Essential criteria

Applications are assessed against a number of criteria and those scoring highly will be considered by an independent, publicly appointed assessment panel. Funds are limited and we expect many applicants so the panel cannot fund all high-scoring projects. The essential application criteria are as follows:

Projects must:

• Have both a mental health and environmental perspective.
• Be submitted by an England-based group and applied in England.
• Be thoroughly planned and relevant to the environment.
• Involve people with direct experience of mental distress.
• Encourage community access and collaboration, and improve the environment and environmental sustainability.
• Have a budget falling within one of our four levels: under £20,000; between £20,001 and 60,000; between £60,001 and £150,000; or under £250,000.
• Be delivered within five years.

Applicants must:

• Demonstrate a genuine need for the project.
• Be able to develop a detailed financial plan, budget, and cash flow which will account for the money applied for.
• Have the resources to plan, develop, and manage the project - especially if it involves building work or buying land.
• Have the resources to compile basic legal documents.
• Have the skills to manage the project, develop a detailed timeframe including milestones, and deliver the scheme outcomes.