Grants Programmes

Cheshire Community Foundation: Small Grants Programme (Bi-monthly)

15th for every other month as above

This programme covers projects across the whole of Cheshire and Warrington for people of all ages

We are  particularly interested in supporting smaller charities through this programme  (with a turnover of less than £300,000) and to assist local grass roots organisations that support one, or more, of the following priority areas:

• Disadvantaged and vulnerable people affected by the covid-19 outbreak

Homelessness
• Disadvantaged and exploited young people, with a preference for prevention and early intervention projects
• Education and skills (for ages 3 to 18)
• Community support  – to include support for older people

Covid-19 Response Grants Programme – Longer Term Emergency Response

National Emergecy Trust, Department of Culture Media and Sport, Steve Morgan Foundation and other Cheshire Community Foundation Donors have kindly supported this programme

£100,000 is available for projects £500 to £5,000

£100,000 is available for projects over £5,000 to £15,000 (typical grant c£10,000)

Applications accepted from social enterprises?CICs?

Applications accepted from national organistions?

Yes if there are a minimum of 3 unrelated directors and an asset lock on disolution.

Regional or national organisations working in Cheshire may be considered if they can demonstrate that they are the best organisation to tackle a particular social issue or address a
specific need and there is no other local organisation able to do this activity.

Weekly grants Panels for grants £500 to £5000 

For applicants applying for more than £5000 up to a maximum of £15,000 (typical grant c£10,000), these will go to a Panel for consideration, at the end of August

The deadline to submit your application for any size of application is midnight 12th August.

Note: As the smaller grants (£500-£5000) are being assessed weekly, you are advised to apply as early as you can before this deadline.

Please click HERE for the Programme Criteria that apply to this Programme.

This programme covers projects across the whole of Cheshire and Warrington for people of all ages

for small grants £500 to £5000 you can expect to hear within two weeks of receipt of a fully completed application

for grants over £5000  up to £15,000 (typical £10,000) you can expect to hear the outcome in the first week of September 

Warrington Older Peoples Fund – Small Grants  Programme (bi-monthly)

This programme is specifically for projects in Warrington supporting people over the age of 50  

Please click HERE for the Grant Making Principles that apply to this Programme.   We will accept projects supporting:

• Disadvantaged and vulnerable older people affected by the covid-19 outbreak

For additional criteria relevant to the Warrington Fund please click HERE

Warrington Older Peoples Fund – Main Grants Programme

This programme is specifically for projects in Warrington supporting people over the age of 50  – we are particularly keen to prioritise activities, over one year, which focus on post-covid recovery/support for older people – including bereavement support, counselling, befriending and giving confidence to older people to re-join social activities (when the social distancing guidelines allow).   

Please click HERE for the Grant Making Principles that apply to this Programme. For additional criteria relevant to the Warrington Fund please click HERE

for applicants applying to the September 2020 Panel – Week commencing 11th September projects would need to start their delivery from October 2020 for one year.

For applicants applying to the March 2021 Panel week commencing 17th March with deliver commencing in April 2021

Knutsford Fund  – Small Grants Programme (bi-monthly)

Before applying, please do read the Grant Making Principles eligibility criteria for this programme on the Cheshire Community Foundation’s website.  

The overall Impact that we are aiming to achieve in Knutsford is as follows:

• To improve mental health and wellbeing – particularly at an early intervention stage
• To tackle poverty and disadvantage for people of all ages
• To build stronger communities 
• To increase education skills and employment opportunities

Priority activities for the fund (agreed in consultation with a range of community groups and stakeholders in Knutsford) are those which:–

• Support lonely, disabled, disadvantaged and vulnerable people of all ages – who lack access to volunteering opportunities, employment and skills support, regular transport, befriending services, peer support, social activities and key public services and who want to feel more valued and  improve their overall mental health and wellbeing.

with particular emphasis on supporting:-

• Disadvantaged and vulnerable people affected by the covid-19 outbreak
• Lonely isolated older men  
• New mums 
• Young people 
• Carers (of all ages)

​The geography of the fund will cover projects supporting beneficiaries in the four Knutsford wards of Nether, Norbury Booths, Over and Bexton and extend to the rural areas surrounding Knutsford town –  including Tabley, Lower Peover, Tatton, Ollerton and  Chelford where people rely on services delivered in Knutsford.  Please do contact us if you are unsure if your project and beneficiairy support fits with The Knutsford Fund.

Knutsford Fund  – Main Grants Programme 

Current deadline 

Before applying, please do read our  Grant Making Principles eligibility criteria

The overall Impact that we are aiming to achieve in Knutsford is as follows:

• To improve mental health and wellbeing – particularly at an early intervention stage
• To tackle poverty and disadvantage for people of all ages
• To build stronger communities 
• To increase education skills and employment opportunities

Priority activities for the fund (agreed in consultation with a range of community groups and stakeholders in Knutsford) are those which:–

• Support lonely, disabled, disadvantaged and vulnerable people of all ages – who lack access to volunteering opportunities, employment and skills support, regular transport, befriending services, peer support, social activities and key public services and who want to feel more valued and  improve their overall mental health and wellbeing.

with particular emphasis on supporting:-

• Lonely isolated older men  
• New mums 
• Young people 
• Carers (of all ages)

​The geography of the fund will cover projects supporting beneficiaries in the four Knutsford wards of Nether, Norbury Booths, Over and Bexton and extend to the rural areas surrounding Knutsford town –  including Tabley, Lower Peover, Tatton, Ollerton and  Chelford where people rely on services delivered in Knutsford.  Please do contact us if you are unsure if your project and beneficiairy support fits with The Knutsford Fund.

The Assura Community Fund

Cheshire Community Foundation is delighted to be working in partnership with Assura Plc to deliver this £550,000 grants programme to support health and wellbeing projects.

Note: The programme will only consider National charitable organisations, if they can demonstrate that they are the best organisation to tackle a particular issue or need – and there is no local organisation able to deliver activities of a similar nature.  For eligibility enquiries please email assura@cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk

We reserve the right to close the programme early if we reach sufficient quantities and quality of applications sooner than the deadline – therefore groups are encouraged to start the process as soon as possible and apply early.

Cheshire Minds Matter

This fund has been specifically set up by a number of donors wishing to capacity build organistions who

£5000 minimum

up to £15,000 for single organistions applying

up to £50,000 for partnerships with a lead applicant