New Community Grants to Strengthen Grassroots Mental Health Support

The Government has announced a new funding initiative to boost local mental health efforts across New Zealand. The Top Up Community Grants, launched by Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey and Mental Health Foundation Chief Executive Shaun Robinson, aim to empower communities to lead projects that promote wellbeing and connection as part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025.

The grants are a cornerstone of the Government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening mental health services by focusing on community-led solutions that make a tangible difference in people’s lives.

“The Government has partnered with the Mental Health Foundation to establish Top Up Community Grants,” Minister Doocey said at the launch event. “These small grants are designed to help grassroots community organisations deliver events, activities, and projects that bring the theme of Top Up to life in their local communities.”

Supporting Community-Led Wellbeing Across New Zealand

Minister Doocey emphasised that local communities understand their own needs best, and empowering them to act is key to achieving long-term, sustainable mental health outcomes.

“Communities know what works best for them. By backing local initiatives, this fund supports meaningful, community-led action—from small rural towns to neighbourhoods in our biggest cities,” he said.

Examples of eligible projects include local wellbeing workshops, cultural events, school-based awareness campaigns, workplace wellness activities, and neighbourhood connection programmes. The grants are intentionally flexible to allow communities to tailor initiatives that suit their specific challenges and strengths.

Partnership With the Mental Health Foundation

The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand (MHFNZ) will play a central role in delivering and managing the grants. Chief Executive Shaun Robinson welcomed the partnership, saying it represents a shared vision of enabling communities to create safe, supportive spaces for mental health.

“This is about resourcing communities to take ownership of their wellbeing,” Robinson said. “We’ve seen time and again that when people have the opportunity to come together locally, mental health outcomes improve dramatically.”

Minister Doocey praised the Foundation’s leadership, noting that “it’s especially meaningful to launch these grants at the Mental Health Foundation—an organisation that has led the way in breaking down stigma and supporting better mental health across the country.”

Aligning With Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) theme — “Top Up Together” — highlights the importance of everyday actions that restore mental and emotional energy. It encourages New Zealanders to find simple ways to recharge, connect, and care for themselves and others.

“The Top Up campaign and the launch of the new grants perfectly align with this year’s theme,” Doocey said. “Good mental health doesn’t happen by accident — it comes from the small, everyday actions we take to recharge, connect, and look after ourselves and those around us.”

The Minister added that this theme is especially timely as New Zealand continues to face post-pandemic stressors, cost-of-living pressures, and increasing demands on mental health services.

A Step Forward in the Government’s Mental Health Plan

The Top Up Community Grants are part of the Government’s wider mental health plan, which focuses on improving access to support, expanding frontline services, and strengthening crisis response systems.

Minister Doocey outlined that the plan is guided by three key goals:

• Faster access to mental health support and treatment.

• More frontline workers and community-based responders.

• Better crisis response services for individuals and families in distress.

“These grants are one way we’re ensuring that every person—from children and young people to older adults—can access the right support when they need it,” Doocey said. “Whether it’s you, your child, a friend, or a family member reaching out for support, this Government is committed to ensuring that help is there.”

Empowering Everyday Wellbeing

The Top Up initiative builds on growing recognition that mental wellbeing is shaped not only by professional care but also by everyday community connections — friends, whānau, workplaces, and neighbourhoods.

By funding local projects that bring people together, the Government and the Mental Health Foundation aim to normalise conversations about mental health and foster environments where everyone feels supported.

“Small actions lead to big changes,” Doocey concluded. “These community grants are about giving people the resources to make that change — to help themselves and others top up their mental wellbeing and build stronger, more connected communities.”