To provide much needed support for organisations in Shepton Mallet tackling vital issues around loneliness and isolation (the theme of this years' Mental Health Awareness Week – which runs from May 9-15), Western Power Distribution is calling on charities, councils and community groups to apply for grants of up to £10,000. Organisations can apply for funding to help support projects in this area until Sunday, April 24.

This is the latest round of grants from WPD's annual £1 million Community Matters Fund, which has already seen the energy distributor support more than 100 grassroots organisations with crucial fuel poverty grants.

WPD is looking to support and partner with community groups and organisations in Shepton Mallet to achieve positive change. With loneliness and tackling social exclusion as the core topic, WPD is opening the doors to funding applications from all generational and diverse community groups and organisations.

To help guide applications, examples of the types of project the fund will consider supporting are:

Digital skills and inclusion projects

Social inclusion and connectedness projects

Mental health interventions

Employability skills

Projects increasing community access to outside space

Inter-generational support projects

Befriending services

Innovative solutions to combating loneliness. For more information and to apply, please visit www.westernpower.co.uk/community-matters-fund. Follow the fund on social media via #WPDCommunityFund