Deadline: July 23, 2026
The Henry Duncan Grants have a longstanding history of supporting Scotland’s voluntary sector, with each year focusing on a different theme to address evolving community needs. In recent years, the programme has provided both unrestricted and project funding, with a portion of funds ring-fenced for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic led organisations. The 2026 round specifically targets the unique challenges faced by people living in very remote and sparsely populated areas of Scotland, where access to mental health support can be particularly limited.
This grant programme is designed to strengthen community-based responses to mental health issues by enabling organisations to deliver flexible support, whether through new initiatives, ongoing projects, or core operational costs. The funding is unrestricted, allowing recipients to adapt the use of funds as their needs change over the five-year period, including covering staff, rent, or overheads related to supporting people with mental ill health.
The Henry Duncan Grants Programme provides unrestricted funding of up to £10,000 per year for up to five years (up to £50,000 in total). Organisations can apply for the amount and duration that best suits their needs, using the grant to support projects, existing services, or core running costs that benefit people experiencing mental ill health.
Eligible applicants must be Scottish charities registered on OSCR or other registered not-for-profit entities such as CICs or social enterprises, with clear not-for-profit status and appropriate governance structures. Organisations must operate in very remote and rural areas of Scotland, have an annual income under £500,000 for the past three years, and have a majority of their work focused on supporting people with mental ill health. Additional requirements include having a minimum of three unrelated board members and appropriate asset lock provisions.
Applications are submitted through a two-stage process, beginning with an eligibility check and online application form. All stage one applications are reviewed for eligibility and fit, with selected organisations invited to submit a stage two application. Decisions are made by an independent panel with lived or professional experience in remote and rural mental health. Successful applicants are required to submit annual reports on their use of funds and impact, with continued funding contingent on satisfactory reporting.
For more information, visit Corra Foundation.
