emotional wellbeing is a clear and intentional outcome.

 

The fund will prioritise preventative and early‑intervention activity that builds resilience, connection and wellbeing, complements statutory provision and delivers a meaningful mental health impact.

 

Applications will be submitted on our usual online application form – from round 2 2026, there will be an additional ‘anniversary mental health theme' listed on the application form for each grant programme.

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