Community projects in Cheltenham have been awarded a total of £160k to support health and wellbeing.

Cheltenham Borough Council is working with local NHS partners to support projects for local residents and the communities they live in.

Applications for the Cheltenham health and wellbeing community grant fund closed in February 2025. In total 55 applications were received, requesting £570k worth of funding. With £160k available, 20 projects received funding.

Cllr Martin Horwood, cabinet member for economic development, wellbeing and culture, said: "Health isn't just about doctors and hospitals. It's also about supporting better health and wellbeing in the community, so I'm really pleased that for the third year running, we have been able to work with the NHS to support health and wellbeing projects in the local community.

"Many people in Cheltenham face health and wellbeing challenges, but we can see from the data that they don't affect people equally. If you're less well-off, your risk of ill health is higher, and the data paints some shocking pictures on issues like young people's mental health. We tried hard to use the data to inform our priorities in making these grants.

"The 20 successful community-based projects reveal a wealth of brilliant ideas which will make a real difference to the wellbeing of Cheltenham people."

Some of the projects supported through the grant fund include:

• Goals Beyond Grass - to continue its successful inclusive cycling Sunday sessions at Belmont School, alongside establishing a new weekly session at the Prince of Wales Stadium.

• Men in Sheds - to improve wellbeing and mental health of older men drawn from the local community who may be socially isolated, bereaved, depressed or anxious.

• Young Gloucestershire - to provide trauma-informed mentoring and mental health interventions for young people aged 11-25 in Cheltenham who are at risk of or have experienced criminal or sexual exploitation.

• Community Connexions - to recruit volunteer drivers in Cheltenham to expand its on-demand, door to door transport service and offer transport for day trips to vulnerable groups.

• St Michaels Cornerstone Trust - to provide a range of sessions for local residents of all abilities to build a community of strong, healthy, moving people who can support each other into better physical and mental health.

• Art For All - to provide free weekly art classes to adults with mental health conditions who live in Cheltenham.

• Archie Matthews Trust - a pilot project aimed at improving the mental health and wellbeing of male students at the Cheltenham Campus of Gloucestershire College, in particular those who are/ may be neurodiverse.

The six district and borough councils in Gloucestershire have been given access to money from the Strengthening Local Communities Fund to support health and wellbeing, with each area developing a plan for how to direct the funding. In Cheltenham, the council is working with Cheltenham Integrated Locality Partnership (ILP) which brings health, care and community partners together.

Bronwyn Barnes, associate director for locality development at NHS Gloucestershire, said: "Through the Cheltenham ILP, we are working together to tackle the root cause of health inequalities and improve health and wellbeing in Cheltenham. We also want to empower people in Cheltenham to improve their health and wellbeing.

"I'm delighted that the council has decided to use Strengthening Local Communities funding to offer grants to local community projects. The 20 successful projects will help people lead more active lifestyles, encourage greater access to the natural environment and promote the health benefits of taking part in cultural activities."