# Mental Health Award: Using Physical Activity and Circadian-Based Interventions for Early Intervention in Anxiety and Depression in Young People

**Funder:** Wellcome
**Budget:** £1-4 million per grant
**Duration:** 3-4 years
**Consortium:** Required — team of lead applicant plus 2-7 coapplicants from eligible not-for-profit organisations
**Frequency:** One-off
**Official call:** https://wellcome.org/research-funding/schemes/mental-health-award-using-physical-activity-and-circadian-based-0
**Last updated:** 18 Oct 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Funds teams proposing circadian-based and/or physical activity interventions for early intervention in anxiety/depression in young people aged 10-18, in the UK and/or Africa. Requires a clinical trials specialist, lived experience involvement, and expertise in mental health science plus circadian/physical activity science. Administering organisation must be not-for-profit, anywhere except mainland China.

## Summary

This Wellcome Mental Health Award funds teams of £1-4 million (3-4 years) to test circadian-based and/or physical activity interventions for early intervention in anxiety and depression in young people aged 10-18, in the UK and/or Africa. It is a one-off call requiring a consortium of a lead applicant plus 2-7 coapplicants covering clinical trials, mental health science, circadian or physical activity science, and lived experience involvement. Administering organisations must be not-for-profit and based anywhere except mainland China.

## Who should apply

- Research teams led by a not-for-profit organisation anywhere except mainland China
- Consortia combining clinical trials expertise with mental health science and circadian or physical activity science
- Projects focused on early intervention for anxiety/depression in young people aged 10-18
- Teams working in the UK and/or Africa
- Applicants able to include lived experience involvement as a core team element

## Key dates

- One-off call (not recurring)
- 3-4 year project duration
- Consortium of lead applicant plus 2-7 coapplicants required at application

## Tips for applicants

- Assemble the full required expertise mix early, clinical trials, mental health science, and circadian or physical activity science, since all are mandatory, not optional strengths.
- Build lived experience involvement into the project design itself, not as an add-on, since it's listed as a core team requirement.
- Confirm the administering organisation's not-for-profit status and country eligibility before applying, since mainland China is explicitly excluded.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does the Wellcome Mental Health Award pay?

Grants range from £1 million to £4 million per project, covering 3-4 years.

### Who can apply for this Wellcome Mental Health Award?

Teams led by a not-for-profit organisation based anywhere except mainland China, working on youth mental health interventions in the UK and/or Africa.

### Does this grant require a consortium?

Yes, applicants must form a team of a lead applicant plus 2-7 coapplicants from eligible not-for-profit organisations.

### What age group does this grant target?

The call funds interventions for young people aged 10-18 with early anxiety or depression.

### Is this a recurring Wellcome call?

No, this is a one-off funding call, not an annual programme.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/wellcome-mental-health-award-using-physical-activity-and-ci-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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