Our current open grants programmes
We are now channelling ALL requests for funding in response to covid-19 through one grants programme – our Covid-19 Response Grants Programme . This is kindly funded by donations from individuals, businesses, charitable trusts and the National Emergencies Trust (NET).
Please dont worry if you have already applied under a different CCF programme, to respond to covid-19, your application will still be processed.
How to apply to the covid-19 Response Programme?
Please read the eligibility guidance below, then click HERE to apply.
Support for disadvantaged and vulnerable people affected by the covid-19 outbreak
- Our covid-19 Response Grants Programme is for grants typically up to £10,000 * (level of funding increased as of 6/4/20). It is open for applications from charitable organisations supporting the ongoing needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable people affected by the covid-19 outbreak, to ensure that their health and wellbeing is maintained. This includes CICs (with three unrelated Directors)
- In addition, for this programme, we want to support small un-constituted emerging group who are responding positively to supporting disadvantaged communities affected by covid-19 at a very local level. If you can arrange for a larger charitable group to partner with you (for example (but not limited to) a church, another charity or community group) you can apply. The charitable organisation must be able to provide their annual accounts and have a bank account in their name. They must be willing to act as the lead organisation for the application and spend of the grant.
- For this programme,Town and Parish Councils are also eligible to apply
*If you have a covid-19 project which needs more than £10,000 – please do email us at grants@cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk providing a brief outline of your proposal and how we may contact you to discuss this further. Strategic, coordinated larger grants may be considered. These applications will be developed in close association with the Foundation and where possible, involve partnership working or linkages with other activities/organisatons, where your project is being delivered.
Types of activities that we can consider under the covid-19 Response Grants Programmes include (but are not limited to):-
• community response coordination to covid-19
• additional volunteer costs
• additional costs of working remotely and adapting services for disadvantaged and vulnerable people delivered in the wider community
•support for lonely and vulnerable people who are self-isolating.
•support in the wider community for foodbanks for families and vulnerable people and organisations working to combat child hunger
For CCF’s other open programmes (please see the summary below and scroll down for how to apply). Do check back to this page regularly, for any further updates.
CCFs other Open Grants Programmes
- Warrington Older Peoples Fund Small Grants Programme – Grants up to £2000 – Applications supporting older people (see criteria below) can be submitted on a rolling basis – and will go to a panel bi-monthly
- Knutsford Fund Small Grants Programme Grants up to £2000 – Applications supporting disadvantaged people in Knutsford can be submitted on a rolling basis – and will go to a panel bi-monthly
- CCF Small Grants Programme Grants up to £2000 – Applications supporting disadvantaged people across Cheshire and Warrington of all ages can be submitted on a rolling basis – and will go to a panel bi-monthly
Please scroll down below to see further details and links to application forms.
CCF Programmes opening later in 2020
- Assura Community Fund Grants Programme (one initial grants round in 2020 with further rounds to be advised which will open when we are able to return to normal day to day activities post covid-19)
- Cheshire Community Foundation Main Grants Programme (two grants Panels a year April (now closed) and October 2020)
- Warrington Older Peoples Fund Main Grants Programme (two grants Panels per year March (now closed) and September 2020)
- Knutsford Fund Main Grants Programme ( more details to follow)
- MBNA Inspiring Education (more details to follow)
Please scroll down below to see further details and next steps for these programmes
Other useful information
We give grants to groups addressing priority needs within Cheshire and Warrington.
Through our grant making we aim to:
- Target community need that is informed by local research and local consultation
- Focus support to achieve maximum effectiveness
- Enhance community and voluntary activity in Cheshire
- Encourage best practice among community and voluntary groups
- Give help where it is needed most
We strive to make our grants process simple and easy for you. Our grants team are available to talk with you about your project idea and if the project is eligible to apply, and will suggest the most relevant grants programme for your application. Please contact us on 01606 330607 with any questions you may have.
Grants programmes open and close regularly so please do check the latest opportunities and deadlines. Applying to the most appropriate grants programme helps improve your chances of success and so we recommend you read and fully understand the guidelines for each programme.
For our Grant Making Complaints procedure please click here.
We recommend that you apply early within a grants programme application window – particularly where there may be a limited amount of funding available – as some programmes become over subscribed quickly. Wherever possible, avoid leaving the submission of your application to the last week or few days of the applications window as we have found that where an applicant has rushed in an application, it can affect the quality of the submission. It can also be beneficial for someone not closely connected to the project, to read the application, to see if they fully understand the project before it is finalised.
Capital projects
Recently we have found that there are less funds available to fund capital projects (building refurbishment or purchase of larger capital items). If you do have a capital project that you are considering applying for, please do talk to us about the likely chances of success with the project, before embarking on the application process.
Below you will find further details of our current open grants programmes including application deadlines. If you would like to discuss which fund is best for you, please call the grants team on 01606 330607 or email us at grants@cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk
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Cheshire Community Foundation: Small Grants Programme (Bi-monthly) |
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| Grant type | Project costs (see Cheshire Community Foundation criteria below) |
| Fund supporters | Click HERE to see our current donors and key themes |
| Status | Open |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes |
| Age range of beneficiaries supported by this programme | All ages |
| Minimum/maximum | £1-£2000 (NB: for a one off trip or luncheon, the maximum contribution is £250) please call to discuss if you have any queries regarding the amount to apply for |
| Frequency | Bi-monthly Panel meetings – January, March, May, July, September and November but if there are urgent covid-19 applications needing to be reviewed responsively, we will process these more urgently |
| Deadlines |
15th for every other month as above |
| Criteria | Please click HERE for the Grant Making Principles that apply to this Programme
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:
Homelessness |
| Application form | Please click HERE to go directly to the application form |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | between two and ten weeks depending on when the application is received (if the applications misses a bi-monthly deadline it would carry forward to the next available Panel. |
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Cheshire Community Foundation: Main Grants Programme |
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| Grant type | Project costs (see Cheshire Community Foundation criteria below) |
| Fund supporters | Click HERE to see our current donors and key themes |
| Status | Currently closed |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes |
| Age range of beneficiaries supported by this programme | All ages |
| Minimum/maximum | £1,000-£25,000 (Note: The average grant awarded is typically £8,000) |
| Frequency | The main grants programme is moving to two grant panels a year. April and October the next Panel will be April 2020 |
| Current deadline | at the current time there are plans for a Panel in October 2020 Panel.
The round plans to open on 14th August 2020 – it will be possible obtain a link to the application form in July 2020 ahead of the round opening – as we only give this out by discussion at so that we can take into consideration available funds at that time and give you an idea of realistic chances of success.
Deadline 14th September to submit application
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| Criteria |
Please click HERE for the Grant Making Principles that apply to this Programme
This programme covers projects across the whole of Cheshire and Warrington for people of all ages |
| Application form | As mentioned above, we are reliant on funding for this programme from a number of donor funds, some of which are restricted to a particular geography, disadvantage or need. We encourage applicants to contact us beforehand to discuss likely chances of success. Angela Richardson our Grants Director will be available to discuss your applications on 01606 330607. If we feel that there are potential donor funds available, we will provide you with a link to the application form. |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application |
Announcements to applicants will be week commencing 4th December |
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Warrington Older Peoples Fund – Small Grants Programme (bi-monthly) |
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| Grant type | Project costs (see Cheshire Community Foundation criteria below) |
| Fund supporters | The Warrington Fund has been created through the transfer of two dormant Warrington Trusts Funds which have created the fund for this programme |
| Status | Open |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes |
| Age range of beneficiaries supported by this programme | People over 50 in Warrington |
| Minimum/maximum | £1-£2000 (Note: for a one off trip or lunch the maximum contribution is £250) |
| Frequency | Bi-monthly Panel meetings – February, April, June, August, October, December but if there are urgent covid-19 applications needing to be reviewed responsively, we will process these more urgently |
| Current deadline | 15th for every other month as above |
| Criteria |
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:
For additional criteria relevant to the Warrington Fund please click HERE |
| Application form | Please click HERE to go directly to the application form |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | We aim to provide an outcome of your application within six weeks to eight from receipt of a complete application (including the required documents) |
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Warrington Older Peoples Fund – Main Grants Programme |
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| Grant type | Project costs (see Cheshire Community Foundation Criteria below) |
| Fund supporters | The Warrington Fund has been created through the transfer of two dormant Warrington Trusts Funds which have created the fund for this programme |
| Status | Currently closed |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes |
| Age range of beneficiaries supported by this programme | People over 50 in Warrington |
| Minimum/maximum | £1,000 to £10,000 |
| Frequency | Two Grants Panels per year in March and September. For this programme applicants are asked to come along to the Grant Panel, please see our top 10 tips for this process HERE |
| Current deadline | We are currntly planing for a September Panel applications to this would need to be submitted by 3rd August 2020. |
| Criteria |
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. For additional criteria relevant to the Warrington Fund please click HERE |
| Application form | Please click HERE for the application form |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application |
Week commencing 11th September |
Partner Grants Programmes Managed by Cheshire Community Foundation
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Knutsford Fund – Small Grants Programme (bi-monthly) |
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| Grant type | Project costs (see Cheshire Community Foundation Criteria below) |
| Fund supporters | This fund has been specifically set up by a number of donors wishing to support project activity in Knutsford and the surrounding rural area |
| Status | Open |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes |
| Age range of beneficiaries supported by this programme | all ages |
| Minimum/maximum | £1-£2000 |
| Opening | 16th March 2020 |
| Deadline | Bi monthly 15th April, 15th June, 15yth August, 15th October and 15th December – but if there are urgent covid-19 applications needing to be reviewed responsively, we will process these more urgently |
| Criteria |
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:
Priority activities for the fund (agreed in consultation with a range of community groups and stakeholders in Knutsford) are those which:–
with particular emphasis on supporting:-
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. |
| Application form | To access the Small Grants Application form please click HERE |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | The month following submission i.e. for the 15th April 2020 deadline the first week in May 2020 |
| d has been specifically set up by a |
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Knutsford Fund – Main Grants Programme |
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| Grant type | Project costs (see Cheshire Community Foundation Criteria below) |
| Fund supporters | This fund has been specifically set up by a number of donors wishing to support project activity in Knutsford |
| Status | Open |
| Applications accepted from charitable organisations and social enterprises? | Yes |
| Minimum/Maximum | Minimum £2000 maximum £25,000 typical grant c £8000 |
| How to access application form | Online application form |
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Current deadline |
27th April 2020 |
| Criteria |
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:
Priority activities for the fund (agreed in consultation with a range of community groups and stakeholders in Knutsford) are those which:–
with particular emphasis on supporting:-
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. |
| Application form | Click HERE for the application form |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | June 2020 |
Funding for specialised disability equipment for people of all ages |
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The Assura Community Fund |
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| Grant type | This programme will support charitable project/activity costs for groups in close proximity to Assura Buildings |
| Fund supporters |
Cheshire Community Foundation is delighted to be working in partnership with Assura to deliver this grants programme specifically for projects close to the Assura Building in the UK |
| Status | to be launched when it is possible to return to normal day to day activities to support communities post covid-19 |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes – Registered UK charities, Constituted Community groups,Companies Limited by Guarantee with charitable aims, Community Interest Companies, Co-operatives – registered Community Benefit Societies and registered Industrial and Provident Societies, Credit Unions and Social Enterprises are all eligible to apply |
| Minimum/Maximum | £1000 to £4000 (typical grant £2000). |
| Frequency | One initial grants round with the potential for a further round later in 2020 |
| Current deadline | Currently Closed |
| Programme Criteria | to be confirmed |
| Online Application form | Click HERE for the online application form |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | To be confirmed |
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MBNA Inspiring Education Programme |
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| Grant type | This programme will support project/activity costs in High Schools |
| Fund supporters |
MBNA Foundation |
| Status | Currently closed |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Social enterprises may be a partners to a High School but the lead applicant must be a High School programme |
| Minimum/Maximum | TBC |
| Frequency | Currently closed |
| Current deadline | Currently closed |
| Programme Criteria | To be confirmed |
| Online Application form | To be confirmed |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | Currently closed |